Are you trying to rank higher in search engines like Google for your small business in your local area?
Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is among the effective tactics to increase your conversion rates. It is true that local customers rely on Google Search, Yelp, and similar websites to find relevant business information.
So, to reach those customers, you must enhance your online presence. Local SEO can help with an online presence and grow your client base. Luckily, businesses can contact agencies like Veewz and get expert help in achieving success with Local SEO.
Let’s take a look at Local SEO, its importance, and its benefits. Furthermore, learn about how you can improve Local SEO for your small business.
What is Local SEO, and why is it important?
Local SEO is a type of search engine marketing that optimizes your business website and online profiles for local search. It helps rank your business website for geo-specific searches so users can easily find your website when searching for local businesses like yours.
For instance, if you own a flower shop in Dallas, your business website should appear in results when a user searches for “Dallas Flower Shops”. This is what Local SEO helps with.
It’s important to have a good understanding of the local search strategies based on your target audience. Moreover, you need to select relevant keywords for your business and find ways to rank higher than your competitors. Once this is done, you can implement other Local SEO tactics and attract new customers.
What does Local SEO include?
Local SEO commonly involves the following activities:
- Finding relevant local keywords
- Optimizing your business’ Google My Business (GMB) profile (now known as Google Business Profile)
- Building NAP (Name, Address, and Phone Number)citations
How small businesses can benefit from Local SEO
It is true that SEO will increase the ranking of your website in search engines, but that's only part of the story. Local SEO has many other benefits as well. With the right keywords, your site will have a greater chance of attracting new customers. As a result, you’ll be able to make more money and boost your sales.
When it comes to Local SEO, there are numerous advantages to your business and online visibility. Your local business can attract new customers in person and through your website. Moreover, you can tap into this potential by using the best practices in Local SEO.
Here are the benefits of Local SEO for businesses:
Benefit 1: More traffic to your physical or online store
The results shown in results for a search related to a specific business are based on certain factors. Google uses complex algorithms along with your location to show the best possible results. The performance of a business also affects its ranking on the result page.
The businesses are shown in organic results and also google maps along with their relevant information. With Local SEO, your chances to appear here increase. This leads to more traffic to your online and physical stores. As a result, your business generates more revenue.
Benefit 2: Improved website authority and rankings
Link building or citation building is an important part of Local SEO. It helps attract high-quality links to your website.
These links act as votes of confidence that your website is legitimate and helpful. Google prefers such sites, so you can improve ranking this way.
One way to do so is by registering in local business listings and directories. Websites like Yelp can help with it, or you can publish guest posts on high-authority websites.
Benefit 3: Google Maps and Google My Business can lead you to success
With Local SEO, you can optimize your website to rank higher in Google Maps. Moreover, you can attract more customers through your Google My Business (GMB) profile.
Business owners can take advantage of Google’s free platform GMB and improve their brand presence. It also allows posting business information such as an address, contact details, operating hours, photos, and website. Furthermore, it can be used in setting up online ads.
As a new business, it is important to stay present in front of people who are looking for businesses like yours in their local area.
Benefit 4: Attract targeted traffic and better leads
To stand out from the crowd, you need to go beyond simply using generic keywords like “coffee shop”. These broad terms are usually associated with large, established firms. As a result, you’ll struggle to rank better than your competitors and attract unqualified leads.
If you only offer services to a specific geographic area,.” then you should target the people living there. For example, you might only want to rank for “coffee shop” in Dallas if that’s the only place you offer services.
Local SEO helps you target traffic and connect to leads that are more likely to turn into customers.
Benefit 5: Increase online visibility and get noticed
You can find it difficult to attract new customers, especially if you are a small or new business. Your business might not be well known. This is why you need the power of Google - to get noticed.
Using SEO, you can get found by potential customers who have never heard of you before. This can be a game-changer for your business. Consequently, it can skyrocket your visibility and attract traffic that takes you ahead of your competitors.
Benefit 6: Increase brand awareness
Using Local SEO, you can drive great PR for your business. This might include featuring on websites, asking your clients for positive reviews, writing guest posts, or otherwise managing your online reputation.
Once potential customers learn that your business has been successful and is a worthwhile investment, they will be more likely to connect with you. Therefore, a way to attract potential customers is to publicize how successful past clients have been with your company. This will create brand recognition and help build customer loyalty.
Benefit 7: Attract more visitors and build trust
Up-to-date and SEO-optimized content attracts visitors. With the use of social media and web analytics tools, you can come up with new content ideas.
