A step-by-step guide to leveraging Ahrefs for local SEO campaigns — from geo-targeted keyword research and competitor backlink analysis to content gap discovery and local rank tracking for US businesses.
By Hamid Iqbal · 2025-03-18
Ahrefs covers keyword research, backlink analysis, content gap discovery, and technical site audits for local SEO. However, you'll need to supplement with a tool like BrightLocal or Whitespark for citation management, GBP monitoring, and ZIP-code-level rank tracking — features Ahrefs doesn't offer.
Open Keywords Explorer, enter your service + city name (e.g., 'plumber Austin TX'), set the database to United States, and use the Matching Terms report. Filter by volume (100+) and keyword difficulty (under 30) for actionable local targets. Check SERP overview for Local Pack presence.
Yes, Ahrefs Rank Tracker tracks daily keyword rankings at the country and city level with mobile and desktop segmentation. However, it cannot track at the ZIP-code level or provide grid-based local visibility mapping like some dedicated local SEO tools.
Ahrefs Lite starts at $129/month and includes the core features needed for local SEO research: Keywords Explorer, Site Explorer, Site Audit, and Rank Tracker. For agencies or businesses tracking multiple competitors, Ahrefs Standard at $249/month provides higher limits.
Semrush is generally better for local businesses because of its dedicated Local SEO Toolkit with citation management, GBP integration, and ZIP-code rank tracking. Ahrefs is better specifically for backlink research and competitive link building. Using both provides the most comprehensive local SEO coverage.
Tags: ahrefs local seo ahrefs for local seo local seo ahrefs ahrefs local keyword research ahrefs local rank tracking ahrefs local backlinks