SEO

One of the most non-complicated yet most important marketing strategies to implement now is to optimise local SEO. Smaller firms that operate on a regional rather than national scale require local SEO. Local SEO focuses on SERPs in a given place, whereas national SEO focuses on ranking in searches throughout the country. Because the approach is more relevant to your local client base, optimising your local SEO implies:

  • Using your brand, goods, and services to target local leads and customers
  • More website traffic, leads, and conversions
  • Help in competing more successfully against larger national companies with unlimited budgets
  • Better brand presence
  • You can negate the advantage of larger companies that consistently optimise for broader keywords and rely on brand awareness, rather than value propositions, to bring in visitors

According to SEO stats of 2021, Google searches for a local company or service account for 46% of all searches and out of which 28% result in the purchase. Power of local SEO is immense!

Here are the top 5 ways to make your local SEO campaign a success.

1) Optimise Google My Business

Getting your Google listing (also known as your Business Profile) optimised is one of the most efficient ways to rank better on Google Maps and in Google Search local results. Your Business Profile is visible in Google Search local results, the Google Search Knowledge Panel, and Google Maps if all the business information is updated. Include your logo, hours of operation, accepted payment methods, the product or service you provide with its photos, encourage consumers to leave reviews online, reply honestly to customer feedback, and publish postings (announcing products, events, and special offers).

2) Optimise Voice Search

In the next years, voice search will explode. As a result, optimising for how people ask queries while speaking into devices, rather than how they write out their searches, is critical in local SEO. When it comes to voice searches, your consumers utilise more long-tail keywords than when they perform conventional searches. As a consequence, the SEO of your content will need to be adjusted to fit the more tone of voice of someone speaking. You’ll need to account for typical question starters, for example (who, what, when, where, why, and how).

3) Generate Content Based on Local News, Events, or Trends

Nothing beats creating content that talks or connects directly to a local issue for grabbing the attention of your local clients and helping you rank for each unique story. This is what you can generate on your social media channels or other platforms:

  • Create blog entries centered on local news, activities, or events
  • Making films on local charities or issues that your company supports
  • Write stories about a noble cause that a resident has done
  • If you serve various areas of a region, create location-specific sites on your website with high-quality local information
  • Mention a city trend or a hashtag on your social media channels

4) Use location pages or an "About Us" section that is specific to the location

If your company has many locations in a given area, location pages are a requirement. When you have several locations, be careful since each page requires distinct content. At the most, these pages must include the following:

  • Hours of operation of the store
  • Name, address, and contact information
  • Descriptions tailored to the individual
  • Testimonials
  • Promotions
  • Parking available
  • Google Maps link

5) Use online business directories to your advantage

Websites like Yellow Pages, Just Dial, Yelp, Foursquare, MapQuest, etc. are a few examples of online business directories. Not only will having your company name, location, and phone number included in these directories aid with exposure, but it will also help with local SEO. The basic information should be included in your company listing:

  • All directories should have the same business name, location, and phone number
  • A link back to your site
  • A detailed description of your company

6) Create High-quality Back Linking Signals

For local pack (or snack pack) results and localised organic results, link signals are the main and second most significant variables, respectively. Link signals are backlinks that point to your website. To enhance your local SEO, you need to get links, but the quality of those links is just as important.  We’ve listed down a few pointers on how to obtain high-quality backlinks:

7) Concentrate more on local keywords specific to your area

It’s best to select keywords that are relevant to local customers. It’s only natural, isn’t it? Google’s Keyword Planner allows you to limit keyword searches by location to get a sense of the most popular search keywords in a certain area. This helps you to create a list of relevant keywords for your location. They should show in your site’s Meta text, copy, and URLs once you have them. Include referrals to local landmarks and hotspots in your content as well. Include allusions to ‘nearby places” on your website to be easily located on the search map.

SEO evolves at a quick pace. You can’t predict when Google will introduce new local search features to its SERPs, but you can count on it. That’s why it’s critical to keep on top of local SEO at all times. By following these 7 actionable elements, you’ll guarantee that your company not only benefits from profitable local searches but also has a strong foundation for when new SEO capabilities are added.