Local SEO is a key component of your online marketing strategy. It helps search engines rank your website higher for searches in your service area. This is important because 89 percent of mobile searches have local intent, according to Google. And that means if you don’t have your local SEO strategy in place, you are missing out on potential customers.
The most effective way to do local SEO is by optimizing your website for the keywords that your target audience is searching. This includes researching keywords and incorporating them into your on-page content. It’s also a good idea to optimize your online presence through listings and social media channels.
A 2017 study from Acquisio found that local search engine optimization can be extremely lucrative. It found that 75% of all searches that exhibit local intent result in an in-store visit within five miles. So, if you’re not doing local SEO, you are missing out on a huge opportunity to drive traffic and sales.
There are many factors that influence local search, including Google My Business profiles, citations, review signals and more. It’s important to focus on the ones that matter most for your specific industry and customer base.
Developing a high-quality, locally optimized website is a vital first step to boosting your visibility in local search results. Adding local keywords to your website’s homepage, category pages and internal page titles is another effective strategy. This is especially helpful for businesses that offer a variety of products and services in multiple locations.
Another important factor is ensuring that your business information (name, address and phone number) is consistent across all platforms. Google takes into account this when ranking your business in local search results. Using tools like Semrush’s Listing Management will help you ensure that your business NAP is correct and up-to-date across all of your citations, social media profiles and online directory listings.
As a bonus, creating informative, top-of-funnel blog posts about your region and industry will boost your local search rankings. For example, if you are a security company targeting new companies moving into your city, creating a resource that helps them acclimate to the area will demonstrate your expertise and make your business stand out from competitors. This type of content can include guides for new security companies, lists of local service providers and other relevant resources.
If you have the budget, consider hiring a local SEO agency to help with your strategy. A team of experts will be able to identify the best strategies for your business and implement them. They can also assist with other digital marketing efforts, such as paid ads and content creation.
A comprehensive local SEO strategy requires a lot of time and effort. But it’s worth it in the long run, as it can dramatically increase your visibility and drive more traffic to your website. Invest in your local SEO today and watch your revenue grow! For more tips and tricks on how to boost your local visibility, check out our full guide on Local SEO.