How do I do Local SEO? – It doesn’t matter whether you own a small or large business, optimizing your online presence for local search results is a proven tactic that can help you attract more customers and boost your revenue.
Local SEO has become an essential part of any business’s marketing strategy. According to Google Analytics, 46% of all Google searches are local in nature. Furthermore, 78% of people who use their phones to look up local businesses visit them within a day, and 28% of those searches end in a purchase. So, if you have a business and you are not optimizing your website locally, you are literally missing out on the money.
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What is Local SEO?
Local SEO involves optimizing your website to draw in more nearby clients for your company. It is about using a wide range of tactics and strategies to increase the visibility of your company in local search results on Google Maps, Google My Business, and other online local directories.
To be specific, if someone searches for a business or service in a particular town, local SEO helps you land on the Search Engine Result Page and also rank high. Local SEO is all about ensuring that your company shows up at the top of local search results when customers are looking for the goods or services you provide in your neighborhood.
How Does Local SEO Work?
Local SEO works by optimizing your website, online profiles, and other online platforms for local search results. This involves using keywords that are relevant to your business, optimizing your website for mobile devices, creating high-quality content, and building quality backlinks.
Local SEO also involves optimizing your Google My Business profile, which is essential for appearing in Google Maps search results. By optimizing your online presence for local search, you can improve your visibility in local search results, attract more customers, and essentially, increase your revenue.
The Benefits of Local SEO
Local SEO offers several benefits for businesses including:
Improved Online Visibility: Local SEO helps to improve your online visibility in local search results. It ensures that your business appears at the top of the search engine results page (SERP) when someone searches for products or services in your local area.
Targeted Traffic: Local SEO targets potential customers in your geographic location. This means that the traffic you receive is highly targeted, resulting in better conversion rates and higher sales.
Competitive Advantage: By optimizing your business with local SEO, you can gain a competitive advantage over other businesses in your local area. This can help to establish your business as a market leader and increase your market share.
Cost-Effective: Local SEO is often more cost-effective than other forms of advertising, such as traditional print or radio advertising. It can also provide better results in terms of Returns on your investment.
Better User Experience: Local SEO optimization involves optimizing your website for mobile devices, making it easier for customers to find and navigate your site. This can improve the user experience and result in higher engagement and more repeat visits.
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How to do Local SEO
It doesn’t matter if you are new to SEO, you can also be able to optimize your business locally so that it shows up on local searches. There are three factors that help a business rank high on search engines and they include – Google Business Profile Signal, keywords, and backlinks. These indicators are what promote your business to rank on Google’s Three Pack – The top 3 local search results on Google.
Here’s how to do local SEO and optimize your business for local searches:
1. Look for service-related keywords
The first step in local SEO is to look for service-related keywords that are relevant to your business. These keywords are the terms that potential customers will use when searching for your products or services online. By identifying the right keywords, you can optimize your website content, metadata, and other online assets to help your business appear higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
To find service-related keywords, start by thinking about the products or services that your business offers. For example, if you own a plumbing company, keywords such as “plumbing services,” “emergency plumbing,” or “leak repair” might be relevant. You can also use keyword research tools to help you identify additional keywords that are related to your industry or niche.
2. Review the search volumes
Once you have a list of potential keywords, it’s essential to review their search volumes. This is the number of times that users search for a particular keyword on search engines. Keywords with high search volumes typically indicate high demand for your products or services, but they can also be more competitive.
To review search volumes, use a keyword research tool like Google Keyword Planner or SEMrush. These tools can help you identify the search volumes and competition levels for specific keywords, giving you a better understanding of which keywords to target.
3. Verify it for local intent
Next, you have to verify that your selected keywords have local intent. Local intent means that the search query includes a specific location, such as a city or neighborhood. Verifying for local intent ensures that your website and content are optimized for local search results, which can help your business appear higher in local SERPs.
To verify local intent, you can use tools like Google My Business, which allows you to create a business listing that appears in Google Maps and search results. You can also optimize your website content by including local keywords, creating location-specific landing pages, and adding your business address and contact information to your website.
4. Use the Keywords on your page
After verifying the keywords for local intent, the final step is to use them on your business or website pages. You can include these keywords in your website content, including your page titles, headings, meta descriptions, and page copy. Ensure that the keywords are used naturally, without stuffing them unnaturally.
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Local SEO Tool to Consider
Local SEO is always easy and that is why there are now several tools to help with the burden of optimizing your business. Here are some of the best local SEO tools:
Google My Business – This is a free tool from Google that allows you to create and manage your business listing on Google Maps and search results.
Moz Local – Moz Local helps you manage your online business listings across multiple directories and search engines. It also provides insights into your business’s online reputation.
BrightLocal – BrightLocal is a suite of local SEO tools that helps you track local search rankings, audit your website, and monitor online reviews.
Whitespark – Whitespark provides a range of local SEO services, including citation building and management, review management, and local search rank tracking.
Ahrefs – Ahrefs is a comprehensive SEO tool that includes features for keyword research, site auditing, backlink analysis, and more. It’s useful for both local and national SEO.
SEMrush – SEMrush is another comprehensive SEO tool that includes features for keyword research, site auditing, competitor analysis, and more. It’s useful for both local and national SEO.
Yext – Yext is a platform that helps you manage your online business listings across multiple directories and search engines. It also provides insights into your business’s online reputation.
ReviewTrackers – ReviewTrackers is a tool that helps you monitor and manage online reviews for your business, including reviews on Google, Yelp, and other platforms.
Local SEO Checklist – Local SEO Checklist is a free tool that provides a comprehensive checklist for optimizing your website and online presence for local search.
GeoRanker – GeoRanker is a local SEO tool that provides keyword research, rank tracking, and website analysis for businesses looking to improve their local search rankings.
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Best Practices with Local SEO
If you are looking to improve your local SEO game, here are some of the best practices to consider:
- Make a contact page for your company that includes the name, location, contact information, and email address. This makes it simpler for potential customers to find and get in touch with you.
- As many people use their smartphones to search for local businesses, make sure that phone numbers are clickable on mobile devices. Customers will find it simpler to contact you with just a tap as a result.
- Include a map with directions and the location of your company on your website. This makes it simpler for customers to find you and raises your local search rankings.
- On your website, post endorsements and reviews. Positive feedback and endorsements from pleased clients can raise your credibility and draw in more clients.
- Make sure to update and claim your Google My Business profile. For local businesses to manage their online presence and enhance their visibility in local search results, this is a free and crucial tool.
- Activate and optimize your social media accounts on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. This enables you to interact personally with your customers and reach a larger audience.
- Create locally relevant content that appeals to your local audiences, such as a calendar of nearby events, news, or articles. This can increase your website’s traffic and make you more relevant for local search queries.
- Get more customer reviews on well-known review sites like Google, Yelp, and TripAdvisor as a top priority. Positive feedback can increase your online presence and draw in more clients.
- Create citations in blogs, directories, and local search engines. This means including your company in reputable blogs and directories, which can raise your visibility and rankings in local searches.
Conclusion
Remember, local SEO is not a one-time effort, it is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and attention. It involves regularly updating your website, creating high-quality content, monitoring your online reputation, and building quality backlinks. By following the tips and using the tools we have discussed in this article, you can optimize your online presence for local search results and improve your chances of success.
