Being visible to customers is the top priority for any business. And when it comes to online business, ranking highly on search engines weighs the most. However, if your business comes in the category of SMB or a local enterprise, local search engine optimization becomes crucial.
Local businesses frequently compete with major corporations in the online market. However, your competition will be slightly lower if you wish to develop your firm locally. And if you want to win easily in those cutthroat competitions, you should invest in local SEO.
In this blog, I will let you know what local SEO is. Why does it matter for your business? And how can you improve the local rankings of your business?
But before moving further, let’s look at some local SEO stats.
As per the sources:
- 24.4% of all clicks go to the first result of local business searches
- “Near me” mobile searches increased by 136% last year.
- 86% of customers use Google Maps to find local businesses
- 29% of people search for local businesses at least once a week
- 46% of all searches on Google include local intent
I hope this data is enough to skyrocket your local SEO curiosity.
Let’s check it out..!!
What is Local SEO?
Local SEO is the process of optimizing your Website for specific geographical areas. In this process, your Website will be optimized for unique search queries made by local audiences. And this complete local SEO activity makes it easier for your target consumers to find your local business online and offline.
Even if you are not currently receiving visits to your brick-and-mortar store, there is no need to be worried. Local SEO helps you target your specific audience in the same geographical area you have selected. Besides, you can improve your business’s local search rankings with local SEO strategies. And if you don’t know how to go through the whole process, you can hire local SEO services.
What factors affect the local search?
When developing your local SEO plan, you must consider the factors below. Always remember that your local SEO strategies influence your business’ ranking in local search results. And working on these factors, you can improve your local SEO strategy and increase conversions.
1. Proximity to Business
How near the searcher is to your company or business is referred to as proximity. Google typically produces results that are close to the user. Although you have little influence over this aspect, it is crucial to keep this in mind when optimizing your Google Business Profile for local search.
The best approach to ensure you appear in local searches near you is to list your service area in your Google Business Profile.
2. Popularity
Popularity is based on what other customers say about your business. This is displayed on the Google listing as one- to five-star ratings, along with user comments or reviews. To assist users in locating the most suitable shop, service, or business for their needs, Google intends to highlight locations with high ratings.
3. Relevancy
Google always produces search results relevant to the user’s query.
Additionally, Google produces results based on relevance. The search query and your products or services will determine your relevance. In response to a coffee-related search, Google creates a list of cafeterias.
How to Improve Local Search Rankings?
Improving local search rankings is not at all a complicated task. You need to go through the steps below, and your business website will be ready to grab the traffic you want.
1. Optimize Your Google My Business Profile
There are three steps to optimize your Google My Business profile:
Step 1: First, create your free Google My Business profile if you don’t already have one.
Step 2: Provide the relevant information in your profile. The more information you provide in your GMB profile, the more your profile will be optimized. Start with essential details like your company’s full name, contact details, precise address, website address, and operating hours.
Step 3: Add high-quality pictures of the products you are offering. As per the sources, Google My Business profiles with high-quality photos receive 35% more clicks than those without.
2. Optimize Your Business Website
Now take a look at your Website, and check if it is optimized or not. If not then follow the below steps:
a) Add Targeted Keywords
Keywords are the words and phrases the searchers enter into search engines while searching for particular products and services. Google then uses these keywords to assist in identifying which pages to rank on your Website.
So, first, you must research the terms your target customers use while searching for the services you offer on Google. Then incorporate those keywords into your Website. And avoid keyword stuffing together with maintaining the readability of the content.
b) Make Your Website Mobile Friendly
As you may be aware, everyone nowadays looks for products and services using their mobile device. Consider this: if your Website is not optimized for mobile devices such as Android or iOS, customers will be unable to view your products and services appropriately. And if your competitor’s Website is optimized for mobile devices, he will take complete advantage.
That is why you should always keep your Website optimized for mobile devices so that more clients can find your products and services and more conversions may be seen.
c) Maintain Consistency
Finally, ensure that the information on your Website is consistent. Your Website contains information about your company; the same information should be available on your Google My Business Profile, Yelp, Facebook, and Instagram pages.
If Google detects contradicting information about your company, your local ranking will suffer. So be extra cautious and double-check for spelling and other errors.
3. Collect and respond to customer feedback
The local ranking relies heavily on online reviews. If your Website has positive and honest online reviews, then there are chances of high traffic on your Website. Because whenever a person conducts a local search for a product and Website, he first checks the business’s reviews. And if the reviews are positive, the client gains trust in the industry and becomes connected with it.
Here is how you can generate positive reviews for your business:
a) Deliver High-Quality Services
If you deliver a high-quality service, your customers will be more inclined to review your business that too in a positive way. So make sure to provide excellent services to your customers.
b) Request Reviews
Sources said that 72% of the customers requested to leave a review do so. But remember that your services and products must also be powerful enough to satisfy the buyer. If a consumer is pleased with your products and services, they will almost certainly provide a favorable review on Google if you request.
c) Offer Rewards or Incentives
Offering incentives is one of the best ways to collect reviews. You can give gift cards, discounts on their next purchase, cashback or reward points. This will engage your customers and earn you positive feedback.
4. Build Local Backlinks
Any link connecting a particular website to yours is called a backlink. Backlinks are essential to enhance the value of your Website, as they are considered a symbol of authority by Google. So, to strengthen your position on local searches, you must create a solid backlink profile of your Website.
Here are the ways to create Backlinks to your local business
a) Collaborate with the Similar Business
Find a similar business in your area whose customer is also your customer, and Vice Versa. Then provide backlinks to that business, and in return, you can request backlinks to your Website. In this way, you can earn a good number of backlinks.
b) Sponsor Local Events
Sponsored local events are an excellent method to introduce your business to a specific area or your targeted region. It may also earn you a link if the event’s Website includes a “Sponsors” page.
c) Invest in Guest Blogging
There are always opportunities to write blog posts for other local businesses. When you do this, include a link to your Website in your article.
Let’s Start with Local SEO
I hope you can understand what Local SEO is and how it contributes to increasing your Website’s local search rankings. If applied strategically, you can expect more visitors, more sales and ultimately more growth in your business.
If you are new to the business and facing stiff competition in the local market, don’t worry; contact us today. Our team of digital marketing experts will assist you in gaining an unexpected lead in the market with their local SEO strategies.
Good Luck..!!
