The Good, the Bad and Local SEO
August 12, 2018
Local SEO is the process of optimizing your website, online business listings, and social media profiles for local search results in search engines. It matters most for small businesses with a physical location or companies trying to attract visitors to their stores and sites from a specific geographic area. If you are not engaging in local SEO, you are unlikely to land on the first page of local results, and your competitors will.
How local SEO differs from general SEO
Local SEO is a different track from broad SEO and PPC. It works to publicize your business to local customers at the right time, and it is built mainly from organic listings tied to a neighborhood. SEO and PPC still play a big role in how your site ranks, but local SEO focuses on getting in front of local traffic and improving your chances of being found when shoppers search for businesses in their community. A regional SEO partner can also guide a business owner on how to raise the effectiveness of a website and share basic tricks to grab the attention of consumers.
Why getting found in local search matters
Local search is any activity targeted toward finding information about a neighborhood business using a search platform. Since local customers use the web to find financial advisors, hair salons, and other services in their communities, this is where Facebook Local and free local business directories from Google, Yahoo!, and Bing come in. Local small business listings validate the credibility of your business and help people reach you, which can boost sales. You can also exchange links with other neighborhood businesses to strengthen your local footprint.
Steps to optimize your local business website
Local SEO starts with local business listings that confirm your credibility. From there, focus on a strong local search engine marketing strategy targeting your regional consumers. Build your regional SEO strategy around long-tail search phrases, and create local pages for your site so customers can find your business more easily. Make review collection a process rather than leaving it to chance, since poor customer experience can hurt you in Google’s eyes. Small business SEO services should include a neighborhood strategy, and the right search engine marketing strategy is critical to increase organic traffic and boost business sales, revenue, and profit.
Choosing a local SEO provider
If you want personalized customer assistance, a local provider may be a good fit because they are community members and can focus on what you need. They can, however, cost more, so the price of personal service may not be worth it. If you run an agency, partnering with one of the major SEO Reseller companies can be highly beneficial. Many regional businesses still have not figured out the value of internet marketing, which is exactly where a focused local SEO plan pays off.
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