Local SEO (or search engine optimization) is an online strategy used by businesses to expand their presence within local search results, increasing web traffic and connecting with potential customers.
Enhances your reputation. No matter the business type, having an impressive online reputation is essential to its success.
Keyword research
Local SEO keyword research should be an essential component of every small business’s online marketing strategy. Selecting relevant keywords can drive highly-targeted local traffic and bring new customers your way.
Step one in identifying relevant keywords is understanding who your target audience and their goals are. Ask yourself what they’re searching for and if there are seasonality trends that could impact their search patterns.
Once you understand who your target demographic is, come up with a list of keywords or phrases related to your business – this will serve as the basis of your main keyword research project.
Once you have your list of words compiled, use a keyword research tool to assess search volume and difficulty levels as well as filter by location or monitor changes over time in search volume. This will ensure you stay abreast of current keywords while also being ahead of emerging trends before your competitors do!
On-page optimization
Local search is an invaluable way to attract more customers and expand your business. While general Google searches may include local results, local searches focus specifically on one location and are typically conducted using mobile devices.
On-page optimization refers to the practice of improving your website to rank higher in search engines and increase organic traffic. This involves making changes to content and headlines as well as HTML tags and meta descriptions on the page itself.
On-page signals have grown increasingly important over time. According to BrightLocal’s most recent survey, 34% of SEOs believe on-page signals are the primary factor driving organic local search rankings.
Link building has become an increasingly important on-page signal. Linking out to relevant, authority websites is a proven strategy for earning high-quality backlinks that will boost local search visibility and help increase local SEO rankings.
An important aspect of local SEO is creating complete profiles on all major directories. This involves listing your NAP (Name, Address and Phone Number) on each listing as well as providing information regarding business hours and any special rules or regulations applicable.
Local citations
Citations is an integral component of local search engine optimization. Citations shows Google that your business is legitimate and trustworthy, potentially improving your rank in local search results.
Citations can be found on business directories, industry-specific websites and blogs as well as reviews posted to social media pages and reviews found within reviews.
Citations can be created manually or using services which provide them. Some are free while others charge.
Consistency of Name, Address and Phone Number (NAP) is critical in creating an effective citation profile and will increase your ranking on Google Local search. Ensuring all citation sources have accurate information about your business is ensured with consistency of NAP.
If your business information changes, such as changing its name or address, it’s vital that all citations be updated accordingly – otherwise search engines could ding your rankings and hinder customer discovery.
Social media
Social media plays a pivotal role in local SEO as it provides businesses with an avenue to connect with their target audiences. Furthermore, it enables businesses to obtain feedback from their customers as well as address any customer complaints in real time.
Businesses can also leverage this technique to collect important market intelligence about their target market and understand what trends interest them – information which will assist with creating content which resonates with audiences while increasing search engine ranking.
Instagram can help improve local SEO efforts for bars, restaurants and small theaters alike. Instagram provides geotagging capabilities which Google uses to verify your location when people perform local searches; furthermore it allows businesses to post user-generated content like photos of customers as user generated content that boosts brand and website visibility in local search results.