Local search engine optimization (SEO) helps businesses increase their presence locally. It’s an effective and proven strategy for drawing in new customers.
Local search is an increasingly popular trend that allows people to locate products or services within their immediate geographic region online. Such searches often use localized keywords, such as “near me” or “business + city.”
Keyword Research
Keyword research is one of the key elements of Local Search Engine Optimization. It allows businesses to determine what keywords to focus on to drive traffic and sales growth.
Implementing SEO keywords correctly will ensure that your site appears in search results when people search for products and services near their location. However, not all keywords generate equal traffic so it is essential that your decisions be carefully considered prior to implementing an SEO strategy.
Understanding user intent is another vital aspect of keyword research that impacts SEO strategies. Nowadays it’s more essential than ever that your content addresses what searchers are trying to achieve with their search than just carrying keywords as content is king!
Start by developing a list of topics you wish to cover and identifying key business categories you wish to highlight, then using a tool such as Wordtracker to locate locally relevant keywords to target.
On-Page Optimization
Every business wants their website to be recognized when someone searches for something related to their brand, and on-page optimization increases this likelihood.
Local SEO refers to optimizing your web pages based on keywords or phrases people search online to locate your business, including updating on-page content, title tags, internal links and more.
Keyword targets should be selected with realistic Keyword Difficulty, CPCs and search volume considerations in mind (otherwise you are optimizing for nobody).
Make sure that the content on your page is both relevant and user-friendly, providing an enjoyable user experience. Ideally, your page content should read smoothly while satisfying searchers’ intent.
Local Citations
Citationss are an integral component of local SEO strategy. By helping Google verify your business location, they enable it to rank higher for relevant search queries.
Citations is an effective way of sharing key details about your business, such as NAP data (name, address and phone number) as well as links back to its website. Structured citations can often be found on directories or business listing sites.
Furthermore, online directories help your business establish a trustworthy reputation online. When Google sees that you’re listed on reputable websites, it will begin trusting it more and more, increasing its likelihood of appearing in local searches as well as driving more visitors directly to your business website.
Link Building
One of the core elements of Local Search Engine Optimization is link acquisition. Earning relevant links can help improve local rankings and drive more visitors to your website.
When seeking links, be sure to search for ones relevant to the location and industry of your business. This approach is more efficient than general link building as it targets specific target audiences for maximum success.
Google My Business (GMB) can be an excellent way to discover who else has listings in your area and claim yours, then update its NAP with that from any other locations where your business has presence.
As part of your online presence, consider Yelp and other review websites like it to gain positive reviews that can make you appear more legitimate and trustworthy to customers as well as encourage others to leave feedback themselves.