Getting more people to walk into your store is the goal of any small business. And local SEO is the best way to get your name out there and start reaching your goals.
People can use local search results to find the products and services they want and then follow step-by-step directions to the business’s front door.
Hungry? Just look for food places near you. Feeling bored? Hey, check the area for escape rooms, arcades, and other places to have fun. Do you want anything else? Just type in the words you want to find and go.
So, if you want more people to come into your local business store, you must use the power of local search. If you don’t, competitors who do will leave you in the dust.
Confused? Looking for how to get started? Here are some Local SEO Hack that can help you achieve your desired results.
Define Local SEO?
Local SEO, or search engine optimization, lets business owners make their brand more visible when people search for things in their area. These searches use keywords that show the user wants to find a restaurant, store, or other places of business in the area. Whether it’s restoration SEO marketing or restaurant SEO marketing, local SEO is a great tool for a digital marketer to draw the right customer base to a business.
Most of the time, the results show up in the map pack at the top, making it easy to find the business. More results show up below the map so that users can find their way to the websites of relevant brands if they want to.
Why is Local SEO important?
If you don’t optimise for relevant local search terms, your business won’t show up at the top of the map results, which could put you out of the running altogether.
If you rank lower on the page than your competitors, they will likely get more foot traffic than you.
Local searches also bring in a lot of money. Over 46% of all searches are looking for something local.
Over 75% of people who do a local search end up going to at least one of the businesses within 24 hours.
So, if you don’t take advantage of local searches that are relevant to your business, you could miss out on a lot of sales over time.
How does Local SEO Work?
Local SEO works similarly to regular searches, as search engines match keywords to relevant content. But the ways that the results are ranked are very different from normal searches.
Google’s algorithm first looks at where the user is and then compares that to the NAP citations of nearby brands. Then, the system matches the user’s search term with keywords that appear in each company’s Google My Business (GMB) profile and reviews.
There are more things that go into putting the results in the right order, such as:
- Reviews& Ratings
- Social Signals
- Local Customer Visits
Overall, brands need a strong online presence and the following to back it up if they want to show up as much as possible in local search results.
Advantages of Target Local Keywords
You’ll get all of the following advantages if you make sure your brand ranks well for local searches:
- It will increase your brand awareness.
- Get more people to visit your stores in person.
- Increase the number of people who find your brand’s website on their own.
- Make strong connections with the people you want to reach.
- Gain more trust with potential and current customers
With so many benefits to be had, you really can’t afford to pass up local search engine optimization opportunities. If you don’t do it, someone else in your business will. So, don’t allow them to leave you behind.
Tips for Local SEO Optimization
Follow these four steps to start improving your search rankings and start showing up in local search results.
1. Local Keywords
If you want to do well in local searches, you need a keyword map to show you the way.
Research keywords for your brand using tools like Semrush, SpyFu, or WordStream to create your map. Then, cut down the list by choosing only the ones that are local.
Most location-based phrases are used in local keywords. Sometimes, they’ll add things like “pizza near me” or “best pet stores nearby” to show that they want to find something in the area.
2. Start Optimizing your GMB Profile
If you don’t have a Google My Business profile, you probably won’t rank well in local search results. Luckily, it’s pretty easy to set up your GMB profile. You just need to set up an account and follow the on-screen instructions.
Once your profile is done, you should optimise it by adding local keywords, up-to-date pictures, and micro-blog posts. Don’t forget to thank everyone who gives you a review or offers to fix any problems.
3. Be Accurate with your NAP Citations
Your NAP, name, address, and phone number, citations need to be correct. These citations should be the same everywhere on the web that your brand is mentioned.
If you don’t, the search engine could get confused about where your business is. That will not only hurt your ability to rank well for local keywords, but it could also change where your storefront is on the map.
4. Create Localized Pages
Your website needs to make it clear exactly what you do. To do that well, you just need to fill your site with content that is localised.
You could start doing that by telling your customers about local events on your blog that they might like to go to. Or, you could think about sponsoring events in your city. This will get you local backlinks, which will help your credibility even more.
Don’t forget to put your city, state, and any good names that people in your area call it on each page. If you live in Seattle, for example, you should use the phrase “Emerald City” from time to time in your good content.
If you do these four things, you’re likely to get more customers. At that point, all you have to do to get great reviews, improve your rating, and get social media shares is give great customer service.
All of this will help your local SEO success even more, making it easier to rank high for all your relevant local search terms.
