If you are a small business owner, then you have probably heard of local SEO. Here is how local SEO benefits your business.
Your business is the result of your hard work. Local SEO ensures that your business receives the attention it deserves.
Around 46% of all Google searches are seeing local information. Knowing the ins and outs of local SEO will improve your search engine rankings.
97% of all search engine users have searched online to find a local business. Keeping local SEO in mind will boost your business’s search engine visibility and traffic.
Here’s what you need to know about local business SEO.
Use Local SEO Keywords
Any good local SEO company researches keywords for their local campaigns. Local keywords include geographic or locational references that tie them to specific areas.
Choosing the right keywords is a matter of relevancy and value. A keyword’s search volume will tell you how often people type it into search engines. The search volume varies based on location. Think of how your customers would search for a business like yours in your area. You can also use tools like Moz or Semrush to give you insight on search trends in your location. These tools will also show you local competitors that rank high for your desired queries.
Use Location-Specific Landing Pages
If you have a business that has multiple locations in different geographic regions or even different cities, make sure that your website has a landing page that corresponds to each location. These pages should have content related to the services you offer in each location, even if this information is already listed on more general pages of your site.
Optimize Google My Business
Always fill out your Google My Business (GMB) profile completely. Mentioning local keywords in your posts/profile attracts traffic to your GMB listing. Always include pictures of your business, as this makes your listing more shareable.
Typing out your NAP (name, address, phone number) into text on Google My Business helps crawlers find it easier. Make sure that your contact information in the listing matches exactly with what’s on your website and across all other online listings. This helps search engines when identifying your business online and making associations between your site and directory listings.
Social Media and Reviews
Various companies have performed research on the correlation between social media engagement and search rankings. One study showed that pages with top social shares received a boost in search rankings. Besides this, there are many reasons for including social media in your digital strategy. It will simply help your local exposure because:
- Social profiles rank in search results as separate entities;
- Many customers like to interact with a business on social media (think of Facebook chat for answering people’s questions, online contests, and reviews);
- Customers may search for a business directly on the social media platform;
- More opportunities for your content to reach a wider audience.
Also, be sure to encourage your customers to leave reviews on Google or Facebook. Looking at social proof in the form of online reviews is a huge component of a customer’s journey. People are more likely to leave a review sharing a negative experience. So, it is important to proactively seek reviews from all of your customers, making sure people with positive feedback share it as well.
Maintain a Branded, SEO-Friendly Website
An SEO-friendly business website prioritizes user experience and relevant content. Your website must load fast and have a format that allows users to navigate it with ease. It should provide your visitors with the information that satisfied their inquiry.
Also, publishing keyword-enriched local content on a blog establishes your brand as an authority in your industry. It’ll also help you gain backlinks and support your link-building efforts with other industry figures.
Always check your website’s usability on mobile devices. A large number of local searches occur on smartphones when people are out and about looking for services in the area. So, make sure your site is mobile-friendly and it’s easy for the user to get the information they need or complete the conversion action on a mobile device.
Let Marketing Tech help you succeed locally—learn more about our SEO and social media services.
