What Is Local SEO, and How Can it Help Your Business?
Do you have a local business and need to learn how to promote it to increase visibility? What are the dos and don'ts? Learn about on and off-page optimization strategies for your local business website. Local SEO is one of the most important strategies for businesses promoting in a specific region or city. So, the main objective of a Local SEO campaign is the promotion focused on the geographical component. You need Local SEO if you own a local business (a restaurant, beauty salon, shop, car service, etc.) with a physical location, not just a virtual one.
To promote a local business, on-page and off-page optimizations, which have a specific character, are necessary. Research shows that external links and on-site optimization are essential for Local SEO. Below, you have the factors that influence the ranking on the first pages of the organic results of a local site (local business):
- Link signals – 29%;
- On-page SEO signals – 24%;
- Behavioral signals – 11%;
- Personalization – 9%;
- Citation signals – 8%;
- Google My Business signals – 7%;
- Review signals – 7%;
- Social media signals – 5%.
What Could You Do Concretely for Your Business?
There are several steps, ideas, and tips, but you must be aware that local SEO Chicago, in general, and local SEO, in particular, are not exact sciences. Therefore, the key to success in this case is experimentation. Internal website optimization for a local business differs (not radically) from on-site optimization for a national or global business. For a local Chicago SEO strategy (https://gamitseo.com/seo-services-usa/chicago-seo-services/ ), the company name, address, and phone number (with associated area code) are beneficial information, as this data is most relevant to a possible local customer. Contact information must be added to everything pertinent to your business field.
That means both on your website and external websites, in the niche area in which you operate, or on regional websites. For your business to be easy to find, every Chicago SEO agency recommends that you indicate the geographical longitude and latitude in the contact data. The usual place for indicating contact information is the header or footer of pages. It would also be good to create optimized "About Us" and "Contact" pages where you can list the NAP information. This information must be placed on all pages of the website. You can get the coordinates directly from Google Maps.
Use All the Tools SEO Offers
At the content level, the main requirements of Local SEO are relevance (the general rule for SEO) and the use of keywords that include the name of the city or sector, if applicable. Another aspect that needs attention is creating a blog on the site. It brings several advantages to your Local SEO (https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2021/06/14/10-key-benefits-of-seo-for-your-business/ ) campaign:
- will present exciting and valuable information to users/customers;
- will bring links (link-building strategy);
- if you write regularly, it will ensure the freshness of the content.
Promote industry successes locally, in local news, write about events in the locality where your business is located, etc.
You can post articles on various topics related to your business on the blog. For example, if you own a fruit and vegetable shop with local delivery, you could post articles about their health benefits or various unusual/traditional fruit and vegetable recipes. Consumers are looking for information about the company they will work with and each product/service offered. Simplify their choice and allow them to know the opinions of other customers. Thus, you demonstrate the certainty of providing quality services. Make sure all reviews are genuine, whether on your site or external.
Most users who browse search engines do so from their mobile phones and look for information in the area where they are, either because they need something urgently or for psychological comfort. If a potential customer needs what you offer, ensure they can find you. When it comes to an emergency, the phone remains a lifesaver these days. You will look for a way out on the phone in such a case. Make sure the upload speed is good, too. Usually, the customer searches on their phone when in a hurry and will have an unpleasant experience if the desired page is difficult to load.
Reviews Matter a Lot in Google Maps Listings
Good reviews can influence (https://www.entrepreneur.com/science-technology/how-important-are-reviews-for-seo/252554 ) both positioning in search engine results and customer choice. Evidently, if you have good reviews, you gain consumers' trust. Especially since some engines even offer rating filters, which can raise your business to the top (if the reviews are positive) or remove you from the list (if your rating is below a specific limit). For a local business, the presence of positive reviews can be vital. Potential customers can be driven to choose a company (from many nearby competitors) by considering the opinions of other consumers.
What should you do if negative reviews also creep in (these cannot be avoided; there is the possibility of being written with bad intentions by the competition)? Dissatisfied customers are the ones who give feedback more often because they are more likely to post about your business. If you get negative reviews, don't ignore them or delete them. React calmly and promptly, trying to solve the problem; this way, you show seriousness. If the negative review is just an intention of the competition to denigrate you, request its removal. If that's not possible, there's nothing you can do but trust that you'll get more 5-star reviews.
Top 5 Reasons Why You Need Local SEO
#1 Your Business Details Appear in Front of Viewers
Nowadays, if you need any information or a particular service, you first take your phone and search for it, and the companies offering the wanted services will appear in the search results. If you compare Local SEO with Organic SEO, you will see that both are important. However, if you are the one that offers different services, you'll want an SEO strategy that will show your website through the first results in search engines (that's what organic SEO strategies are all about). Local search engine optimization is essential for businesses (https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2021/06/14/10-key-benefits-of-seo-for-your-business/ ) serving a local community. It is much less critical for global companies that attract customers from all over the world.
#2 Listing in Local Directories Improves Ranking
All you have to do is specify all your data (business name, phone number, and address accurately and consistently in local directories. Search engines will include your company in their results pages if they are confident that the information you provide is correct and accurate. Search engines want to find this basic information about your business in many online places. When they find this information – and it's all consistent and accurate, they trust the data. But if Google sees inconsistent data, it considers it much less valid and reliable.
#3 Company Website Gets More Backlinks from a Trusted Site
Inbound links or backlinks from trusted sites play an essential role in optimization. Those are the tools that confirm your site's existence, proving that it is a reliable and trusted option of the Internet tools. The search engines use backlinks to improve their optimization.
#4 Your Company Will Be Higher Ranked
An important thing to know is how to list your company in local directory citations, or you'll miss out on several business opportunities. You might own the restaurant with the best pizza in your area; it does not matter if clients cannot see your location when they search for "pizza near me," they'll buy directly from your competitor.
#5 Your Company Can Receive Reviews from Third Parties
Your company will benefit from all the reviews if you provide excellent products or services. But more is needed to get them. It would help if you also answered them. So if you do not get a good review but rather a bad one, make sure you do not get mad but respond nicely. Find ways to solve a problem as fast as you can, and if the situation ass for it, even use an apology. Local SEO helps, but it may take a while. Same with organic SEO. That's why many companies hire SEO agencies that offer quality services and faster solutions.
