Best Local Link Building for Google Rankings (James Dooley Interviews Chris M. Walker from Legiit)
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What Does “Best Local Link Building for Google Rankings (James Dooley Interviews Chris M. Walker from Legiit)” Talk About?
In this episode of the James Dooley Podcast, James sits down with Chris Walker, founder of Legiit, to discuss the most effective local link building strategies available today. The conversation covers a comprehensive stack of tactics, starting with citations and NAP consistency, which Chris emphasizes are still essential and must be done properly with both major platforms and local or niche-specific directories. Chris also highlights the value of chamber of commerce links and the Better Business Bureau, noting that despite the costs involved, these links perform exceptionally well for local rankings and even for LLM trust signals.
The episode digs into more advanced tactics including branded entity links using web 2.0 properties, cloud stacks, Google Drive stacks, bio entity stacks, and press releases that include NAP details and map embeds. Chris addresses common skepticism around these methods directly, stating that people who say they don't work are simply wrong. The two also discuss SEO Neo, an automated link building tool available as a done-for-you service on Legiit, and the often-overlooked importance of indexing services to ensure that newly built links are actually crawled by Google. James adds valuable insight from his own agency experience, explaining how re-submitting existing backlinks to an indexer can generate measurable results before a single new link is built.
“Citations are the first thing. Some people say they're not necessary anymore. They're wrong. You absolutely still need them, but you need to do them properly and optimise them.”
— Chris Walker
Who Are the Guests on “Best Local Link Building for Google Rankings (James Dooley Interviews Chris M. Walker from Legiit)”?
Chris Walker is the founder of Legiit, a freelance services marketplace with a large pool of vendors specializing in SEO and digital marketing services. He brings hands-on experience with local SEO tactics and has tested a wide range of link building strategies himself, giving him practical insight into what actually moves the needle for Google Business Profiles and local websites. His platform hosts numerous specialized sellers offering services like citations, cloud stacks, SEO Neo automation, and indexing.
James Dooley is the host of the James Dooley Podcast and runs a link building agency with direct client experience in local SEO. He contributes his own agency-level perspective throughout the episode, including a detailed breakdown of how re-crawling existing backlinks through an indexer can produce measurable results for clients before any new links are built. His questions help bridge the gap between theory and practical application for business owners and SEO professionals alike.
What Are the Key Takeaways From “Best Local Link Building for Google Rankings (James Dooley Interviews Chris M. Walker from Legiit)”?
Here are the key points discussed in this episode:
- Citations remain a foundational and essential step in local SEO and should be completed before pursuing any other link building tactics.
- NAP consistency across the internet, including in citations and press releases, is a critical trust signal that significantly influences local Google rankings.
- Chamber of commerce links and Better Business Bureau links are worth the annual fee because they perform exceptionally well for local rankings and trust signals.
- Branded entity links using web 2.0 properties, cloud stacks, Google Drive stacks, and SEO Neo are still effective tactics despite widespread skepticism about their value.
- Forcing indexing of newly built links through dedicated indexing services dramatically increases the likelihood that those links will be crawled and contribute to rankings.
“I always try to force indexing. Not everything will index, but you'll usually get 50 to 60 percent. I used to think indexing didn't matter. Now I think it's a big deal.”
— Chris Walker
Is “Best Local Link Building for Google Rankings (James Dooley Interviews Chris M. Walker from Legiit)” Worth Listening To?
This episode is a concise and practical guide to local link building that cuts through the noise and gives listeners a clear, actionable stack of tactics to follow. What makes it particularly valuable is that both James and Chris speak from direct experience rather than theory, and they address common misconceptions head-on, such as the belief that citations, web 2.0s, or cloud stacks no longer work. The conversation is grounded in real results and offers a logical sequence for building local authority.
The episode is also notable for the insider tips that are easy to overlook, such as the power of re-submitting existing backlinks to an indexer before doing any new link building, the availability of done-for-you SEO Neo services on Legiit, and the dual SEO and sales value of platforms like Yelp. Whether you are an SEO professional managing local clients or a business owner trying to improve your own Google Business Profile visibility, this episode provides a ready-to-use framework with specific service recommendations.
Who Should Listen to “Best Local Link Building for Google Rankings (James Dooley Interviews Chris M. Walker from Legiit)”?
This episode is ideal for:
- Local business owners who want to improve their Google Business Profile and website rankings in competitive markets
- SEO professionals and agency owners managing local clients who need a reliable link building strategy and vendor recommendations
- Freelancers and service providers on platforms like Legiit who want to better understand what local SEO clients actually need
- Digital marketing students and practitioners looking to understand which local link building tactics still work and why consistency matters
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What Are Listeners Saying About This Episode?
