4 Tips on Local SEO for Small Businesses you Shouldn't Ignore
Even in this digital age, word of mouth is still one of the most effective ways to grow your business. Local SEO will help your customers find you when they’re looking for local businesses.
It’s important to remember that not everyone searching for your business online will be checking the global directory sites like Google or Bing to find you. There are many people who won’t even go past the first few pages of search results on sites like these. This is where local SEO comes in handy.
Read on to know more…
What is Local SEO?
Local SEO is the process of optimizing your website to rank on the first page of Google within your local area.
This is different from regular SEO as the audience you’re targeting has a more specific search intent. While people who search for general keywords may be shopping around for the best deal, those looking for local businesses want a quick, local solution. The thing is, the majority of people don’t go past the first page of Google. This means that even though your website may have great content and a lot of inbound links, you might not even be visible if you’re not on the first page.
This is where local SEO comes in.
If you are on the first page of Google, you’re likely to get more traffic, especially if you’re in a competitive industry.
How to Perform Local SEO for Small Businesses?
Here are a few tips to get you started when it comes to local SEO for small businesses:
– Invest in a business name: Your business name is one of the most important factors in getting your business found online. It should be clear, descriptive and as unique as possible.
– Make a plan for your NAP: The name, address and phone number (NAP) for your business are also important for local SEO. Plan where you want your business details to appear on your website and make sure they’re accurate.
– Optimize your content: Create location-based content that is specific to your audience. Your content should be useful and relevant to your local customers.
– Optimize your website: Make sure your website is optimized for local SEO as well. This means having correct metadata, well-written content, a proper URL, etc.
– Join local business networking events: Visiting networking events in your area where you can meet other business owners can be a great way to make connections in your industry. You can also use these events to make connections with people who can help you with your local SEO.
– Advertise on local platforms: Platforms like Yelp and Foursquare are great for local businesses. Make sure to create a presence on these platforms and participate in discussions.
– Be patient: Local SEO takes time. You may see an increase in traffic after a few months of consistent effort.
Create Location-Based Content.
Posting regular content on your website is a great way to build a strong brand and increase your visibility. But you don’t want to just post about your products or services. Instead, you want to focus on creating relevant, location-based content that is useful to your audience. This could include things like:
– Local events: You can tie in current events in your area to post relevant content on your website. For example, if there’s a concert in your city, you could write a blog post on how to get tickets. This way, you’re offering advice to your customers while promoting your brand at the same time.
– Community news: Capitalize on trending news in your area to post relevant content on your website. For example, if there’s a protest happening in your neighbourhood, you could write a blog post about how to avoid the area. This way, you’re not only creating useful content but also showing your dedication to the community.
Join local business networking events.
Taking the time to attend networking events in your area can be a great way to not only make connections but also improve your local SEO. You can also use these events to make connections with people who can help you with your local SEO.
1. First, create a list of networking events in your area. You could do this by visiting your local chamber of commerce website, or searching for local networking events online.
2. Once you have your list, visit the event websites to learn more about the event. This will give you an idea of what to expect and help you decide which events to visit.
3. After the event, follow up with the people you met. Send them a quick email thanking them for meeting you and inviting them to visit your website.
Advertise on local platforms.
There are many platforms that specialize in local advertising, so make sure to invest in some of these to increase your visibility online. These can be great for driving quick traffic to your website, especially if you need to rank quickly and are looking for a boost in sales.
Here are a few platforms to consider:
– Invest in local SEO and PPC: Some local directories offer PPC advertising where you can bid on certain keywords and pay per click to get your website on the first page of their directory. This is a great way to test out your local SEO and see if you need to make any adjustments.
– Invest in local SEO and traditional advertising: Some local directories also allow you to invest in their traditional advertising. This means that you can pay the directory to feature your ad in their print or digital publication. This is a great way to get your ad in front of a large audience quickly.
– Reach out to local publications: If there are any publications in your area that would be interested in running your press release, you can reach out to them and see if they’re interested in covering your business. This is a great way to get your name out there and start building your brand.
Conclusion
Local SEO is an often overlooked aspect of digital marketing that can pay big dividends. Although people are increasingly turning to online resources to find local services, many are still searching for them on Google or other search engines, and not on directories such as Yelp or Yellow Pages. Therefore, it is essential for small businesses to invest in SEO services if they want to increase visibility and attract customers.
