Local SEO is a game-changing strategy for small businesses in driving web and foot traffic. There are a number of ways for small businesses to improve local SEO. From conducting local keyword research to building a mobile-friendly site, these factors can significantly help in local SEO efforts.
It doesn’t matter if you have a marketing team or not because these strategies require little expertise and can be implemented by even the most in-experienced marketers.
Most small local businesses are disadvantaged in the digital marketplace in terms of visibility, engagement and sales success. This is because most local business marketers do not use local SEO strategies.
Here’s how to fix this problem!
Table of contents
What Is Local SEO?
If you know the basics of digital marketing, then you must be familiar with SEO. However, what sets local SEO apart is the focus on geo-targeting. The best part about local SEO is that it is area-specific. This makes marketing more targeted, thereby, more effective.
Local SEO comprises a range of techniques similar to normal SEO. Keep reading to find out about the importance of this strategy to local small businesses. It can be a powerful strategy for upcoming and established local small businesses.
How Do Small Businesses Benefit From Local SEO?
For small businesses, the benefits of local SEO can be game-changing. As competition among e-commerce stores is increasing, it is important that local small businesses are not marginalized during the process. Local SEO strategies help drive traffic to such businesses. The benefits are apparent:
- It increases visibility
- Boosts engagement
- Contributes to business growth.
The need for local SEO tactics can be reflected in statistical evidence as 78% of local searches made by mobile users lead to in-store purchases. This should be enough to merit local SEO attention. If marketers want to stand out from competitors, then they need to refocus their time and energy on this particular strategy.
Top-Listed Local SEO Strategies
If you’re struggling to get your small business recognized, employ these local SEO techniques! General SEO strategies and local ones are similar to each other, and they only differ due to the location-specific features.Â
These basic tips and tricks will help make your small local brand rise to prominence. Whether you’re a local e-commerce store or a brick-and-mortar store, you can benefit immensely from SEO.
Incorporate Location Pages on the Website
This is the starting point for any local SEO strategy. It is essential that your business’s website includes a location page. It is basically information relative to your business’s location and includes details like a map, contact information and store address.
This will help your website rank higher in SERPs. Location pages should be the top consideration of any marketer/web designer. The Name, Address and Postcode information can help small businesses outshine in SERPs. This simple addition to your website can make your brand more visible.
Google Business Account
You cannot effectively have a local SEO strategy without a Google Business Account. This helps business owners in having their business show up in Maps and Search. This gives an advantage to locally operating businesses by increasing the visibility of their brand. This account can be a lifesaver in terms of long-term survival.
The best part is that making a Google Business Account is easy and free. Download this now and watch your business transform!
Conduct Local Keyword Research
This strategy can work like magic. For the purpose of content marketing, it is imperative that you make use of local keywords. Most mobile users type in area-specific words on search engines when searching for online or in-store businesses.
In addition, keyword placement should also be a consideration. These are important SEO ranking factors. To achieve this, you must first determine search volume and then devise a strategy accordingly. It is vital to make use of industry-specific keywords to maximize SEO efforts. The use of location-specific keywords can be game-changing for local SEO.
Design a Mobile-Friendly Website
Another high-ranking SEO factor. It is crucial that you design a mobile-friendly website for users. Google’s algorithm takes web design into account when indexing. Therefore, you should either use mobile-friendly web templates from Wix or hire a web developer/designer to help you reform your website.
By doing so, you can be sure of making your website more visible on SERPs. Web design is as crucial an element for local SEO as any other. Marketers must not overlook this important element. In today’s day and age, achieving this has never been easier.
Keep a Watchful Eye on Local Reviews
Most, if not all, tourists read user reviews to determine whether a local business is worth the shot or not. Therefore, as a marketer, you should be vigilant of user reviews. If there’s inaccurate information or a bad review, then it can be detrimental to your small business.
It is important to filter out and respond to user feedback. Positive customer reviews can help you rank higher on search engines. This is important for all businesses, but even more so for local and small businesses.
Local SEO Strategies for 2023
For SEO experts, 2023 seems to be a promising year. To constantly improve your local SEO efforts, it is important to read up on the latest information related to SEO ranking factors. As ChatGPT makes headlines in the digital marketing world, it is important to understand the usefulness of this tool for boosting local SEO efforts. From conducting keyword research to helping marketers in formatting, this tool is proving to be worth the hype.
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