Did you know that about 88% of consumer local business searches on a mobile device result in either calling or visiting the business within a span of 24 hours? This is possible through the use of great local SEO.
This may seem daunting to a beginner but it is one of the factors that can help you in gaining new customers and making your business visible online. To help you with this, here are some local SEO tips to get you started.
1. Have a Google My Business Account
Having a Google My Business account literally puts you on the map. Not only does it increase your visibility for local searches but it also provides viewers basic information about your business. People can instantly get a hold of your operating hours, contact information, and website.
Do you already have one or are you still getting started with the account? Whichever the case, make sure you fill up the information on the profile. This includes the name, address, and phone number of the business.
Google will then contact you by a phone call or email for verification. Once you have those taken care of, you are all set on that aspect.
2. Have an Updated and Consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number)
On that note, make sure you maintain an updated and consistent NAP. This is not a matter of preference, but a needed moment of strict meticulousness. If your business name has LLC, Co, or Inc. on it, make sure to include that on the name.
Ensuring consistency is key in boosting your SEO. This also applies for those using Google My Business. After all, having both updated information and quality images improve your professional appearance.
3. Add Location Pages to Your Website
Does your business have multiple locations or storefronts? Consider having separate location pages to your website. Doing so adds a degree of organization and an easier time in finding the right shop.
Aside from using different landing pages for each location, you can also use a location specific “about us” page. Whichever approach you choose, ensure that they have the essential information such as the NAP, store hours, Google Map locations, and contact details.
4. Optimize Your URLs, Tags, and Voice Search
URLs and tags, as well as voice searches, all boil down to one aspect: keywords.
By choosing a consistent set of keywords, you can optimize your header tags and the URLs to ensure your website comes up more in relevant local searches.
The same is true with voice search, which requires more frequent use of longtail keywords. The method used for voice searches is in sentence form, making it more conversational. Keep these in mind when setting up optimization.
Before we continue, also make sure that the website is mobile-friendly. After all, the majority of the searches come from mobile devices and smartphones.
5. Reviews Can Help You
When a customer or visitor leaves a good word on you, it can help your business in tremendous ways. In this case, reviews and ratings can help in boosting and optimizing your website.
Reviews provide details about a customer’s experience in the form of testimonials. This allows other potential customers to check out your business by reading the type of customer service you offer.
Ratings, as in the case of the star ratings, can give an easy summary by looking at how high the customers rate your product or service. This also appears alongside reviews to back up what they report.
These two points can affect your website’s SEO as it grants more chances in surfacing in search results. Not to mention it draws in more potential customers who would like to try out what you offer.
6. Create Local Content
None of these local SEO tips won’t work if your site doesn’t have content that caters to your target demographic. Make local content!
Content marketing happens to be one of the key strategies you should try out for organic results. This can range from blog posts to e-books, and even podcasts and videos. Create a stream of relevant content in line with your business.
There are many strategies to look into with content marketing. You can look at this one on video marketing for an idea you can try out.
7. Local Keywords and the Keyword Planner
We mentioned earlier about how keywords help in optimizing the website’s URLs and tags. How do you know which keywords target local searches and boost local visibility? This is where the Keyword Planner comes in.
Google’s tool helps you filter keyword searches. This also filters the keywords based on location. This gives you an idea on the popular search terms within the area.
Another tip to note with keywords is to also know what your competitors use. This is where tools like SpyFu come to play for better planning. You can weigh out whether to compete with them or focus instead on different keywords.
8. Take Advantage of Online Business Directories
Take advantage of websites like Yelp, or Foursquare. Making use of online business directories also boosts your SEO. This is similar to how Google My Business increases your local visibility.
When setting up your business through an online business directory, always include essential information. This includes the accurate name, address, and number for your business. Always include a backlink to your website and a thorough description of the business.
9. Focus on Link Signals
Speaking of backlinks, you also need to focus on link signals. These become essential for local packs and organic results for a good reason: link signals point towards your site.
How do you get high-quality backlinks? You need to have a consistent stream of high-quality content. This brings more to check out your website.
Also, guest blogs and social media engagement (especially with influencers) can also work to your advantage. In this case, go for reputable sites with high domain authority when you guest blog.
10. Make Use of Social Media Platforms
Social media platforms hold a vast audience within its network. You can make use of this potential. Social media engagement and marketing can also help matters with your SEO.
This is where having a business page or account on platforms like Facebook or Instagram can also help matters for you. You can share your content through these accounts. You can also provide updates and even interact with customers.
That said, keep in mind that social media doesn’t affect SEO directly. Instead, it helps by increasing brand awareness and boosting engagement. It can also help you build an email listing.
Engage and Optimize with these Local SEO Tips
With these local SEO tips, you now have the means to ensure that your website comes up to the first page of the search results. Make use of these strategies. Find ways to ensure that you have new customers and visitors coming your way.
Need help with SEO? We have services and solutions that you can make use of. These also include web design and social media management. Check out our pricing plans to get started.