It is important to use relevant keywords and publish engaging content on your website blog and social media. This will build trust and also attract more traffic to your website.
How can you improve Local SEO?
Now that you know what Local SEO is and how it benefits businesses, you might want to work on it. So, take a look at these ten steps that can help you improve the Local SEO of your business.
1. Create a Google My Business account
By optimizing your Google Business profile, you increase your chances of ranking higher on google maps and local search results. However, you need a Google My Business account to make these optimizations.
After providing all the required information, your business profile will be updated. The updates will be visible in search results, google maps, and google search knowledge panel.
2. Ask happy customers for reviews
Positive reviews from customers improve your business presence and encourage new customers to trust you. A survey from BrightLocal discovered that 85% of people value online reviews just as much as they value personal recommendations.
You can offer a discount voucher or gift cards to customers who leave reviews. However, keep in mind that while Google is okay with asking for reviews, Yelp discourages it.
3. Work with Voice Search
Voice search is gaining popularity and will continue to do so. So it is important to optimize Local SEO in voice search as well. Take into consideration what questions people would ask when searching for your business.
Generally, people would use long-tail keywords in voice searches, so keep that in mind. Also, fit your content’s SEO to fit a conversational tone. More importantly, focus on question starters like who, what, when, where, why, and how.
Another important factor is to consider user intent. The questions they ask must have quick answers readily available.
4. Use local events or stories in your content
Relevant content that is connected to local issues or stories can speak directly to customers. It can be a good way of showing how up-to-date and relatable you are.
For instance, if you run a chain of fast-food restaurants, you can make different pages on the website for each location. Then, you can share location-specific content on those pages. It can also be useful to share new deals or changes in the restaurant of that area.
5. Make a mobile-friendly website
The number of mobile users is increasing with every passing day. People prefer to browse websites from mobile phones rather than desktops. Furthermore, a study revealed that 75% of local searches conducted from mobile phones resulted in physical store visits within 24 hours.
This shows how crucial it is to optimize your website for mobile to be at the top of Local SEO for a long time.
6. Focus on local keywords
Your keywords should be relevant to local customers.
Google Keyword Planner lets you filter keyword searches based on location. Thus, you get an idea of the popular search terms for a given region. As a result, you can find locally relevant keywords to target and use them in your site’s meta description, content, and URLs.
Also, mention region-specific landmarks and hotspots in your content. For instance, if your local restaurant is located near a famous museum, include references to that museum on your site.
7. Use Location Pages
If your business is available in multiple areas, it is important to make a location page with details such as an address, phone number, operating hours, and parking info. It is important to make sure that every location page has unique content.
However, businesses with only locations must create an “About Us” page to share relevant information. It might include their location, services, and involvement in local events.
8. Register in online Business Directories
As mentioned before, quality links can significantly improve your website’s credibility and authority. And one way to do so is by registering in online business directories. There are many options, such as Yelp, and MyQuest, etc.
Many customers usually check reviews on these sites and trust them to provide reliable and credible business suggestions. Furthermore, it enhances your business’s Local SEO. So focus on making a strong business profile on these directories.
9. Focus on Link Signals
According to a study, link signals are the most important factors for local pack and organic results. Link signals, in short, are backlinks that point to your website.
However, it is important to focus not just on the number of backlinks but also on their quality.
10. Create dedicated webpages
You must resist the urge to list all your products or services on a single page. While it may seem like a good idea, the results are rather opposite. So, it is better to dedicate one page to each product or service and explain it there.
It is important to do so to keep your Local SEO score high. But if you don’t follow it, the search engines won’t assign much weight to your website.
Furthermore, if you offer a single service or product in multiple areas, make location pages for each address. For instance, instead of “coffee shop,” use “Dallas Coffee Shop” or “Austin Coffee Shop.”
Conclusion
Starting and maintaining a new business in this digital age can be daunting. With so many ways of promoting online, it can become confusing to choose one.
Hopefully, this guide helped you understand Local SEO and benefits better. While SEO is one of the leading ways of promoting your business, Local SEO improves that even more. It helps to promote your business within your community.
We discussed several ways you can improve your Local SEO, but some of these things require expertise in digital marketing. Also, these processes need regular changes and updates to keep your website at the top of search results.
A professional SEO company can help you get on the first page of local Google search results and also stay there. With Veewz’s Local SEO strategy, you will see a steady stream of qualified leads and better conversion rates.
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