Using local search engine optimization (SEO) techniques can help you gain visibility among your local audience, thus increasing your brand visibility online and offline. Approximately 46% of searches on Google have a local intent, meaning that the searcher wants to find a product or service near them. The phrases near me and geographic location are common in these types of searches. Using local SEO techniques can help your business compete with the national chains. Here are some of the benefits of local SEO:
For example, let’s say you’re a wedding photographer in Seattle. For example, if you’re a wedding photographer in Seattle, you should target the keyword “Seattle wedding photographers”. But ranking in local searches isn’t a natural thing; you have to apply certain SEO techniques to rise above your competitors. And you should always keep in mind that local SEO requires a lot of hard work! Listed below are some of the most common tips to improve your local SEO.
Citation signals: If your local business is backed by multiple reputable sources, it may help to gain common citations. Citations to your website are important for local SEO, so try to find as many of these as you can. Your local SEO strategy should include a URL that matches your local business’s address. If you have more than one location, consider creating different URLs for each location. You can also add structured data to your website to help users find it.
Review management: This can be a big task, but it can yield great rewards. Review management also involves managing customer reviews across various platforms. Managing reviews online is an essential step to building a strong brand reputation. Make sure that your brand and message are front and center in everything you do, and use a professional tone when dealing with online communities. Local SEO also requires high-quality, relevant content. It could take several forms: blog posts, articles, videos, and images.
Customer reviews: Positive reviews can boost your Google My Business presence and encourage local sales. According to the BrightLocal 2017 Local Consumer Review Survey, 85% of customers trust online reviews over personal recommendations. Yelp discourages customer reviews, but Google encourages them. Moreover, voice search will increase exponentially in the coming years, and your local SEO efforts must keep up with it. There are several ways to boost local SEO and make it a successful strategy.
Keyword research: Using local keywords and phrases can help your business rank well on local search results. A recent study found that 75% of local searches on mobile devices result in offline visits within 24 hours. Therefore, local SEO is an essential part of your marketing strategy for local businesses. It is also effective for brands and agencies. BrightLocal is a vital part of any local SEO strategy. Local SEO makes sure that your audience can find your business online.
Online search volume: While 80% of the US population uses the internet, approximately 87.3 percent is local. Using local SEO to reach these customers will allow you to target more customers. In addition to boosting your online presence, local SEO can also help you get positive reviews from your customers. It is important to remember that your online efforts mirror your offline reality. If you have a bad online reputation, your online reviews will reflect that. Focus on building the best business you can.
Content is king. Social media content and blogs are effective ways to promote your local business. Facebook events can be a great way to target local users and promote a brand. Facebook has algorithms that show local events. In addition to regular events, local blogs can use local keywords to improve your website’s organic search results. In addition, content is the most important factor in local SEO. So, start creating content today! You’ll be glad you did.
A simple way to boost your local ranking is to use Schema markup on your website. By using this, Google recognizes your business as a local business and displays relevant information in search results. You can create schema markup with the help of a tool provided by Hall Analysis. Simply fill in the information and copy and paste the code in the head section of your HTML or website builder. Once you have implemented your new schema markup, be sure to test it using Google’s structured data testing tool.
Lastly, review sites like Yelp and Google Business Review can help your local SEO efforts. Consumers are looking for trustworthy companies online, so responding to reviews is a good way to build trust. One Harvard Business School study suggests that bumping up the score by one star can increase revenue by 10%. Moreover, reviews are often displayed in local search results and make up 15% of the local pack ranking factors. Therefore, it’s important to respond to customer reviews promptly.
