How to Build Local SEO
Why Do You Need Local SEO?
You may want to eventually dominate the globe, but good local SEO is what drives customers in your door. Local SEO might contain some of the same elements of national SEO, but local SEO helps your business appear within your town, city, county, or even on a state level. Not only do these searches make up a huge portion of online activity, but statistics show that local searches result in a much higher percentage of direct sales. Google has hinted at local SEO as a good strategy for increased search rankings, especially because a consumer’s search results depends on their location. Local SEO gives your business a face to the name, and allows consumers to learn more about you. Now that the term “local SEO” has been indelibly stamped into your memory, let’s see why it is important, and how you can use it for your business.
The Numbers
There are approximately 3 billion search queries that contain local terms every month
70% of online searchers will use local searching to find offline businesses
30% of Google searches are for local information
These local statistics show how online traffic is utilized in a local perspective, and even aids businesses that only function in a physical location. So, how can you build your local presence and drive in more business?
How To Optimize YoHow To Optimize Your Website For Local Search
Get Social - Create profiles on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google+ and Google Places. The unique content that you post on social media helps your business look active, and it keeps your customers (and future fans) up to date. Utilize different local directories, and review based companies such as Yelp, CitySearch, and SuperPages. With high traffic rates, and convenient mobile apps, they make it easy for searchers to find you.
Content - Content is key. Google has changed their famous search engine algorithm to highly value a unique, constant flow of content. Creating content can also help with your business exposure through other companies. You can do this by guest blogging to create links that lead to your website, or to create buzz around some community involvement. By guest blogging, and touching on local subjects, you cross promote your business with other intriguing topics. Every post that you create gets indexed for your website, which is a new opportunity for it to get found by search engines. Don’t forget to post all of this content on social media!
Optimize Crucial On-Page SEO Elements - There are necessary SEO elements that are essential to drive in traffic and search rankings. To be completely successful, it is critical to ensure these areas are filled out with accurate data, and fall within the suggested character count. Here is a quick checklist for crucial SEO elements.
Page Title
URL
Page Headers
Internal Links
Key Words
Speaking of key words, utilize your location! Include key word variations that are city focused, and use different synonyms for your content, not the same word over and over again. For example, if you have a bakery located in Portland, OR, you can use “french bakery portland”, or “custom cakes portland”. Be sure to use keywords that people actually search with!
Mobile-Optimize Your Website - Mobile is one of the most useful tools that consumers use to find you. By having a mobile-optimized website, you open up your business to a whole new market of customers. Consumers have also reported that they are more likely to visit businesses with a mobile friendly website. Making your website mobile-friendly can be a simple task with great benefits.
Find the Right SEO Agency - As a business owner, you are incredibly busy. The reality is that it is hard to find the time to sustain an effective SEO effort. If this is the case, you may consider finding an agency that specializes in creating result bearing digital marketing campaigns. This can include social media monitoring, content strategy, pay-per-click campaigns, and more. With an experienced team behind your business, you can grow your local presence, and even be a step closer towards dominating the globe.Find the Right SEO Agency - As a business owner, you are incredibly busy. The reality is that it is hard to find the time to sustain an effective SEO effort. If this is the case, you may consider finding an agency that specializes in creating result bearing digital marketing campaigns. This can include social media monitoring, content strategy, pay-per-click campaigns, and more. With an experienced team behind your business, you can grow your local presence, and even be a step closer towards dominating the globe.
Have any questions about local SEO? Contact your AppMe Representative.
