No matter what you may be told, people search for local information. Indeed, it has been shown that 80% of consumers direct their searches locally (more interesting local SEO stats), so you need to be clued up when it comes to how to utilise local SEO for your business.
The chances are that you may be unaware of business going to other local businesses in your market, so what can you do to make sure you are fully optimised for local SEO?
We’ve got 5 great tips for you that will certainly help, so read on if you want to boost your business!
1. Harness the Power of Google My Business
First things first: Google really is the be all and end-all of the search engines, it’s the one place we all go for information, local and otherwise. What you must do – and we mean must – is utilising the power of Google My Business; you’ve seen the businesses that use it as they appear in the sidebar on searches, and it’s easy to do as well as very powerful.
All you need to do is register your listing with My Business, and include your business name, address, phone number and a link to your website. Google will verify your credentials, and once this is done you are listed with Google My Business.
Any customers who come to you this way can leave reviews; remember to respond to reviews, and to include product names and details in your responses for further SEO.
2. Expand Your Reach
You may be looking locally, but don’t keep things too local! People searching in one town will loo at listings in a neighbouring area, so reach out to those customers too. You can do this by using City Pages, which will list your business in neighbouring towns and cities as well as your own.
3. Content is King – Local Content!
You are of course well aware of the importance of good quality, relevant content, but why not utilise content that is relevant locally? Location-specific content appeals to readers – not necessarily just to search engines – so will engage your customers in a more effective fashion.
Publish pieces on local happenings and events, both domestic and commercial, plus local news and updates. Perhaps issue occasional content about your local employees, and what they have been up to. All of this will help you engage your local customer base in a more effective fashion.
4. Google Loves Inbound Links
Google really does love inbound links; these tell Google that you are a legitimate business with the right credentials, and they will even help boost your standing on the Google rankings. This is why the age-old practice of guest blogging is still part and parcel of good local SEO – in fact, all SEO!
The concept of guest blogs – spread your word and name around the industry by offering guest blogs for others in the same niche, and you’ll find you draw in more interest – is one that is tried and tested, and if you’re not a great writer (not everybody is, after all) you can hire someone to write for you at a very low rate.
Furthermore, utilise your social media presence to get inbound links that way. Social media is a great way of getting exposure for your Google My Business listing too.
You should also use you’re own personal and business connections to spread the word, and reach out to local organisations such as a chamber of commerce or business networking meetings.
What you want to achieve is to expand your status as a reliable and knowledgeable source on your industry and its workings, so that you raise your standing in the network.
5. Get Expert Help
SEO can seem like a minefield at times, and you might not have the time available to give it your full attention. That’s when you can call on the experts to help.
There are many SEO agencies out there who will be happy to help you perfect your digital marketing routine, and you may be surprised how affordable it is. Indeed, if you have a marketing budget you should direct a portion of that towards SEO help, as it will be money well spent.
Look around for an expert company with the right credentials, an SEO agency like Serene Media – or you may have friends or contacts in your business networks who can help – and talk to them about where you are now, and where you want to be. They will be able to come up with the right local SEO set-up for you, and they will streamline your SEO practices so you are operating to maximum efficiency.
SEO is not a dark art, but getting it right can be tricky without the right knowledge, so get in touch with a reliable SEO company now, and they will be happy to help.
