Local SEO is an effective strategy that allows businesses to target customers within their vicinity. It also helps generate the most pertinent traffic and boost conversion rates.
Create and improve business information on websites, local directories, and review platforms. Receiving consistent NAP mentions on these sites can boost your local rankings.
Keyword research
Keyword research is a critical aspect of local seo, as it helps you identify the keywords that will drive relevant organic traffic to your website. Additionally, it gives you insight into your audience so you can craft content accordingly to draw in those most likely to convert into customers.
Search engines often prioritize location when providing results for local searches, making it essential to include location-based keywords in your keyword research strategy.
For instance, if you own a plumber’s shop in Seattle, it would be beneficial to use keywords that target potential clients nearby.
Thankfully, tools like Keyword Tool make it easy to discover keywords specific to your business. Doing so ensures your site appears in localized search results, bringing in fresh leads and sales for your enterprise.
On-page optimization
On-page optimization (OPO) is an integral element of local SEO and can significantly boost your site’s search engine ranking. OPO encompasses all elements on your website and how they work together to boost visibility on SERPs (search engine result pages).
Producing content that resonates with users is an integral element of on-page optimization, particularly if you are targeting localized search results.
Title tag and meta description are two of the most crucial factors search engines use to assess a page’s relevance. That is why they should be optimized alongside text and images on a page.
On-page optimization should also prioritize your URL structure. Make it unambiguous and intuitive for both humans and search engines alike; additionally, ensure it logically links to other pages on your website.
Local citations
Local citations are any online mention of your business that includes its name, address and phone number (NAP). They form the foundation of local search engine optimization (SEO).
Though there are a variety of sources for citations, it’s essential to focus on getting your NAP consistent across all local directories and listings. Doing this will help boost your ranking in Google searches and validate that the information provided matches what the search engine’s algorithm looks for.
Local citations can be divided into two categories: structured and unstructured. Structured local citations involve submitting your full NAP details to a relevant business directory or third-party sites like Yellowpages, Foursquare, or TrueLocal.
These types of citations are more beneficial for your overall local SEO than unstructured ones, which don’t typically include NAP information. Furthermore, they’re much more beneficial if they come from websites with high domain authority since Google uses website authority as a signal when ranking websites. Thus, opting for a few high-authority local citations and directory submissions rather than many low-authority ones is best.
Social media
Producing and sharing high-quality content is essential for local SEO. This can take the form of blog posts, videos, podcasts, animations – whatever works best for your target audience! Ensure the material is pertinent to their needs and provides value they’re searching for.
A successful local content strategy can help your business rank higher for targeted keywords, increasing online visibility and bringing in new local customers.
Social media is an integral element of local SEO, offering customers a chance to see your products and services firsthand. Furthermore, it can drive traffic directly to your website.
One way to do this is by posting updates on your Google My Business (GMB) listing. These can include information about new product launches, special discounts and other promotions.
Another way to enhance your local SEO is by having NAP mentions on third-party websites. These could include review platforms and business directories, which can provide great opportunities for inbound links.