To improve your local SEO, you need to track your competition and monitor keywords, backlinks, citations, and review profiles. BrightLocal tools help you keep tabs on what your competition is doing. Because search engines change regularly, you have to anticipate and react to those changes. Below are five ways to improve your local SEO.
Why local SEO matters for your business
A business that invests in local SEO improves its chances of ranking on search engines. People typically turn to Google to find local businesses. If you are not on page one of Google, you are missing out on a lot of business. Local SEO helps any type of business rank high in local search results, and developing content that ranks well for relevant queries is how you get there. Using consistent local signals is also important, since inconsistent data causes different local results to show up.
Set up Google My Business and clean up your NAP citations
Google My Business is another essential piece of local SEO. Local SEO leans more on public perception than on keywords. A plumbing business, for example, does not need the most innovative website in the world to compete for customers. It needs the most relevant and accurate NAP citations available in its area. When your website carries that data, Google gives you a higher ranking, which leads to more business.
Make your site mobile-friendly and location-focused
To get noticed in local search results, your website has to be mobile-friendly. Mobile-friendly pages are easier to read on a phone or tablet, and they are more likely to be found in search results. For local SEO, your site should be optimized for local keywords and mentions, and your content needs to be location-oriented. Without those factors, you miss out on potential customers.
Add reviews and localized content
Including reviews is another tip for optimizing your site for local SEO. Localized content and service pages also make it more likely that you appear in local search results. Make sure your business’s name, address, phone number, and other relevant details appear on the site so Google can match your listing to relevant searches. If you have multiple locations, local SEO gets tricky, but it produces a major boost in revenue.
Prepare for voice search and shifting habits
As local SEO evolves, Google is changing its approach. Increasingly, people use voice search, and Google has started using that technology to give users more context for local searches. You can ask Google Assistant to recommend a restaurant in your area, or ask your Google Home or Amazon Echo to perform voice search for a particular product or service. These devices make local searches easier than ever.
FAQ
What should I track to improve my local SEO?
Track your competition along with keywords, backlinks, citations, and review profiles. BrightLocal tools can help you keep tabs on what your competition is doing.
Why are NAP citations important for local SEO?
NAP citations are the business name, address, and phone number listed across the web. When your website carries accurate NAP data for your area, Google gives you a higher ranking, which leads to more business.
How does voice search affect local SEO?
More people are using voice search through Google Assistant, Google Home, and Amazon Echo. Google uses this technology to give users more context for local searches, making local lookups easier than before.
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