Local SEO is a crucial aspect of online marketing. It’s a powerful way to reach a local audience. In fact, searcher proximity may be the most important factor in ranking local businesses. It is also important to optimize the listings in local directories to increase visibility in the area. There are a variety of steps to take to get these listings listed properly, and many of them are free. Listed below are the four most common methods.
Content. Content is key to SEO for local searches. Aside from having a Google My Business listing, it should also have a quality website. A business that uses local search terms in its content will boost its SERP location. Aside from pillar content, local SEO can be applied in blogs and social posts. Adding information about your business to the right places can boost your visibility on search engines. For example, a car dealership in northern Montana might include information on its services. A blog post about the best Honda deals in that town may be relevant.
The success of onsite SEO depends on the accuracy of the information provided by the citations. Citations comprise 11 percent of local pack ranking factors. There are several ways to create citations for each of your physical locations. Make sure that the NAP is identical. Currently, more than 40 percent of ranking issues stem from mismatched NAP. Using abbreviations that Google and Ipsos understand will help you optimize your NAP.
The first and most important step is ensuring that your website shows up in local directories. By optimizing your GMB page, you will ensure that your site appears on local listings. A Google and Ipsos study of 4,500 internet users showed that 43% of those surveyed used search engines to find information about a local business. Among those, nearly half visited the business that was listed on their search results the following day.
The second step in boosting local SEO is to create citations. Google collects reviews from consumer directories and social media sites. So, make sure you have a presence on these sites and make sure they have your NAPs (name, address, phone number, and email address) mapped correctly. A local SEO expert will explain the importance of citations and give you tips on how to use them to increase your visibility. The next step is to make sure you have a consistent NAP across all of your online presences.
Lastly, make sure your business has a good reputation. Customers will trust your business more if they can find it through Google’s map. Ensure that your website is listed on the top listings in local directories. If the reviews are positive, they’ll be more likely to return to your site. If your website isn’t found in local directories, your competitors’ listings will be. You can also use a customer reputation management tool to manage your online reviews.