With the rise of e-commerce, more opportunities are currently available for you to start and run your own business.
Indeed, the internet and advances in technology make it easier for you to access information, tools, and resources to begin your new business venture or probably your next passion project that you’ve been meaning to turn into a business.
However, even in the local market, it can be challenging for small businesses to increase one’s brand visibility due to the high level of competition.
Without solid marketing or a well-established reputation, breaking through the noise and getting your message in front of the right people is undoubtedly not a walk in the park.
But even though it can be challenging, there are many ways and strategies for you to optimize your brand and reach a wider audience.
If you are eager to give it a shot, you are indeed where you need to be!
Here you’ll get to know the tricks and tips about local SEO and everything in between, and if you do it right, you can actually rank your small business higher in your local search results!
But you might ask, what is Local SEO?
Local SEO, or local Search Engine Optimization, is a process of optimizing business sites to achieve better rankings, basically to be more visible in local search results.
When more people click on your business listing in search results, stay on your site, interact with your content, and write reviews about your products/services, your business will likely show in local searches.
Now, why does it matter to your business?
Local SEO is very important if your business serves a certain area, like if you have a coffee shop operating in your town.
People close by could be your customers, so you want to take advantage of the chance to get their attention. While working on improving your online business, it's important to consider how your business looks on local searches.
This could be where most of your leads and sales will come from. The easier you are to find, the more likely it is that a new customer will come to you.
You don't have to worry about the possible costs of it; depending on the keywords and strategies you use, you may already be using a local SEO plan without even knowing it!
What kinds of businesses tend to benefit most from local SEO?
Aside from increasing your business’ visibility in search results for users in your local area, Local SEO services can lead to more foot traffic and online conversions for your business.
Business types that typically benefit from local SEO include:
- Medical Services
- Real Estate
- Law Offices
- Home Repairs & Renovation
- Restaurants
- Pet Services
- Retail Stores
- Salons
- Auto Service/repair
What are Local SEO services?
Local SEO services are a set of practices designed to optimize a website or online presence for a specific geographic area. These services help a business show up higher on search engine results pages when people in a certain area look for products or services.
Businesses can improve their visibility in local search results by using a variety of Local SEO services.
Here are some of the Local SEO services that you can use:
Google My Business Optimization
It is the process of optimizing your business's GMB listing in order to improve its visibility in Google Maps and Google's local search results.
This can include things like making sure the business's contact information is correct and up-to-date, adding relevant categories and keywords to the listing, and encouraging customers to leave reviews on the listing.
You may manage your business from Google Search and Maps for free and start attracting more clients after creating your profile. Follow this link and learn more about Google Business Profile.
Local Keyword Research
You can improve your search visibility by researching and focusing on keywords that are relevant to your business and area. You can use Google's keyword planner to find keywords for your Search campaigns.
As identified by Ahrefs, a website for an All-in-one SEO toolset, here are other free keyword research tools you can choose from:
- Google Trends
- Keyword Generator
- Keyword Sheeter
- Answer the Public
- Keyword Surfer
- Keyworddit
- Google Search Console
- Questiondb
- Bulk Keyword Generator
Local Citations
Local citations are when the name, address, and phone number of a business are mentioned on another website. It's a big part of Local SEO because it gives search engines more information about your business, which can help it show up higher in local search results.
Check out these 21 web directories to increase visibility and drive traffic to your website!
Online Reviews Management
Online reviews management is the process of keeping an eye on, managing, and responding to customer reviews of a business that are posted online. These reviews can be found on Google My Business, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and social media sites, among other places.
On-Page Optimization
On-Page Optimization is the process of making each web page as good as it can be so that it ranks higher in search engines and gets more relevant traffic.
With the right tools, like Leadpages, you can bring your ideas to life and create a beautiful, functional website that truly represents your brand or message.
Link Building
Link building is the process of getting backlinks, which are links from other websites to your own. The goal is to make a website more visible and trustworthy on search engine results pages.
Backlinks are one of the most important parts of SEO because they show search engines like Google that your website is authoritative, especially if it is linked to other high-authority domains.
Local Content Creation
Local content creation is the process of making and putting out content that is made for a local audience. This kind of content is meant to help a local business get more attention and traffic from search engines by focusing on keywords and phrases that are relevant to the area.
