Today, more consumers are turning to local search to find businesses near them. Unlike in the past, people today want quick answers to their questions. Instead of going to the phone book and finding a list of numbers, they can simply search for the service they need and be taken to a location nearby. Local SEO helps plumbers get noticed as they can reach customers easily. People can read reviews and call local plumbers with a click of their mouse.
If you own a restaurant in New York, you would want to rank highly in local searches. As an example, a large home improvement store might rank high for millions of searches and have hundreds of thousands of links pointing to its website. Similarly, a local restaurant in Chicago would want to appear in searches for “restaurants in New York.”
Another factor that affects local SERP is the distance to the geographic location of the searcher. Other factors include mention of relevant keywords and categories. Having the right NAP is critical, and so is the number of reviews. The number, quality and diversity of reviews is also essential. Google bots crawl everywhere, and they keep track of everything. Adding social media links to your site is another effective way to increase your local SEO. While social media links do not directly influence search rankings, they do show up in the knowledge panel.
Getting your business listed in local directories is a great way to get found online. Make sure your contact information is updated and accurate. If you’re listed on local directories, be sure to update your listing information regularly, because outdated address information can hurt your local SEO ranking. You can also swap links with other local businesses in your area. Lastly, monitoring your social mentions and feedback are also essential. The more local your business is, the better it will rank for local searches.
It’s a good idea to build your link profile on industry-related websites, industry-specific blogs and forums, and citation sites. These methods will build your local link authority and uniqueness in Google’s eyes. However, keep in mind that Google forbids excessive link exchanges and recommends that you not use them to optimize your local search results. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to seek local business partners, such as real estate agents, to obtain these links.
Your NAP is your business’s address, phone number, and website URL. It’s also a good idea to include the name of your city, nearby towns, and neighborhoods. Include both official and unofficial terms to get more visibility. Also, don’t forget to mention local news and events to improve your SEO. Local events and sponsorships are highly beneficial to your business, so be sure to write about them. Interview local experts and write about these events.