Local search engine optimization (SEO) is the practice of increasing your business’ online visibility in localized searches. It’s an effective way to raise brand awareness and attract more customers to your establishment.
Google ranks local SEO results using a combination of factors. These may include your business’ prominence, reviews, and more.
Keywords
Keywords are an integral aspect of local seo, and without the correct ones in place you could struggle to get your website ranked. The solution? Conducting local search keyword research.
Keyword research is conducted to identify search terms related to your products or services and commonly used by your target audience. These key phrases can drive more traffic to your website and boost its ranking on Google.
Furthermore, it’s essential to find keywords with high intent. These terms indicate the searchers’ desire to purchase a particular product or service.
Finding keywords with intent is easier with a keyword planner. These tools offer comprehensive data to help determine which words are most pertinent for your business, along with search volumes, difficulty levels and related terms.
Local Business Listings
Local business listings, also referred to as local citations, are online portfolios that showcase a business’ information on various platforms like search engines, social media networks, directories and review sites. They typically include the business name, address, phone number and hours of operation among other details.
Maintaining and updating a local listing can significantly boost brand visibility, create an exceptional customer experience and stimulate sales. In addition to SEO benefits, local listings may also generate referrals from other businesses and enhance one’s online reputation.
No matter if you’re a business owner or SEO agency, managing local business listings is essential for your client’s digital marketing success. You have two options: do this manually yourself or outsource to an SEO company with dedicated resources for claiming and verifying all listings for each client.
Local Websites
Local SEO is the process of optimizing a business’ website and online presence to rank highly in search engines. This involves content optimization, on-page optimization and link building strategies.
Management of a business’s NAP is an integral component of local SEO, helping search engines and people locate your site quickly. Furthermore, it fosters trust and authority within the community.
Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool that enables businesses to create and manage business profiles on Google that appear in localized searches. It provides key information about a business, such as its address, phone number, website and pictures so users can get a better understanding of who they’re dealing with.
Establishing a good reputation is paramount for businesses, and one of the best ways to do this is by collecting authentic reviews from your customers. Not only will these boost your ranking in local searches and snack packs, but they can also help improve overall satisfaction with the service provided. Make sure you ask for these reviews!
Local Social Media
Local social media marketing is an essential aspect of local SEO because it allows businesses to connect with their target audience in their area. It’s an ideal way for them to communicate in their own language and time zone, which in turn helps boost brand reputation.
Utilizing local content in your social media posts can improve both visibility and traffic, helping boost local search rankings. For instance, BuzzFeed-style lists about a city can do wonders.
Utilizing your NAP (Name, Address and Phone Number) consistently across all social media platforms helps Google’s algorithm verify that the business information provided is correct. It’s an easy yet effective way to boost your ranking on local searches.
Video content creation and posting on social media platforms can be an effective way to get your local business name in front of potential customers. As users search for videos in more places than ever before, businesses should leverage this trend by producing video content that meets user needs while building trust and authenticity.