Here are some Local SEO Content strategies that you might be of help in creating your content.
- Write Guest Posts To Get Traffic From Local Websites
- Search Relevant Local Keywords
- Create Content For The Local Audience
- Increase Social Media Activities
- Sponsor And Join Local Events
Google Map Pack Optimization
Google Map Pack Optimization is the process of improving a local business's listing on Google My Business so that it shows up higher in the “map pack” or “local pack” of Google Maps search results.
In the search results, the map pack is the section that shows a map with a list of local businesses that match the user's search query.
Mobile Optimization
Mobile optimization is the process of making sure that a website is optimized for people who use smartphones and tablets to get to it. It means making sure that the website is easy to use and navigate on a small screen, that it loads quickly, and that the content is easy to read.
Creating mobile-responsive templates, like in Leadpages, optimizes your websites as they would be more user-friendly on any device, whether desktop, tablet, or mobile.
Tips you need to know about Local SEO for your business
With all the local SEO services available, it can be overwhelming to know where to start. But don't worry; by following these tips, you'll be well on your way to making your business more visible online.
Make the most of your free Google Business Profile
Fill out all of the fields on your profile, including your company name, address, phone number, and website. Include a brief description of your company and the services it provides. Add high-quality photos and videos to your profile to give potential customers a better idea of what your company looks like and what services you provide.
According to Bluehost, you can indeed benefit from Google My Business because it:
- Informs the public about your brand
- Helps you interact with your customers
- Promotes your products and services
- Improves local SEO
- Provides traffic insights
- Enables you to manage your brand
Make use of local keywords
To help potential customers find you in search results, include relevant keywords in your business name and description. The insights you can gain from these actual search terms can help inform both your content strategy and your overall marketing strategy.
Some of the reasons why keyword research is essential for local SEO are:
- Finds out what people are looking for online
- Recognizes the competitive landscape
- Identifies content opportunities with low competition
- Recognizes search intent
- Contributes to the creation of new content ideas
Get your business listed in online directories
To improve your NAP or (Name, Address, and Phone number) consistency and search visibility, submit your company information to online directories and data aggregators. List your hours of operation and specialties, including your business hours and any specialties you may have. Keep your profile up to date with the most recent information about your company, such as promotions and events.
Respond to customer feedback
Responding to reviews, whether positive or negative, will help you build trust and establish a reputation as a company that values its customers.
Surely, it is difficult to obtain positive feedback from customers, so ask them first how they feel about your products/services.
What you can do is try to ask for feedback to your customers after they have tried your product/s and service/s. Now, if you are confident that the customer is satisfied and would give you a high rating, encourage them to write a review in your Google My Business and other sites you have for your business.
But remember that even a 5-star rating is insufficient if there is only one review. So make sure you have a sufficient number of reviews so that people believe your high average star rating.
A large number of reviews not only boosts your credibility but also helps you rank higher in search results.
Optimize your website for the intent of local search queries
Optimize your website and other online properties for users who are looking for businesses like yours in your area. As the majority of search queries come from mobile devices, make sure your website is mobile-friendly and fast.
Make local content
Create content that is relevant and valuable to your local audience; this will help you attract local customers and improve your visibility in local search results.
Monitor your analytics
Monitor your website's traffic and conversions with tools like Google Analytics, and make changes to your Local SEO strategy as needed.
What to expect about the costs of Local SEO?
Local SEO services can cost different amounts, depending on what services are offered and how big and complicated the business is.
Some Local SEO services, like setting up and optimizing a Google My Business listing, may be free or have a low one-time cost. Other services, like ongoing keyword research and on-page optimization, might have a cost per month or per retainer.
Local SEO services from an agency or consultant can cost anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per month, depending on the services offered, the size and complexity of the business, and the number of services.
Costs for Local SEO services may also depend on where the business is and how much competition it has. For instance, Local SEO services for a business in a market with a lot of competition may cost more than for a business in a market with less competition.
In essence, knowing the Local SEO services and investing effort and money on it can greatly benefit your local business by improving visibility, driving more traffic, and ultimately increasing your brand awareness!
So what do you think about this article and Local SEO? Let us know your thoughts by leaving your comments and questions below!
