Local SEO is a strategy to get your website to rank high in search engine results when potential customers are looking for a local business. It’s a strategy that’s more important than ever because with the growth of mobile internet use, more people are using their phones to find businesses.
Google has rolled out a number of tools to help you optimize your local SEO and increase your visibility. Here are a few of the most valuable ones:
Keyword Planner
Google’s keyword planner is great for finding new keywords and determining which terms are most valuable for your target audience. But it’s also a great tool for finding local keywords that will bring in more customers from the area you serve.
NAP
The acronym NAP stands for “Name, Address, Phone Number.” Your business name, address and phone number need to be consistent across all of your online properties. This includes your website, Google Business Profile, and third-party sites like Yelp.
Schema Markup
You can add a lot of structured data to your site to help it rank better in search engines, especially for local search. Fortunately, Rank Math’s Schema Markup module makes it easy to implement and automate this process so your information is accurate, relevant and verified by search engines.
Build Links
Getting quality links to your website is essential for local SEO. This is done by building links from other websites that relate to your business, either within the same industry or in different industries. This will give your site a boost in the SERPs and drive traffic to your site.
Linking to industry-specific directories is another important way to build links to your site. These will not only boost your rankings but it will also show that you are an authority in your field.
Local Review Tracking & Management
If you haven’t already, it’s a good idea to start collecting and managing online reviews for your business. These will help you build brand equity and credibility and can boost your ranking in the local pack if you have plenty of them.
Be sure to respond to customer reviews as they arise. This will help to reassure potential customers that your business is genuine and trustworthy.
Social Media & Content
The best way to boost your local search ranking is to promote your business on social media, particularly Facebook. You can also use social media to create helpful and informative content for your local audience. This could be a calendar of city-wide events, a map of local service providers or any other kind of content that will be beneficial for your community and contain high-quality on-page local signals.
Network & Referrals
If you’re a local business, it’s critical to network with other businesses in your industry and share their products or services. This can be done via email or direct contact with other local business owners.
In general, it’s best to start with your own community of business owners in the same field or similar areas. This will not only strengthen your relationships but will also give you a chance to exchange relevant links and make the most of their network of connections.