Do you know that 97% of individuals use search engines to find a local business? And 46% of Google searchers are always on the verge of seeking local information.
Huge numbers. Right?
The above stats clearly justify that if you are still not investing in Local SEO to optimize your brand, you are missing out on valuable traffic and customers. Simply, it could be the key to more website traffic, leads, and conversions.
Are you ready to start with Local SEO optimization? To help you, we have created this comprehensive guide covering all the local SEO tips and tools so you can make the most out of it.
To start with, let’s first understand its importance.
What is Local SEO & How Is It Important?
Abbreviated as Local Search Engine Optimization (SEO), it is the process of improving local businesses’ visibility in search engine rankings.
For instance, somebody can search on the internet for “best salons near me” to find the appropriate nearby service (as shown below). Thereby, compared to general Google searches, local searches show more precise results for a certain location.
Now comes the benefits of Local SEO.
- You can drive more organic and targeted traffic to your website through local SEO.
- After the Covid pandemic, more than half of the individuals prefer to shop from local businesses or smaller brands.
- Helps to establish credibility & build trust.
Google's Ranking Algorithm
Do you know Google’s algorithm for ranking a website and the factors it considers?
Google divided search results into three sections, as explained below:
1. Sponsored
As the name clearly suggests, these results appear at the top of SERPs highlighted as “Sponsored .” You have to pay a significant amount to appear in these results.
2. Snack Pack
These results (only the top three listings related to the particular search) appear in a box just below the sponsored one. So, if your brand gets featured in a snack pack, the chances of enhanced visibility and reach are higher.
3. Organic
Last but not the least, organic search results are shown below the local snack pack results. No matter if your business is at number 1 on Google, it will not show up that prominently when compared to the ones ranking on snack pack results.
Now, You must be wondering if your brand can rank in snack pack and organic search results simultaneously. The answer is “Yes!” It is possible to rank in both sections, but the strategies involved will differ. Consult Webpuzzlemaster experts to know more about this.
Ways To Boost Your Local SEO Strategy
Now comes this blog’s most important part: boosting your local SEO strategy. Let’s take a look.
Google My Business Profile Optimization
This is one of Google’s most important steps when ranking a website. It can boost your local SEO strategy in the following ways.
- Profile Creation
First, it is required to create a Google My Business profile to verify your business ownership. If you already have the listing, skip this step, but if not, create one by clicking here.
- Provide Required Information
The details below are required to complete the procedure successfully.
- Full Business Name
- Office Address
- Exact Location
- Business Category
- Mobile number and Website (if any)
After the listing goes live, you must do the verification process through a phone call or postcard.
- Add Quality Photos
Now, upload high-quality photos of your business to get 35% more clicks than those who don’t. Along with that, add working hours, additional business categories, and respond to customer reviews. These things will not only help you improve SEO but also improve the user experience. So, it will be a win-win situation.
Further, the image below shows that Google gives a coveted side space bar if it finds a business authentic.
Website Optimization For Mobile
According to research by Uberall, 82% of respondents use their mobile phones to conduct a “near-me” search. So, you can’t take the risk of not having a mobile-friendly site.
What is a mobile responsive website? The one which has the following basic elements.
- Responsive pages
- Loads quickly (not more than three seconds)
- Use easily readable fonts
- No fillers & optimized media display
Moreover, adding Click-To-Call buttons on the site is necessary, as 60% of users call a business directly from search results.
Local Link Building
Build a powerful backlink profile for the website to improve its ranking and domain authority on SERPs. Here are a few ways to get valuable inbound backlinks from local sites.
- Partnerships,
- Scholarships,
- Guest postings,
- Sponsorships, etc.
Once you decide on the preferable way, start targeting within the network, including the Chamber of Commerce, trade associations, licensing bureaus, and other affiliates. Additionally, it is worth considering the backlink quality. Beware of spammy networks, as their backlinks will hamper your website’s ranking to a great extent. So, you can use this Ahref tool to check the respective website authority.
Collect Regular Customer Reviews
A research by Delloite claims that 81 percent of people read reviews and check ratings before seeking services from a brand. If you have a rating of less than four- or five-star, you might pass prospective customers to your competitors. Never neglect the impact of reviews on Google’s local rankings.
So, what are you waiting for? Start collecting positive, detailed, and authentic customer reviews by providing them with the best services possible.
However, it is a fact that not every day you will receive positive reviews & sometimes you have to deal with negative ones as well. Always remember to respond professionally and take these as the improving signs.
Quick Tip: Follow the guidelines and terms of service when asking for reviews.
Google forbids offering incentives in exchange for reviews, so focus on authentic reviews and ensure consumers use their own accounts and devices.
Ensure NAP Consistency
The process by which consumers will reach your business should be easy and seamless. How should this be done? By including citations on major websites such as Yelp, Facebook, & GMB. What are citations?
These are the mentions of your business NAP, which stands for.
- Name
- Address
- Phone Number
But including citations is not enough; its consistency should be maintained simultaneously. Mismatched spellings, addresses, phone number discrepancies, and duplicate listings account for 41 percent of the total ranking issues. Also, Google will not rank your brand if it can’t determine what information about your business is right.
With that being said, consistency is the key to improving your local SEO!
Before we move forward with this blog, here’s a pro tip. Never include NAP within an image (as shown below) because search engines will not crawl it.
Instead, add it to the website’s header, footer, or contact page section. (See the below image for reference)
Use this and thank us later ?
How Webpuzzlemaster Digital Marketing Agency Can Improve Your Business Visibility With Local SEO?
Rank on the top of SERPs is not that easy, especially if you are a local business. But the strategies that we have discussed above can be a game-changer. So, use the above tips and see the wonders that Local SEO can bring to your brand.
If you need any assistance regarding this, get in touch with us. We are a leading digital marketing agency helping local businesses and entrepreneurs with their marketing. Since 2007, we have built a diverse portfolio by providing the best services to a worldwide clientele. If you also want to be part of that, schedule a free consultation with us, and our experts will contact you as soon as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are ways to improve local SEO ranking?
Here are some ways that can be leveraged to improve a website’s local SEO ranking.
- Optimization of GMB (Google My Business) listing
- Local citations building
- Acquiring positive reviews
- Creating locally relevant content
- Ensuring NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) consistency across different platforms
2. How long does it take to see results from Local SEO efforts?
There is no fixed timeline for seeing results from local SEO efforts. Some strategies, like GMB optimization, can have a relatively quick impact, while others, such as building a strong online reputation, may take more time. Simply put, it’s an ongoing process, so you have to be consistent and patient.
3. How does Google determine local rankings?
Google considers three major factors to determine local rankings, including:
- Relevance: Refers to how well a business matches a user’s search intent.
- Distance: Business proximity to the searcher’s location.
Business Prominence: The website with more popularity encompasses the ones that are getting more traffic, larger social followings, and valuable backlinks.
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