Local SEO is the process of optimizing your online presence so that search engines can accurately determine your business’s location and serve relevant results to users in your area. This is an essential component of any business’s digital marketing strategy, especially small businesses and brands that cater to a specific geographic region.
The best way to do this is by making sure your site has the right structured data and consistent NAP (name, address, phone number) across all directories and platforms. It also means ensuring your website pages are optimized for local keywords and including a map of your service area on each page.
Beyond this, you should focus on running link-building campaigns to get links from other local websites, area blogs, and news outlets that can drive traffic to your website and increase your search engine visibility. Luckily, many of the same link-building tactics that work for organic searches—building relationships with other websites, finding unlinked brand mentions, and reclaiming broken links—work just as well for local SEO.
As you build links, make sure to target local-specific, low-volume keywords that are likely to convert. This helps to prevent oversaturation of your niche and focuses on attracting qualified leads that are more likely to buy from you.
Another way to find valuable local keywords is by using Google’s Keyword Planner, which provides a list of suggested keywords for your campaign. You can then use the “Phrase Match” option to narrow down your selection by focusing on keywords that are commonly searched for in your area.
Service-based businesses, like plumbers and electricians, should always focus on local SEO to reach customers in their service areas. Even e-commerce companies with local intent, such as those that offer delivery and pickup services, can benefit from local SEO.
When it comes to generating local SEO traffic, reviews are one of the most important factors. This is because search engines look at online reviews to determine the legitimacy of a local business and its popularity. Therefore, you should be proactive in collecting authentic reviews from satisfied customers.
Besides focusing on the quality of online reviews, you should keep an eye on the number of check-ins to your business location and encourage your happy customers to share their experiences on social media. This will help boost your local search and snack pack rankings.
Lastly, it’s crucial to use an all-in-one local SEO tool that can help you manage and monitor your listings. This will save you time and effort from having to manually submit your NAP information to dozens of different directories and apps, checking for NAP consistency across those listings, and removing duplicates. Fortunately, Semrush’s all-in-one local SEO platform, Listing Management, can help you do this quickly and easily. It’s also a great way to track your local rankings on a ZIP code and local pack level, which is vital for local SEO success.