Why Local SEO Is Important For Website Marketing
April 9, 2022
For a small business, local SEO is especially important, because local search ranking is based on information from several websites. For example, social media profiles for local businesses often appear near the top of the organic search results. Many people go straight to social profiles like Facebook or Yelp to learn more about a local business. The search engines aren’t only relying on business owners for this information, but also information from the four main sources: the business’ website, Yelp, local directories, and the local community.
Local SEO is important for businesses with physical locations, because 71% of people who are looking for local businesses look online. Moreover, 46% of searches are for local results. Local searches are also important because 50% of people who look for a local store online visit a store within a day. Local searches from mobile devices lead to 18% of sales within a day. If you want your website to rank on the first page of Google, local SEO is the way to go.
In addition to creating useful content for local searchers, you can also use tools like Google Keyword Planner and Google Trends to analyze what people are searching for locally. For example, when writing articles on local SEO, avoid fluff pieces and focus on providing information that is helpful to your readers. By adding useful information, your readers will be more likely to want to visit your website. The search engines will see you as a local expert. You can also write articles on local events and sponsorships.
Local SEO is crucial for small businesses as well as big companies with multiple locations. It helps your business reach a wider audience and drives foot traffic to its physical locations. With 87.3% of US Internet users, local SEO is a key advantage in the competitive marketplace. So, make sure you’re doing all you can to take advantage of it. If you don’t, your competitors will. Just make sure you’re doing local SEO!
Google’s traditional search algorithm includes two factors: distance and relevance. By providing complete business information, Google can better understand your local business and match your listing to relevant searches. Also, if your business has multiple locations, local SEO for multiple locations is trickier, but can bring a major revenue boost. If done correctly, it will boost your online presence to the local level. In addition to local SEO, you should include business names, address, and phone number on your website.
For brick-and-mortar businesses, local SEO is crucial to their success and growth. Without it, your online presence wouldn’t be visible to a large number of people. Local SEO focuses on keywords that are relevant to local neighborhoods, cities, and regions. For example, a pizza place in New York would be competing with up to 20 million other local pages for the top spot. So, the best way to stay on top of local search results is to optimize your website for these terms.
Another benefit of local SEO is that it can weed out those searchers who aren’t looking to make contact. Google prioritizes proximity and intent, so a searcher searching for an HVAC company 50 miles away won’t see your results, while a person looking for a local HVAC business will see your listings. This strategy is particularly useful for local businesses. It could be the key to sustaining your business. But the first step to local SEO success is a little skepticism.