Local SEO is the process of optimizing your website and online listings for customers in a specific geographic area. It differs from traditional SEO, which is done for businesses that cater to audiences from multiple locations.
The goal of Local SEO is to improve your business’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs), and drive more traffic to your store or website. This can lead to more in-store or phone sales, or even more online orders through your POS system.
Search engines like Google use an algorithm to determine which sites to display in SERPs. The algorithm takes into account factors such as relevance, authority, and prominence. Then it matches them with the searcher’s location to show the most relevant results. Typically, the first few results on SERPs are local businesses.
To increase your business’s chances of showing up in local searches, start by ensuring that your NAP (name, address, phone number) is consistent across all online listings and directories. This includes social media profiles, review platforms, and your own website. You should also check for duplicate listings and update them accordingly.
Next, focus on building links from local websites and blogs. These will be highly associated with your location and have high authority. You can find these by searching for your city or region in Google and seeing which websites come up. Ideally, you want to build links from sites that are managed by humans rather than automatically generated by robots. This is because they are less likely to be spammy and more trusted by search engines.
Finally, make sure that you have a strong online presence on social media and that your website is mobile-friendly. Both of these factors can impact your ranking in local searches.
Getting found online is just as important as being found in-store. In fact, when people conduct local searches on their smartphones, they are 38% more likely to visit the physical store. This is because they can learn more about your products and services, compare prices, and check reviews before making a purchase.
Local SEO can help you achieve all of these things, so don’t miss out on potential revenue. Take the time to optimize your online listings and website for local searches, and you’ll soon see an increase in customer visits.
If you’re ready to take your local SEO efforts to the next level, contact us. We can help you optimize your online listings, boost your SEO, and create a seamless shopping experience across all channels.
Local SEO is essential for small and medium-sized businesses that want to compete in local markets. It’s a proven method of driving more traffic to your website and store, increasing conversions, and ultimately, growing your business. Our team of experts can help you get started today. Let’s talk!