Recent times have shown us just how important it is for a business to have a solid online presence. In order to establish that presence, a business needs to succeed at both overall SEO and local SEO. The combination of a strong traditional and local SEO strategy can help propel your business way ahead of your competition.
To effectively harness the power of local search, you need to first understand how to build and implement a good local SEO strategy.
1. Do not delay in creating a Google My Business (GMB) listing
Creating a GMB listing is not very difficult. Just ensure that you complete your profile and list all your products and services. Once you are done setting up your GMB listing, start creating mini-posts for your clients using the Google Posts feature. This will not only help you keep your clients updated, but it will also show Google that you are taking the time to manage your listing.
2. Get your business listed in other important directories as well
Check whether there are any online business directories specific to your area, and target them along with the main national and global directories, such as Yelp, FourSquare, Angi, Bing Places etc.
3. Ensure your Name and Place (NAP) information is updated and correct
Incorrect and inconsistent NAP information generally results in Google not displaying your GMB listing.
4. Optimize your website with the local keywords
Targeting local keywords is an absolute must. Once you are done shortlisting the local keywords you would like to rank for, optimize your site using these keywords. The keywords must feature on your homepage, as well as your service pages in headings, title tags, meta descriptions, body and footer.
5. Create locally relevant content
For better lead generation, you need to create content that is locally relevant. The best way to go about it would be by incorporating local keywords into content related to the products and/or services you offer.
6. Make your site mobile-friendly
Statistics show that, of all the mobile searches conducted, 30% are location-related. This makes it extremely important to ensure that your site is mobile-friendly. If your site fails to work properly on mobile, there are high chances that you’ll lose quite a few of your potential consumers to a competitor whose website is easy to access on mobile.
7. Take the time to manage your reviews
Getting good reviews is great, but the negative ones can severely impact your authority and rankings. The best way to manage your negative reviews is to respond to them with an aim to resolve the issues that have been raised. This will not only help you retain customers, but will also show Google that you are actively working to enhance customer experience.
8. Manage and update your website regularly
Plan the structure of your website carefully. Re-direct or eliminate broken links. Keep your webpage content precise and relevant to get a good ranking. Let other businesses you have worked for mention you on their sites. Use quality graphics and videos to avoid repetitive content and boost your click-through rate.
Conclusion
Even if you have already implemented some of the above listed local SEO tips, a lot more goes into building a comprehensive SEO strategy. If you find that your business is still floundering in the digital world, then it’s high time you get in touch with us.
