The Benefits of Local Search Marketing for Local Businesses
43% of the 10 billion searches made each month in the United States have local intent, and people spend more than half of their online time looking for services in their area. Local search lets businesses get in front of those nearby customers, build credibility, and earn reviews that drive sales.
Why does local search matter for small businesses?
Local search is a direct line to consumers who are ready to buy nearby. In addition to organic search, paid search can place your business in Google results for local queries. Optimized local pages drive traffic, raise visibility, and bring in new customers. If you run an eCommerce site, you can fold coupons and promotions into the same pages that rank for local searches. Relevant content on those pages is one of the best ways to generate new customers.
A strong local presence also lets you take on clients from surrounding areas. With a well-managed online presence and active social media, local search becomes a steady channel for promoting your business. The fastest way to get noticed on Google is to optimize your website for the specific keywords your area searches for.
How do reputation and reviews affect the bottom line?
A good reputation leads to more sales and more referrals, and more people will see your products and services when they search in your area. Tracking changes in the search engines keeps that visibility intact. The benefits of local SEO for local businesses show up in a few concrete ways:
- More visibility in local SERPs, which leads to more customers and more revenue.
- More reviews, since users trust online reviews from people in their area. Encourage customers to leave a review, even when feedback is mixed.
- Faster response to complaints. Monitoring online reviews helps your business respond to bad reviews and customer concerns quickly.
- Keep your online presence updated so customers always find current information.
What on-page basics drive local rankings?
Write meta titles and meta descriptions for every page. These two elements improve your ranking on search engines and signal to Google that your business is local. Make sure your metadata has a local accent. If you are not sure how to do this, consult with a professional. For more information, visit the website of Adam Enfroy. You can also follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
Your local SEO strategy should focus on keywords tied to your area. If you are targeting your city or neighborhood, local search keywords should include the city name and the area. Your business name should appear in the local results section of the page, and your description should always include your address, phone number, and website URL.
Your local listing is more than a directory entry. Besides being more visible, you can use it to advertise coupons and promotions. It boosts your reputation on search engines and grows your business. Users trust online reviews from people in their local area, so encourage customers to leave a review. Most reviews are positive, and the small share that are not can be handled with a fast, honest reply.
FAQ
What percentage of searches have local intent?
43% of the 10 billion searches made each month in the United States have local intent, and people spend more than half of their online time looking for services in their area.
How does local search marketing help a business grow?
It increases visibility in local search results, drives more traffic and customers, builds credibility through reviews, and lets businesses promote coupons and promotions to nearby buyers.
What on-page elements matter most for local SEO?
Meta titles, meta descriptions, and body content should include local keywords, the city or neighborhood name, and the business name, address, phone number, and website URL.
Related coverage
- What Is Local Search Marketing?
- Local Search Marketing Tactics to Boost Online Visibility and Drive Traffic
Related coverage
- What Is Local Search Marketing?
- Local Search Marketing Tactics to Boost Online Visibility and Drive Traffic