Local SEO allows your business to connect with individuals in specific geographical areas. This service can be especially valuable for companies that operate multiple locations or offer multiple products and services.
Local SEO can boost your business rankings by making sure its NAP (name, address and phone number) are consistent across directories and social media sites such as Facebook or Yelp. Reviews play a vital part in ranking processes as they represent key ranking signals.
Keyword Research
An effective local SEO strategy requires an in-depth knowledge of local keywords. You need to identify what people in your region are searching for online, then incorporate these terms into the website content.
Keyword research tools such as Google Search Console, Ahrefs and Semrush can help you discover popular local keywords. Google Autocomplete also makes this task simple when typing out potential search terms; see what suggestions appear as soon as you begin typing one!
Ubersuggest is another useful tool that can generate related keywords and variations of your target keyword, helping you generate fresh ideas for content development while discovering what your competitors are up to.
Once your site starts experiencing increased organic traffic, it’s a sure sign that your local keyword strategy is succeeding. It indicates that your content is meeting the needs and fulfilling requests from searchers in your locality – which in turn brings in new business.
On-Page Optimization
A successful local SEO strategy requires on-page optimizations such as including relevant keywords in title tags and page copy, as well as targeting NAP mentions across the web – such as listings in online business directories or claiming your Google Business Profile listing and making sure your address, phone number and domain are consistent across platforms.
Content creation is also key when it comes to on-page SEO; from blog posts and videos to podcasts, creating high-quality material is vital for building links and getting mentioned elsewhere (also known as citation building).
Local Listing Management
As part of local SEO, it is vital that businesses claim and update their listings on review sites and directories, known as citations. Citations allow search engines to verify the accuracy and credibility of local businesses – ultimately increasing visibility on relevant searches.
Some companies provide listing management tools and services to assist businesses with overseeing these citations, which allow businesses to automatically sync their listings across multiple directory websites while monitoring customer reviews. Some solutions even come equipped with features designed to optimize Google Business Profiles.
BrightLocal provides a free listing audit tool and paid plans starting at $204 per month to search up to 100 citations daily that mention your business. Whitespark, another specialized local marketing software company, also provides similar tools through their Citation Finder platform and local SEO consulting service – although typically working through agencies, resellers, and partners instead of directly with businesses themselves.
Position Tracking
Customers searching online for products or services want accurate information about your company that engenders trust from them and encourages them to connect with your organization. Unfortunately, keeping all digital channels up-to-date can be a challenging endeavor.
There are various local SEO tools that can help you keep an eye on your performance and monitor competitors, like SE Ranking which can track keywords both nationally and locally to provide an in-depth picture of performance.
Nightwatch provides a more granular overview of keyword rankings by tracking them by state, city or zip code. In addition, Nightwatch includes additional features like review management and an all-in-one SEO reporting tool. Semrush also provides local rank tracking and listing management as part of its comprehensive SEO software suite; additionally it can assist in finding LSI keywords and optimizing for them with its user-friendly interface – perfect for small to mid-sized businesses alike.