Local SEO is more important than ever. With the advent of AI Overview, NYC event businesses have to work harder than ever to land on the first page and at the top of Google search results. Mastering local SEO for event businesses is one way to ensure marketing success in 2025. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know to be Google’s top choice for all searches related to event planners in NYC.
Add or Claim Your Google Business Profile
The most important step to nailing local SEO is claiming your Google Business Profile. This all-important directory powered by the world’s most powerful search engine paves the way for getting your NYC event business found online.
Claiming and updating your Google Business Profile is essential to landing on the first page of search results, but that’s not all. Your NYC event business will also appear in the “local search pack,” which is the list of local businesses that appear when a user searches for “event planner near me.” Your event planning business will also appear in Maps when a prospective client is ready to travel to an in-person meeting.
Once you have access to your Google Business Profile, make sure all of the information listed is up to date. A complete profile, including website link, phone number, and hours, will boost the local SEO for your event planning business.
Collect & Respond to Google Reviews
You’re not done, yet. You and your Google Business Profile are going to become great friends.
Once you’ve claimed your profile, get to work on collecting Google Reviews. Your reviews influence your rankings on Google searches. By collecting positive reviews, you’re signaling to Google that your NYC event planning business is trustworthy and reliable.
Develop a strategy for increasing your online reviews. The best marketing strategy to collect reviews is to simply ask happy clients to share their testimonials online. Make it easy by providing a quick-scan QR code on your thank you card or a link within an email. You could also consider running a promotion to increase your reviews quickly. Keep it on the up-and-up by offering a small reward and distribute the reward for negative reviews as well as positive ones.
Respond to all of your online reviews. Google also rewards SEO points to businesses that respond to all of their reviews, good and bad. When responding to bad reviews, avoid being argumentative. Own up to your mistakes, and express the steps you’re taking to fix the issue. If you believe the review is incorrect, calmly state your position with facts and thank the client for their review.
Add photos to your Google Business Profile. According to Google Help, adding photos to your Google Business Profile will boost your local SEO ranking. Frequently add photos of your most successful events to give users a taste of what you’re capable of.
Update Your Profile Across the Internet
SEO gurus recommend engaging in “citation building,” which is just a fancy term for listing your NYC event planning business in all of the available online directories. These include Yelp, the Better Business Bureau, your neighborhood’s Chamber of Commerce, and more. Brightlocal has a useful list of free online directories. Updating your NYC event business’s information on numerous platforms is a powerful way to build your local SEO authority.
Maintain Your Social Media Accounts
Just like directories, social media platforms signal your business’s credibility to search engines. Your event planning business doesn’t have to be on all of the platforms. However, ensure your profile is complete, including your address, for the social media channels you do engage in. Also, make actively replying to comments, reviews, and messages a core task in your social media strategy.
Create Localized Content
Create localized content on your website. When you add content to your website, include localized keywords. But go beyond “NYC event planner. Include specific boroughs and neighborhoods, like Brooklyn and Williamsburg. Create content specific to these areas, such as the best venues in Astoria. Multiple pieces of content that cover specific areas in which your event planning business operates will help boost your local SEO rankings.
Make Sure Your Site is Mobile-Friendly
Most searches are done on smartphones. In fact, according to Smart Insights, 58% of searches are performed on mobile devices. Making sure a website is mobile-friendly is a way for all businesses to improve their ranking on Google. In fact, Google will prioritize indexing mobile-first sites. Being mobile-friendly is especially important for local businesses because residents will likely search using their smartphones, from which they can easily make a phone call or get directions with just a click.
Learn More Marketing Tips at The Event Planner Expo 2025
Mastering Local SEO is just one way NYC event planners can stay competitive. The tips we share above will get you started on becoming an SEO maestro. But don’t stop there. Learn more marketing and SEO tips at The Event Planner Expo. Spend three exhilarating days learning from industry leaders, networking with event professionals, and getting a front-row seat to the latest event planning trends. Buy your tickets today!
