8 SEO Tips For Local Businesses
Local businesses are companies that serve a targeted service area rather than a nationwide market. They’re a vital part of the economy, and they can benefit from SEO efforts that drive online traffic to their websites and brick-and-mortar locations.
Getting listed on business directories is one of the best ways to increase visibility for your local business. Moz has a list of great sources for industry-related citations you can add to your profile.
1. Optimize Your Website
The first step in optimizing your website for local SEO is identifying the areas that are most relevant to your business. You can do this by performing a search for keywords and finding out what your competitors are ranking for. Once you have a list of relevant keywords, incorporate them into your content. For example, if you are a bakery in Manhattan, your content could include keywords like “manhattan bakery”, “best bakery in nyc”, or “NYC’s top bakery”.
Next, make sure your website is mobile-friendly. This is especially important now that Google has announced its mobile-first indexing.
You should also create a dedicated page on your website for each unique product or service you offer. This allows you to rank for more specific keyword queries and can help you build trust with search engines. Finally, try to get local backlinks, which are links from other websites that point to your website. These are a major factor in determining your rankings for both local pack and snack pack results, according to Moz’s 2017 Local Search Ranking Factors Study.
2. Optimize Your Content
As a local business, you know that a large portion of your foot traffic comes from people searching online for services and products near them. With proper local SEO practices, you can rank highly in search engine results pages (SERPs), allowing you to stand out from competitors and attract more customers to your physical location or website.
To do this, you need to create a content strategy that aligns with the keywords potential customers are searching for in your area. Performing keyword research with tools like Semrush can reveal geo-specific terms users are searching for, helping you select the most effective keywords for your niche.
You should also optimize your on-page content to include these keywords, including in meta tags, titles, and content. This will help your site to rank well in local searches and snack pack results.
In addition to optimizing your on-page content, you can boost your local SEO by promoting your brand on social media and collecting reviews from consumer directories and review sites. This helps you to build trust and credibility with your audience, which can boost your local search rankings.
3. Optimize Your Local Listings
Local SEO brings in more relevant traffic to a business’s website. When someone is searching for a plumber near them, for example, they are more likely to visit that business’s website or physical location if the company is high up on search engine results pages (SERPs).
To optimize your local listings, start by claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile. It’s important to have a complete listing that includes a unique description, photos, accurate categories, and contact information. It’s also helpful to have a steady stream of positive reviews.
Ensure that your business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) is consistently listed across online directories and review sites. You can use tools like Moz Local to detect all the listings under your business’s name and make sure they are all consistent and up-to-date.
Another way to build local links is through guest posting on relevant websites that target your audience. This can be a great way to get your brand in front of new customers. However, be careful not to spam or overdo it.
4. Optimize Your Social Media Profiles
Search engines consider social media profiles in local SEO rankings, which is good news for small businesses. Using these platforms to drive traffic and convert leads may help you nab more customers.
Social media optimization involves making sure your business profile and cover photo convey a consistent brand message. It also involves creating content to drive social engagements. On-site engagements, such as likes and comments, may also contribute to SEO rankings.
Adding a link to your website in your profile and about section can also boost your online presence. In addition, using industry-relevant keywords in your company description can help your site rank higher in search results.
Having an optimized Google Business Profile is essential to local SEO. This helps search engines identify your business and display it in relevant results when users search for a local product or service. It also makes it easy for potential customers to find your business and learn more about the services or products you offer. Plus, it can lead to more reviews and referrals from satisfied customers.
5. Optimize Your Google My Business Page
Your Google Business Profile (formerly known as GMB) is a crucial component of local SEO. Consumers looking for local products and services will visit your Google Business Profile before making a decision to purchase or contact you. Make sure that the information that they see is consistent with what is found on your website and other local listings.
Optimize your listing with a unique, engaging description that showcases your company’s uniqueness and value proposition. Do not over-stuff keywords into the description, as this is considered spam by Google and will negatively impact your ranking. Instead, focus on writing a compelling description that makes the case for why your product or service is the best choice in your market.
Provide photos that represent your business and the products or services you offer. Be sure to include both exterior and interior images as well as videos. Ensure that these photos are high-quality, and don’t forget to upload your logo. Prospective customers, especially millennials, are looking for visual content that supports their purchasing decisions.
6. Optimize Your Mobile Website
A mobile-friendly website is essential to local SEO. Search engines prioritize websites that offer a responsive experience and will often rank them higher than those that do not. This is why it is crucial for small businesses to have a mobile-friendly site in order to compete with their competitors.
Establishing connections with local entities can significantly boost a small business’s local search visibility. This can be done by creating and sharing valuable content that addresses local issues and interests. Moreover, small businesses can also reach out to local influencers and blogs to request backlinks to their websites.
Finally, small businesses can also optimize their online presence by claiming and optimizing their Google Business Profiles. This can help them build trust with consumers, improve their brand visibility, and increase both online and in-person traffic. Additionally, they can ensure that their GMB profiles are accurate and consistent with other online listings by encouraging reviews and submitting their business information to other local directories.
7. Optimize Your Google Maps
Local consumers are searching for a wide range of products and services online on a regular basis (think “hvac repair near me”). Getting your business featured on the Google Maps pack can boost traffic, footfall, sign-ups, site visits, and phone calls significantly.
As a result, it’s important to optimize your Google My Business profile, build local links and citations, ensure that your website content is optimized for local keywords, and respond to both positive and negative customer reviews on GMB. This will help your business rise in the Google Maps pack rankings, which is a great way to drive more customers to your store.
You should also be sure to keep an eye on your rank progress, which you can do by performing manual Google searches (preferably in Incognito mode and without logging in to your own Google account) or using a tool that monitors Google rankings. Citation consistency is critical to avoiding volatility in your Google Maps ranking, and you should aim to increase your review count by asking for customer reviews on GMB and elsewhere (be sure to follow the guidelines set out by Google). Additionally, you can boost your local visibility by embedding a Google map on your website and listing accurate business information on all relevant websites and directories.
8. Optimize Your Google Reviews
Local SEO is the process of optimizing your website and Google My Business Profile for search terms that are specific to your location. These keywords have specific purchase intent and Google’s algorithm works to match customers with businesses that are the most relevant for their needs.
One of the most important factors in local SEO is your customer reviews. This is because consumers are much more likely to trust a business with good reviews than a business with bad ones. It’s also been proven that Google considers review responses in its ranking algorithm.
Make sure that you’re asking your customers to leave a review on your Google My Business profile and that you’re consistently responding to both positive and negative reviews. You should also be promoting your reviews on your website and other marketing materials, as this will help boost your visibility in search results. Remember, SEO is constantly changing, so it’s important to stay on top of the latest trends. If you need a little extra help, try using a small business SEO service provider.