Hi DiamondIM,
Here's a couple of quick pointers...
1) You need to target keywords which in include geographical aspects... e.g. best london photographer etc... Use them for your posts/pages on titles, heading tags, url etc... Mix it up and vary the keywords with long tail...
2) Use categories, sub categories which are geo located and build out a silo on your site... Create deeply nested pages which interconnect on geo references as well as subject matter...
The on-page SEO will allow for G's crawlers to achieve a much deeper understanding of your site...
For off-page SEO - its about getting authority signals such as on social media - but for local I would keep it low as too much and it leaves a footprint to G that you're gaming the system e.g. 10,000 likes, shares for a local barber shop does not make sense lol... Add in a couple of good high authority links (Moz DA/PA Majestic CF/TF etc).. and you should be good.... again too many backlinks is an obvious footprint... For Social I would try running some FB ads which are geo targeted as well...
Also approach related websites, locally established websites e.g. local business and see if you can post a guest article or pay for a sponsored link etc...
In addition you could try to get on G's local listings, yellow pages etc....
Best of Luck!
Cheers,
Sid
