Local SEO (search engine optimization) refers to optimizing websites and business listings for specific locations in order to increase their chances of appearing in Google Map Pack and drawing more customers towards your business.
Online reviews are another essential component of local SEO, as they serve as proof that your products and services live up to their claims. Therefore, it’s crucial that businesses collect customer reviews through consumer directories and social media networks.
Keyword research
Local Keyword Research is the process of identifying keywords relevant to your local business. Implementing regular local keyword research and creating a strategy around it will allow it to help rank higher in search results pages. A good place to begin this research process is by compiling a list of all of your products/services and then envisioning ways your customers might search for those items on search engines such as SEMrush or Ahrefs; this will give you a great starting point that allows you to identify those with high search volumes but low keyword difficulties.
Search keywords with lower search volume but higher intent can also be modified by searching long tail variations that have lower search volume but greater intent, for instance medical spas may add “juvederm” as one of their services in order to appeal to a more specific group of patients. Implementing long tail keywords into content on your website such as blog posts, page titles and meta descriptions are an excellent way of improving local SEO and should be placed throughout blog posts, page titles and meta descriptions as part of local SEO optimization strategy.
On-page optimization
An effective local SEO strategy is an integral component of any business that targets customers in specific geographical areas. By conducting keyword research and optimizing your website for local searches, you can connect with highly motivated buyers ready to purchase, which can increase sales and expand your business.
To strengthen local SEO, it’s crucial that you include NAP (name, address and phone number) citations across your site. Furthermore, make sure your NAP information is consistent across platforms and that any crawlable HTML text links lead directly back to pages describing products and services offered by you.
Your website should also feature local schema markup, which informs search engines of who, what, and where it is that your business exists. By including this data in Google’s “Local Pack,” a trio of businesses that appear at the top of search results with maps and pins at their locations.
Link building
Link building is an essential element of local SEO campaigns, and building local links should always be prioritized when looking at local search. Link building requires convincing other websites to link back to your content, which in turn generates website traffic and boosts search engine rankings. When considering local links it is essential that the target audience be considered; links from publications localized for your area will generally give more domain authority than national ones.
There are various local link building tactics, such as business directory links, testimonials and niche websites. Though most of these don’t possess high domain authority scores (DA), they still help your rank well for local searches while simultaneously driving high-quality referral traffic to your website.
Social media
Social media plays an integral part of local SEO, helping companies rank higher in search results by encouraging people to share and visit their websites, which in turn improves citations and online mentions. Businesses should utilize their social media profiles and business directories in order to optimize local SEO while encouraging customers to leave reviews and ratings of services they use.
Social networking platforms present businesses with numerous opportunities to generate linkless backlinks. By producing engaging and shareable content that includes local keywords, businesses can increase search engine visibility while simultaneously attracting new customers.
Local SEO can help any small, regional or national business expand their customer base. Unfortunately, there is no single solution when it comes to local SEO; therefore, choose the strategy which fits in best with your company goals, budget and target audience. If yours is a larger national enterprise with multiple locations then both types may need to be implemented simultaneously.