Did you know that 97% of consumers search for local businesses online? If your business isn’t showing up in those results, you’re missing out on a lot of potential customers. But don’t worry – local SEO is easier than you think and can be done yourself with a little bit of effort. In this article, we will discuss what local SEO is and the importance of local SEO for businesses. We will also outline the steps you need to take to get the best results from your local SEO campaign.
What Is Local SEO?
Local SEO is pretty self-explanatory. It is the process of improving your web presence to boost your search engine exposure among local users. Ordinarily, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a digital marketing strategy that helps you improve your website’s ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). Summarily, local SEO is the optimization of your website for local searches so that you can increase traffic from people who are living close to your business.
Local SEO is different from traditional SEO because it considers the physical location of the local business. This is done by optimizing your website’s title tags, meta descriptions, images, and other content for local keywords. Local SEO also includes creating a local citation and getting local backlinks from high-quality websites in your local community.
How Does Local Search Work?
Google search creates a local listing of small businesses that appears on the SERP based on the user’s location. The local business listings include a map with three businesses that Google deems to be the most relevant to the user’s search. Google maps then directs local customers to the local area of the business.
The goal of local SEO is to get your local online presence and local rankings as high as possible so that local customers can find you when they are searching for local services. This gives you an edge over other businesses.
The Importance Of Local SEO
Now that you understand what local SEO is, it’s time to discuss why it is so important.
Local Search Presence
Local SEO is important because it allows you to target potential customers searching for businesses like yours in your local area. With a well-optimized website, you can increase your local search presence and attract more walk-in customers.
Increase Sales
A strong local SEO campaign can help you increase sales and grow your business. Local SEO helps small businesses connect with local customers looking for their products or services. When potential customers find your business online, they are more likely to visit your store or make a purchase from your website.
Builds Trust And Credibility
When customers search for businesses online, they look for a business they can trust. Local SEO helps you build trust and credibility with potential customers by making it easier for them to find accurate information about your business online.
When customers can easily find your business name, address, and phone number (NAP), they are more likely to trust your business. Local SEO also helps you build credibility by increasing your website’s ranking on SERPs. The higher you rank, the more credible you appear to buyers.
Search Engine Visibility
Local SEO is important because it can help you improve your website’s visibility on Search Engine Result Pages (SERP). When you optimize your website for local keywords, you are more likely to appear in the local search results of potential customers. Local SEO also helps you get traffic from Google Maps, which can be a valuable source of leads for small businesses.
Digital Marketing
Local SEO helps with your overall digital marketing strategy because it provides online advertising opportunities specifically geared toward local consumers. It will help a small business owner handle the business strategy of geographically-related searches.
Where Do Local Search Results Appear?
Local search results display a selection, known as Local Pack, of the top three most relevant results. They appear in a boxed area underneath the pay-per-click ads, accompanied by a map with dropped pins.
Here are the most common places that your local search results show:
Google My Business
A Google My Business profile is completely free and an important stage of any Local SEO campaign. If you don’t have one, that should be your next task. Google My Business allows you to register on Google’s ‘business directory’, where you list the important details about your business. These include images, location, address, website address, contact details, opening times, and customer reviews.
When a customer searches for “near me” or “in locality name,” your business address will not appear if it is not updated in Google My Business and other online directories.
Local Pack
The Local Pack is the section of Google’s SERP that displays three local businesses based on the user’s location and the query they typed in. The Local Pack appears underneath the paid ads and above the organic results.
To appear in the Local Pack, your business must have a Google My Business profile with all your NAP (name, address, phone number) information accurate and up-to-date.
Your local business must also be relevant to the searcher’s query. Local SEO is the process of optimizing your online presence to attract more traffic from people searching for businesses like yours in their local area.
Google Maps
Google Maps is a free mapping service that helps people find local businesses. It is the most popular mapping service globally, with over one billion active users. This is one of the most common places that your local search results pop up.
Organic Search Results
Organic search results are the web pages that appear on SERPs when someone types in a query. These results are not paid for, and they are based on Google’s algorithm. The goal of Local SEO is to appear in the organic search results for local keywords related to your business.
Important Steps for Local SEO
To succeed in your Local SEO efforts, here are the steps that you must take:
Analytics Tools And Reports
The first step is to install Google Analytics on your website. This will allow you to track the traffic to your site and see how people find you online. You can also use other tools, such as Moz Local and BrightLocal, to track your progress and find out which keywords work best for you.
Keyword Research
The next step is to research the keywords people use to find businesses like yours in your local area. You can use tools like Google AdWords Keyword Planner and Moz Keyword Explorer to find the right keywords for your business.
SEO Strategy
After you have installed Google Analytics and done your keyword research, it’s time to create an SEO strategy. This will involve creating optimized content for your target keywords and making sure that your website is set up to rank well in the search engines.
Content Marketing
One of the most important aspects of Local SEO is content marketing. This involves creating blog posts, infographics, videos, and other types of content relevant to your business, which will help you rank higher in the search engines.
Conversion Optimization
The next step is to optimize your website for conversions. This simply means making sure that your website encourages people to take action, such as filling out a contact form or calling your business.
Link Building & Outreach
Another important part of Local SEO is link building and outreach. This involves getting links from other websites back to your own and reaching out to local bloggers and media outlets to get coverage for your business.
On-Page SEO
After creating your content and optimizing your website, it’s time to focus on on-page SEO. This process involves ensuring that your website’s title tags, meta descriptions, and header tags are all optimized for your target keywords.
Off-Page SEO
The final step is to focus on off-page SEO. This entails steps like listing your business in online business directories and getting social media shares for your content. By following these steps, you can ensure that your business is visible in the Local Pack and that you rank high in the organic search results.
Get The Best Local SEO Services
Although you may be poised to get started with your local SEO strategy for your business immediately, it is still more advisable to let a local SEO agency handle that aspect for you. A local SEO agency provides a suite of Local SEO services designed to rank your business higher in the Local Pack and the organic search results. When you work with an agency, you can rest assured knowing that your Local SEO campaigns are in good hands.
Digital Perception LLC is a premium local SEO agency that can provide you with all the Local SEO services that you need. We are a team of Local SEO experts who have years of experience in getting businesses to rank higher in the Local Pack and in the organic search results. We offer a variety of Local SEO services, such as content marketing, link building, and social media outreach. Contact us today to learn more about our services.
Conclusion
Local SEO is an important part of any online marketing strategy, and it should not be overlooked. If you want to attract more customers from your local area, you need to make sure that you are visible in the Local Pack and have a strong Local SEO strategy in place.
By following the steps outlined in this article, you can ensure that your business is visible in the Local Pack and that you rank high in the organic search results. If you need help with your Local SEO campaign, don’t forget to contact us! We will help you create a Local SEO strategy tailored to your business, which will help you attract more customers from your local area.
