Local SEO is a key SEO strategy where you want your business to come up in the search engine results pages (SERPS) when a google search takes place in a specific location. This article includes our local SEO tips to help you get found in the local searches and why it’s important for your business.
80% of consumers used search engines to find local information and businesses (Source) which makes for a key argument as to why you should work on your business’s local SEO.
Further statistics show that:
Local Search Engine Optimisation has 2 key areas where your business website can be found on Google.
As a local business owner, here are some local SEO basics to implement as part of your local SEO campaign to improve your business’s visibility in the local search results:
Local keyword research provides precise insights into the search queries your potential customers use. This information is invaluable if your business depends on local clients. By optimising your content for the appropriate local keywords, you can enhance your organic visibility on local listings on the search engine results pages (SERPs).
Effective local keyword research has several benefits:
Create local search engine optimization content that is relevant to your target market, so when you put this is context of local SEO, when you are targeting an audience in a specific area of postcode, align that content to be relevant to local residents.
Make sure you set up a Google My Business profile and start by adding all basic business info and add every physical location where you have an office. Having a Google Business Profile will give your website the opportunity to feature in the “map pack” which will help your business get found in the local searches.
For any local business to get ranked in map packs it is important to keep your GMB (Google Business Profile) up-to-date and accurate. This includes keeping the following updated:
Obtaining niche-specific backlinks from authoritative websites within your industry signals to search engines that your website is a trusted source in that particular niche, ultimately boosting your search engine rankings and enhancing your online visibility among your target audience. They also offer precise exposure to a specific audience, credibility within a specialised industry, improved local visibility, and the opportunity to establish authority and trust within niche communities.
Niche directories often face less competition than broader ones, facilitating higher search result rankings for listed entries. In essence, leveraging niche directories proves to be a highly effective strategy for reaching your desired audience and achieving specific marketing objectives.
These directories categorise businesses by niche, location, or category and frequently feature customer reviews, making it simple for consumers to find relevant businesses quickly, cutting through the marketing noise, and increasing the visibility of your business, ultimately leading to greater sales opportunities.
As part of your local SEO strategy, collect reviews from your customers on Google My Business. Google Reviews play a crucial role in SEO, enhancing local search rankings and boosting your business’s visibility in search results. Positive reviews are a powerful tool for helping your business to stand out from competitors and draw in potential customers. They also build trust and social proof that will influence purchasing decisions of your local audience, establish a robust online presence with local searches and contribute to your business’s overall success.
This short section of local SEO FAQs covers common questions we get asked about how local businesses can get their business found on Google.
Local SEO is a form of SEO which helps businesses improve their visibility on Google. Businesses serving the same geographic region can use local search engine optimisation.
National SEO usually uses various words to describe products or services—without identifying geographic terms or intentions for the products or services they’re targeting. Local SEO targets similar keywords or phrases that are searchable within local areas.
Local SEO involves the process of fine-tuning a website to boost traffic, generate leads, and enhance local brand recognition through local search. Strategies to improve local SEO include identifying local keywords, optimising a business’s Google My Business profile, and creating “NAP” citations.
There are a number of local SEO ranking factors that a business can improve to improve its local search ranking such as:
This four-stage process can be used for local SEO to improve organic search results:
Claim your free local SEO audit today where we will give you actionable local SEO tips and free local SEO tools that you can use to improve your local SEO efforts.
