Are you looking for a way to land in the number one spot on a SERP while targeting potential clients in your area? Local SEO is the answer to this dilemma, and in this guide, we pass on some tips and tactics for localizing your advertising with a razor-sharp focus.
Local SEO involves targeting an audience from a specific region, city, or even a particular neighborhood. In this instance, your end goal is to rank high and increase your visibility in local search results on Google’s Map Pack/Local Pack.
To give an idea of the importance of local SEO, 86% of potential customers find a business’s location by using Google Maps. This is no surprise considering that the most common search is “digital marketing agency near me.” Furthermore, Google has noted that 76% of people who are searching for a business or service locally usually visit one of those search results within 24 hours. In turn, 28% of those visits result in a sale. Additionally, customers will look at local reviews when choosing a place to go. And of course, mobile devices play a major role in searching for and locating a business. Even if your business span’s multiple locations, you cannot underestimate the significance of local SEO.
Local SEO operates the same way as any other search. You input a query, and Google comes up with the list of results that best answer our question. In local SEO, Google utilizes a distinct set of ranking factors that go beyond more relevance to your query. It first takes into account the proximity factor. Your location has the most profound effect on what appears on your SERP even if you leave out the city or the phrase “near me.” The search engine will first bring up a list of places near you followed by the most relevant.
Other ranking signals that affect your local SEO are:
If you get all these factors into your marketing strategy, then you will able be to achieve a high ranking on the local SERP for your industry. Here are some tips to bring more attention to your business.
First, it goes without saying that a complete profile lends itself to establishing a reputation for credibility among online users. In other words, leave no field blank when you are setting up your profile. Also, make sure you follow every step to verify your business. This lends to credibility. Also, make sure to customize your business profile by briefly describing your service and offerings and including hours of operation. In your description, you might include some keywords that potential customers would search for. Most importantly, do not forget a photo of your brick-and-mortar location.
With that said, you can focus more on optimizing your business profile. One tip is to include every aspect of your business’s address including the zip code which helps Google to pick up your location and use that information for anyone who searching for a business in your niche. Another tip is to ensure that your profile stays up to date along with your website’s URL.
Your business’s name, address, and phone number contribute to the data that Google utilizes in its search ranking. At the very least, keeping this information updated is vital since Google will cross reference it with your website, and other related websites like Yelp, Yellow Pages, and your social media pages will boost your ranking. Also, you might consider listing your NAP citations on your local chamber of commerce, BBB, InfoUSA, and Citysearch.com. This shows internet users that you’re not only legitimate, but you also run a reputable operation.
With the rise of voice search, you have a grand opportunity to enhance your local SEO strategy by coming up with keywords that locals would use in conversation about your business’s niche. Also, you can incorporate words and phrases that pertain to your service or product. For instance, if you own a western wear shop (very popular in West Texas), you might use a keyword like “leather boots in (location)” or “women’s bootcut jeans in…” These keywords can also include phrases that describe the locale of your business and any local institutions related to it. There are also important landmarks close to your business, along with the well-known phrase, “near me.”
Reviews, especially positive ones, build trust among your audience. Moreover, if you include testimonials on your website and social media pages, Google will likely pick up on phrases like “best…in (your city).” After all, your customers are your best brand ambassadors, and their reviews across multiple platforms will boost your ranking.
Adding Local Business Schema Markup improves your ranking on the SERP as well. You’re employing identifiers for your business from schema.org in your content. The words and phrases go from general to specific when used to identify your business. If you already have your complete address on your home page, you have already taken a significant step with adding the Local Business Schema Markup. Your contact details and the price range are also recommended along with your geocoordinates. Plus, your times for opening and closing are required. Other factors may vary depending on the type of industry you fall into, and fortunately, Google has structured data guidelines to follow.
Now, this is where networking—both in person and online—comes into play an important role in your local SEO strategy. To effectively localize your marketing, you may need to connect with other businesses that relate to your product or service. For example, if you own a gourmet shop, you can set up at a local festival where you would not only sell your famous seasonings and marinades but also partner with a local winery to provide beverage ideas that pair well with your product.
Additionally, you can participate in charity events which brings more visibility. And how does this work online? Going back to the local festival, your business name and contact information could be listed along with other participants and sponsors on the temporary website that’s set up to advertise the event. Furthermore, if your site has a blog, you can invite another related business to contribute a guest post and vice versa. This link building helps you to become a trusted authority in your industry.
Local SEO is here to stay and will get more competitive and more targeted. With an increasing need to become mobile-friendly, you can count on voice search gaining more prominence in the list of factors that affect local SEO as well as geolocation. Therefore, experts in local SEO can help you to navigate through the process of increasing visibility with a focused plan and expert guidance.
Local SEO is a very crucial part of any local business. This will help your audience locate you when they online services area. We at Digital Marketing by Don provide professional local SEO services in San Diego & Temecula areas. Contact us to get a free consultation!
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