Local SEO helps your business appear in the search listings for a specific location. By optimizing your local SEO, you can generate more traffic, leads and conversions.
It’s important to make local SEO part of your marketing strategy, as this is one of the best ways to compete with larger brands that have unlimited resources. While they tend to optimize their campaigns for national SEO, you can focus on specific niches.
Below are some of the most effective ways to improve your local SEO.
Claim Your Google My Business Profile
Claim and optimize your Google My Business account – it’s free. By having a complete profile, you can motivate people to shop at your store. It also means that your business will show up on Google Maps. Here are a few tips for optimizing your GMB account:
- Verify your listing
- Update your NAP (name, address, phone number)
- Add your hours of operation, logo, payment options, etc.
- Post images from your business
- Encourage customers to review your business
- Respond to customer reviews
- Create content using Google Posts
Ask for Reviews
Customer reviews are important to shoppers because they show that you are a reputable business with happy customers. Encourage customers to leave feedback at the end of the sale. Always respond to the reviews whether they are positive or negative. Consumers take note of how brands interact with their customers.
Optimize for Voice Search
More and more people are using voice search to find local businesses around them. To help your business come up in the local search results, optimize your profile for voice search. This includes using more long-tail keywords and a conversational tone throughout your content.
Optimize for Mobile
When it comes to local searches, people tend to be on the go and on their mobile devices. Be sure that you are directing people to an optimized website that delivers a good user experience. Here are a few tips to keep in mind:
- Ensure your website loads quickly – no more than three seconds
- Choose fonts that are easy to read
- Use images and text wisely – don’t overwhelm visitors
- Allow visitors to convert in three clicks or less
Incorporate Local Keywords
Your keywords should make sense to your local audience. Think about the words and phrases that your audience might be using to find products and services like yours. To help, use Google Keyword Planner to filter keyword searches based on location. Once you know which keywords to use, you can include them throughout your content.
Local SEO is more important than ever, especially for smaller brands that rely on a specific audience. By claiming your Google My Business profile and following the tips above, your site can dominate the local searches. To take charge of your local SEO strategy, contact the experts at WSI Internet Partners today.