“Really practical episode. I had no idea SEO Neo was available as a done-for-you service on Legiit, and that tip about re-indexing existing backlinks before building new ones is something I'm implementing with every new client now. Straightforward advice from people who actually do this work.”
“Chris Walker's breakdown of the full citation and entity stack was exactly what I needed. I appreciated that he addressed the skeptics directly and explained why cloud stacks and web 2.0s still work. No fluff, just a clear sequence to follow for local rankings.”
“The press release tip was a hidden gem. I've used press releases for brand awareness before but never thought about including map embeds for local SEO value. This episode changed how I approach local link building campaigns for my clients.”
James Dooley Hi, today I’m joined with Chris Walker, the founder of Legit. Today’s topic is the best local link building services that you know of. You’ve got a large freelancer pool doing lots of different things, and we’re seeing strong results where people are buying link building services specifically for local SEO. Chris, what do you believe is the best local link building strategy using Legit services? Chris Walker It’s nothing revolutionary to start with. Citations are the first thing. Some people say they’re not necessary anymore. They’re wrong. You absolutely still need them, but you need to do them properly and optimise them. There are plenty of good vendors. One in particular is called Citation Expert, which makes him easy to remember. He does a great job. Get all the big citations, but also as many local specific ones as you can find. You have to do a bit of homework for those. The same applies to niche or industry specific citations. That’s step number one. Don’t do any other local link building until that’s done. And don’t just think of it from an SEO angle. Places like Yelp can also generate real sales. There are some links you can’t get through Legit, but they’re worth mentioning. Local chambers of commerce are well worth the money. Usually three or four hundred pounds a year. You get business benefits and the link works extremely well. Sometimes it even ranks on its own. I hate them, but the Better Business Bureau link works very well too. Pay the fee and get it. It’s also strong for LLM trust. Then I like branded entity links, for lack of a better term. Web 2.0s around the business name, like jamesspa.weebly.com, or keyword focused ones like lawyerdetroit.weebly.com. Those have worked very well for me. Another strong one is SEO Neo. It’s an automated link building tool that moves the needle for Google Business Profiles. My friend Aaron runs a service on Legit for that, branded as instant rankings or something similar. It works well. Then you’ve got cloud stacks, Google Drive stacks, and bio entity stacks. People will tell you they don’t work. They’re wrong. I’ve used them. They work. James Dooley A lot of what you mentioned is about repeating who you are and what you do, and getting consistent NAP listings everywhere. Name, address, phone number repeated across the internet makes a massive difference, or as close as possible. Chris Walker Yeah, for sure. James Dooley Do you do anything with press releases for local SEO? Chris Walker Yes. That’s a hidden one. A lot of people know press releases help SEO, but they also influence local rankings. Get the NAP in there. Some allow map embeds, which helps. You can get creative with angles around your business name. Press releases definitely work. James Dooley If a local business owner goes to Legit, buys citations, web 2.0s, press releases, cloud stacks, entity stacks, is there an indexing service on Legit to get all those URLs crawled? Chris Walker Yes. There are a couple. One seller is called Keith444 or something similar. Just search for indexing. You can also use tools yourself like IndexMeNow. I always try to force indexing. Not everything will index, but you’ll usually get 50 to 60 percent. I used to think indexing didn’t matter. Now I think it’s a big deal. James Dooley We own a link building agency and we see this all the time. On month one, before building links, we export the client’s existing backlinks from Search Console, Ahrefs, Majestic, and other tools. We take the best ones and re submit them to an indexer. Before we build a single link, crawl stats increase, pages start indexing, impressions go up, then clicks follow. We look like heroes before doing any new work. Re crawling old links has a real impact. Chris Walker That matches what I’ve seen too. James Dooley You mentioned SEO Neo. I didn’t even know that service existed on Legit. We’ve struggled setting it up ourselves. Having a done for you service is massive. Chris Walker Only a couple of people offer it. The one I mentioned doesn’t brand it as SEO Neo, which is probably why you missed it. All mass link building tools are hard to use. I don’t have the patience either. James Dooley For anyone watching who wants better local rankings, whether for a Google Business Profile or a local website, Chris Walker has covered a wide range of services available on Legit. Let us know in the comments if you think we missed anything or if there are specific links working well for local SEO right now. Chris, it’s been an absolute pleasure. Chris Walker You too. Thank you.
Creators & Guests
Host
James Dooley is a UK entrepreneur.
Guest
Chris M. Walker is a successful internet entrepreneur and the founder of several 7 figure internet businesses including Legiit Online Marketplace Inc.