Local Search Engine Optimization (Local SEO) helps your business appear in "unpaid" results, the listings often called organic, natural, or earned. While related to general SEO, local SEO focuses on attracting customers in your area, where 46% of Google searches are local. Most consumers prefer buying from nearby businesses over those in distant regions.
Why Local SEO Matters for Your Business
Local SEO improves your rankings in search engines and brings in customers who are physically close to your business. Because 87% of mobile searches lead to in-person purchases, showing up in front of people searching for a service or product nearby can directly affect sales. An estimated one out of every two local leads becomes an actual client.
How Can You Generate More Customer Reviews?
Customer reviews play a large role in local consumers’ decision-making. Reviews are the number one way consumers currently evaluate businesses, so generating more of them increases your visibility in local search. Engage in marketing activities that increase local search visibility, and pair them with your local SEO work. Read our guide to Google Business Reviews to get more positive reviews for your business.
Keep Your Business Listings Updated
Google rewards companies that maintain updated, clear, and optimized business listings. Duplicate or outdated information hurts your local SEO efforts, so audit every place your business is listed and correct any variations. Add a location on Google Maps and use social media to get more exposure. Many people use mobile devices for everyday tasks, so getting found in local search results is key to boosting sales.
Maintain Consistent NAP Across All Platforms
Consistent NAP (name, address, phone number) across all platforms can improve your local search rankings. Inconsistent NAP hurts your business’s ability to rank in local search results. Audit all places where your business is listed and correct any variations in the data.
Verify Ratings and Control Your Online Presence
Local SEO helps you verify online ratings and customer satisfaction, which leads to more web traffic and conversions. Optimizing for local SEO also helps businesses appear higher in search results and control their online presence. Incorrect information about a business listing can hurt reputation, so taking control of your local profile builds trust with the major search engines. You can also take advantage of Uptick Marketing’s local SEO services.
Learn From the Moz Top 10 Newsletter
Another helpful way to learn more about local SEO is to read the Moz Top 10 newsletter. This email newsletter shares ten articles aimed at reverse-engineering Google’s Local Search Algorithm. It contains an article by Dan Leibson, who carried out the largest statistical study on the local search ranking factors and discussed the implications for local SEO strategy. You can read the full article here. Be aware that these opinions are not necessarily those of Search Engine Land.
Apply What Larger Brands Do
A big brand like Sears Home Services uses extensive keyword research to optimize its local visibility across thousands of locations. In a Q&A with David, Matthew shares his experiences with this process. The same strategy can be scaled to your own business.
Get Started With Local SEO
The benefits of local SEO can be felt even before full implementation. Find out more about Local SEO with Hurrdat. Contact Uptick Marketing today to learn how local SEO can benefit your business.
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FAQ
How is local SEO different from general SEO?
Local SEO and general SEO are similar concepts, but the main difference lies in how each affects your visibility in unpaid results. Local SEO focuses on attracting customers in your area, where 46% of Google searches are local.
Why are customer reviews important for local SEO?
Customer reviews play a large role in local consumers’ decision-making. Reviews are the number one way consumers currently evaluate businesses, so generating more of them increases your visibility in local search.
What does NAP mean in local SEO?
NAP stands for name, address, phone number. Consistent NAP across all platforms can improve your local search rankings, while inconsistent NAP hurts your business’s ability to rank in local search results.
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