Dear small business owners! Would you like to increase online credibility and visibility for your brand? Then local SEO happens to be the one size fits all solution that will increase the chances of people discovering your business within their locality, attract more visitors to your site and usher them inside your doorstep. Time to plunge into some practical local SEO strategies which you can begin implementing right away.
1. Optimise Your Google My Business Profile
- Step 1: Claim your GMB listing if it has not already been done. This is how you will be able to show up on the first page of google, as well as the local maps section. Here is how you can go about it:
- Claim Your Listing: Google your business name on Google. In case you come across a GMB listing that belongs to you, but whose ownership you have not taken, follow these steps to take it.
- Complete Your Profile: The name of your business, its address, phone number, website URL and hours working; ensure all details are accurate.
- Add Photos: Adding high-definition pictures is always attractive; in this way, your business, products, or services become more appealing and believable.
- Get good reviews: Word of satisfied customers travels far and wide; keep replying to their comments too.
2. Local Keywords
Keywords are at the crux of SEO, and local SEO is no different. Make sure to infuse local keywords in the website content along with meta descriptions and titles. Imagine things that your customers are most likely to search for. If you were a bakery owner in Austin, you would go for “Austin bakery” or “best cupcakes in Austin.” Here’s how…
- Localise Your Content: Make sure that you mention your city or neighbourhood naturally in your content.
- Create Location-Based Pages: If you are serving in different locations, create separate pages to influence the ranking of local search.
- Use Local Keyword in URL: Make sure that the URLs carry the local keyword.
3. Get Listed in Local Directories
Local listings can work local SEO wonders. Not only will it increase your visibility, but it’s also a very important factor in establishing some trust with search engines. What to do:
- At the top of the list is that the name, address, and phone number need to be the same for each listing.
- The top places to list are Yelp, TripAdvisor, Yellow Pages, Chamber of Commerce websites.
- Regular Update: Make updates regularly and maintain the accuracy of the information to avoid confusion.
4. Optimise for Mobile
Many local searches are conducted via mobile devices; hence, for your website, it will be of paramount importance to be mobile-friendly and satisfy mobile users. Where your website doesn’t present in a mobile-friendly format, you’re already losing a huge number of customers. Below is how to optimise your website for mobile accessibility:
- Responsive Design: Your website should be responsive to changing screen sizes.
- Fast Loading Times: Speed is convenience. Use image compression and good hosting to help with load times.
- Easy Navigation: Make it easy for users to find what they want by having easy menu options and calls to action.
5. Produce Quality Local Content
People keep harping on about content being king, but in local SEO, this is a big deal. Create content that addresses your local audience directly. Here’s how:
- Write a blog on local events expressing your thoughts about the local events or news, which will help in asserting local community engagement.
- Emphasise local partnerships and write about it when running with other local businesses. It’s good content and will obviously boost local links.
- Use local stories that have your business’s involvement with the community, thereby making your brand seem more reliable and relatable.
6. Leverage Social Media
Social media can bring magic to local SEO. You can use Instagram, Twitter, and even Facebook:
- Have Regular Posts: Updates, promos, and things happening locally
- Engage With Followers: Reply to comments and messages as promptly as you can
- Local Hashtags: Use hashtags being used locally to reach a bigger audience.
7. Backlinking Locally
Links from local authoritative websites make a great impact on your local SEO. Here’s how you go about doing this:
- Local Influencers: Engage local bloggers or influencers to get mentions and have them link back to you.
- Local Event Sponsorships: Sponsoring a local event will get you several features on the event website. That gives you important backlink opportunities.
- Join Your Local Business Groups: Be an active member of your local business groups and online forums. Be helpful, and where appropriate leave a comment that adds value with a link back to your site.
Conclusion
Making your brand more visible to potential customers online is not such a tough job. Some first steps can include optimization of your Google My Business list, use of local keywords, and getting listed in local directories. Don’t forget that your website should be mobile-friendly, and you should create high-quality local content. Do not leave out social media and local backlinking for your site. These strategies will help you dominate the local search and really draw more customers.
