Even if you are not investing in local SEO, you can be sure that other local businesses within your niche are doing so. Organic SEO strategies are still important, as they help your pages rank in search engine results for specific keywords and phrases. However, local SEO is critical for businesses that serve a localised community. Identifying the keywords used by your local customers in their searches is vital.
You can use the Google Keyword Planner tool to discover the search terms that are often used in a particular location. Create a list of these relevant local keywords and add them to your site content and URLs. Include local landmarks and places of interest on your web pages too. Local SEO helps you grow your business by getting a relevant local link to your website and networking at local events.
It also puts you in front of the customer at the exact moment they are looking for a product or service, making them much more likely to buy or at least ask for more information. More and more people are turning to local businesses to show their support and boost their local economy. Local mentions are instances where your business name, address and phone number are mentioned online, for example in a local business listing. And 72% of shoppers who search for a product or service using local SEO near me visit a shop less than five miles away. Local searches often look for information about local businesses, so having information readily available is key.
If you search Google for an important keyword related to your business and a map appears with 3 listings underneath (also known as a map pack), then local SEO can help you grow your business. Local businesses listed in their directories score highest in local search queries. In addition to achieving better visibility in Google's search engine results pages (SERPS), investing in local SEO has other advantages for small businesses. It helps you develop backlinks from websites such as local newspapers, local directories, distributors, suppliers. It also allows you to network at local events and get on top of the competition. By investing in your local SEO, you will get on top and compete with the other local businesses within your niche.
If your business is not working on a local SEO strategy, you are leaving money on the table that will be picked up by your competitor in town.
