Approx 46% of online researches have a local purpose. As a local business, you can profit from this. Consumers in and around your store can simply search on Google with their smartphones and visit the business on the same day. This is a golden opportunity to reach your clients before your competitors do! For this prioritize local search engine optimization (SEO).
Local SEO increases a business’s online visibility to rank higher in local search engine results pages (SERPs). It has a geographical element and is good for location-specific businesses.
Know the benefits-
- Generates more visitors to your physical store
- Provides underlying online advantage
- Establishes trust with local consumers
- Increases site traffic
- Expands lead generation opportunities
- Capacity to earn loyal customers
Who can benefit from this?
Companies with a physical store/office, catering to a specific service area or are home-based, gain from local SEO. It is not for e-commerce stores and other internet-type companies.
Here are the strategies to rank better in local search results-
1. Google My Business listing
Google My Business is a free tool provided by Google! Making a social profile here is crucial for local companies. You can create a Google Search and Google Maps business profile.
Benefits of Google My Business-
- Gives local search visibility
- Secures online presence
- Delivers compelling first impression to local consumers
- Supports ongoing SEO efforts
- A free and easy-to-use reviews platform
- Gives customer insights
You can include important business information, operating hours, and upload product or service information for the local audience on the internet.
2. Local Citations
Citations are another critical local search ranking factor. It is the online mention of the business. The online mentioning lives on other sites and may or may not land back on your website. For instance, for a restaurant, Yelp would be considered a citation.
Other examples are-
- Foursquare
- Trip Advisor
- Bing
- Yellow Pages
Through citations, Google verifies if a business is famous among its local community. Gathering more citations can help to improve the local search rankings.
You can also use online tools to find directories to list your business:
- Whitespark
- BrightLocal
- Semrush
- Moz
3. NAP
NAP stands for name, address, and phone number. These details need to be consistent across all platforms your company uses, from Google My Business, social accounts to online citations and directories.
Inaccurate NAP details can frustrate user experience, contributing to the loss of sales. Using citation tools like Whitespark or Loganix can help to maintain NAP. These platforms audit the NAP data and find inconsistencies within the uploaded information.
Trusted SEO Agencies like Switch2us ensure that all the SEO best practices are applied to our client’s online presence. If you want your brand to benefit from professional assistance, reach us!
4. Online Reviews
Online reviews are extremely beneficial as a marketing tool. Most customers today make purchases based on online reviews and testimonials. Personal recommendations from friends and family members can even make people loyal customers. A good number of positive reviews can help your brand become trustworthy.
It can also increase online visibility and sales. Have strong customer support or review management system in place to tackle all kinds of feedback. Encourage people visiting your store or using your products and services to leave reviews on Google’s built-in review platform and other online directories like Yelp, Foursquare, and Facebook.
6. On-page SEO
It contributes to higher local search rankings! On-page SEO practices supporting your local SEO efforts involve-
- Short and engaging URLs
- Compelling meta descriptions
- Keyword-optimized content
- Local link opportunities
On your site, add location-specific landing pages with location-based URLs. For local SEO, include keyword-rich local content for local search queries that include “in [city]” or “near me” in their search terms.
SEO is fast evolving space and needs constant effort to keep up with new trends and developments. Switch2us recognized among the best SEO companies in India, understands this and puts an experienced staff to execute SEO strategies for your brand. Get in touch with us for your first consultation!
