
Local SEO applies standard search marketing tactics to websites targeting a specific area, and Google prioritizes local results when customers search for nearby businesses. The basic formula is Service + Location: if your site is not on the first page of local results, you are losing potential customers. Getting found locally comes down to a few repeatable elements, including on-page content, a local landing page, link building, and content marketing.
What should a local landing page include?
Optimize your website content first, because it directly affects the Google search algorithm. Then build a local landing page with the essentials: business name, address, and phone number. These details help Google match your business to nearby searchers.
How does link building affect local rankings?
As websites age, they gain authority, and businesses can build it actively through link building and mentions. Recent industry surveys have shown that link quality has a significant effect on local search rankings. Avoid schemes that artificially inflate link counts, and maintain your own link-building strategy instead.
Where does content marketing fit in?
Content marketing creates a brand and generates organic SEO traffic to your site, and it extends to social media. Facebook’s algorithms tend to limit the reach of links, so content marketing is the better path to additional traffic. Be aware of algorithm changes on social media platforms, and make sure your content includes local information so your audience can find it.
Why work with a local-focused agency?
A company with a local focus tracks traffic metrics and works to make your site more visible to local visitors. Alta Effect Productions, for example, specializes in local SEO services and is staffed by designers, marketers, and developers. Headquartered in New Jersey, it serves clients nationwide, handling the technical aspects of local SEO and website optimization while building the relationship between you and your clients.
How quickly will results show?
Local SEO is part of an overall online marketing strategy that includes link building, content creation, and social media. Links are one of the top factors Google uses to determine results, and link building raises local SEO relevance when it points to your site from related sources. The same principle applies to content marketing. Consumers increasingly rely on local search for everything from entertainment to food, so increasing visibility through local search tends to translate into more sales.
FAQ
What is the basic formula for local SEO?
The basic formula is Service + Location. Google prioritizes local search results, and customers will most likely use the local option to find businesses, so being visible for that combination is the goal.
What are the main elements of a local SEO strategy?
A local SEO strategy should include link building, content creation, and social media. Increasing links to your site is a vital part of local SEO, and it is one of the top factors Google uses when determining results.
Why include content marketing in local SEO?
Content marketing is a great way to create a brand and generate organic SEO traffic to your site. Because Facebook’s algorithms tend to limit the reach of links, content marketing is a way to get additional traffic, and your content should include local information so your audience can find it.
Related coverage
- Getting a Handle on Local Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- How to Use Local SEO to Increase Your Website’s Visibility on Search Engines
