The current global pandemic has urged many customers to rely on the internet to get products and services. They shop based not just on the price but also on the geographical proximity. In fact, according to MediaPost.com, more than 50% of online search users look for products and services with “near me” queries that lead to a physical store visit. A large percentage of local searches are then qualified leads that lead to actual sales by the end of the day. This is why marketing experts have recommended to owners to tap into their business local SEO as part of their strategy.
What is Local SEO?
Local SEO is the method or process of improving your website’s search engine visibility for the local market. Businesses of any industry with a physical location can benefit from local SEO. Creating content, optimizing your pages, and building links, all focusing on localizing intent, are part of local SEO. And with more than 80% of people looking for a business location when searching on Google, local SEO can attract local audiences and turn them into potential customers.
Do you want to start your local SEO marketing? Here is a complete guide that will help you boost your business local SEO marketing:
1 – Use Google Business Profile and optimize it.
Google Business Profile is local SEO’s cream of the crop. If your business doesn’t have a Google listing, create one or claim your listing. By doing so, you increase your brand’s chances of being featured on the front page of the local search result.
You can go to Google.com/business to start the registration and verifications process. If your business listing already exists, all you have to do is claim it and verify that you own the business. Once you have full access to your listing, the next thing you need to do is to optimize your Google Business Profile. Here are some tips:
- Add all the important details to your Google Business Profile. Make sure all the details are correct.
- Use Google Posts to update your listing and send signals to Google that your business is active.
- Share your Google Business Profile to your website and social media channels so your customers will know where they can leave a review regarding their experience with your business.
2 – Make sure that your business NAP is consistent online.
The key to local SEO is telling and verifying your location to Google to show it to the local consumers. This is why you have to ensure that the most important details about your business are consistently online. These details include your business name, business address, and phone number with the area code.
Too many businesses are having a hard time with local SEO because of inconsistent NAP. So double-check the information you’re posting online because even the slight difference can affect your local SEO efforts.
3 – Sign up on online directories and citations.
The most effective way of sending signals to Google that your business is local is by creating pages on online directory and citation sites. These include Yelp, Yellow Pages, Bing Places, Yahoo Small Business, Foursquare, and Chamber of Commerce.
Again, remember to remain consistent in the information you publish on these directory websites. Double-check for discrepancies, misspellings, or wrong phone numbers that can bring problems to your local SEO strategy.
4 – Build an internal linking structure.
External linking is crucial in SEO, but so is internal linking. Use an internal linking structure to boost your SEO rankings. It greatly helps with website navigation and also assists your website’s information structure. Internal linking also helps to distribute your page authority and ranking power among your pages.
Here are few tips when doing internal linking for your website and blog:
- Use anchor text.
- Link deep – create links that point to your homepage and contact us.
- Use links that are natural for the reader.
- Use follow-links.
- Make sure to use relevant links.
5 – Create content for your local market.
Be the local authority for your industry by writing local content for your community. Write about local or industry news that will attract your local audience. You can use your content to promote local industry gatherings, news, and how-to content on your blog.
When brainstorming for an idea, aim for top-of-the-funnel content that will engage your local audience. And don’t forget to include a powerful call to action.
6 – Your website should be mobile-friendly.
In a report released by Statista in 2020, 61% of all Google searches are performed on mobile devices. And according to experts, by 2025, the number may go to over 70%. This only shows how important mobile SEO is for your digital marketing strategy.
And when it comes to local SEO, most people who search for brands or businesses on their mobile phones are looking for directions to the business location. Other search intent includes searching for business contact information and looking for reviews. Think With Google proved this in a 2019 report that found that “near me” mobile searches have increased by 250%.
7 – Get inbound links from authoritative websites.
As stated earlier, inbound links create powerful opportunities to boost your local SEO business. Inbound links signal Google that your business is a legitimate company and can raise your domain authority. There are different ways to get inbound links, including guest blog posting, sponsored posts, and affiliated marketing.
Also, take note that the best inbound links you can get are from authoritative websites. These are websites with high domain ranking and are known online. Some examples include Entreprenuer.com, Forbes.com, HubSpot.com, and many more. For local SEO, the best way is to create a network using partnerships like the Chamber of Commerce to reach authoritative websites.
8 – Use your social media pages to engage audiences.
Social media also contributes to sending signals on Google as to whether your business is indeed local. In fact, Facebook is considered one of the best directory and citation websites you can use to reach your local community. Other social media websites you can use are Twitter, Linkedin, and Instagram. You can even pin your location on Instagram to show your followers where your business is located.
Post regularly and be active on your social media pages, share local content, and post about your business events or news. To take it to another level, you can even offer local discount programs for your local audience, which drives more interest and engagement.
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Do you want to start working on your local SEO marketing? We at Cybertegic, a digital marketing company in Pasadena, can help you by providing our expertise in SEO marketing, including local SEO strategies. You can schedule a free consultation with us by clicking this link.
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