Posted by Executing a local SEO campaign is essential for any business. Regardless of the fact that a lot of businesses have turned to e-commerce mode, people still opt for a physical store and in-presence service.
However, that does not undermine the necessity of the local SEO. Therefore, it is necessary to ensure to have a smart SEO strategy from Brainvire to stay on top of the game.
The requirements of SEO keep evolving and it is challenging to keep up with the latest trends. Yet, it is important to be aware of its know-hows to make a business at par with the other e-commerce platform service providers and local businesses.
Here, in this article, we will focus on the definition and the importance of local SEO. When we talk about local SEO, we mean how you can increase your online visibility within your local area. Local SEO targets gaining visibility when an internet surfer is searching for a particular service or product in local proximity.
From a recent study, it was observed that almost 59% of consumers, who search based on location, tend to visit the shop immediately.
Let’s look at some of the local SEO tips that help and improve the rankings of the business on various search engines.
Tip 1: Keywords are the main weapon
- One of the important factors for a successful SEO campaign is using the right keywords. The keywords should be relevant to the local search at the location. This can be done by targeting words of the physical region or by using catchphrases or keyphrases relevant to the area.
- To implement the scheme of a local ‘right’ keyword, businesses should extend the search horizon to both region and business-specific.
- The business can also try to use alterations of the keywords for maximum reach. Another note is to have the exact location of the business attached to the piece – researches show that this helps improve business.
According to Brightlocal, a marketing company based in London, 84 per cent of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
Tip 2: Utilizing the platform option of GMB (aka Google My Business)
Google has introduced a separate directory platform, called Google My Business (GMB), where businesses can register themselves in order to increase their online visibility. In GMB, customers can view details about the business, like
- contact information
- store hours
- other details
- location
It also allows customers to leave reviews on the GMB account.
As per recent reports, it showed that businesses that provide HQ images on their GMB profiles get 42% more driving direction requests. Also, high-quality images are responsible for 35% increase in clicks.
In some cases, Google also validates business as authentic – business can be promoted to Google’s local search. This improves the Google rankings of the business. It also assists customers in finding the store with ease. It is easy to set and navigate and provides a wide range of features. Above all, it is free-of-cost.
Tip 3: Content Is Still King
Any local SEO campaign needs an aspirational content strategy. It should be focused on the region specifically the city or the local area that it plans to target. The content needs to be compulsorily updated. The types of content elements that can be used are:
- Pictures
- Videos
- Status update
- Blogs
- Vlogs
- Questionnaires
- Feedback forms
A good content truly converts into a purchase. Google and other search engines suggest that your web pages should have more than 1000 words with appropriate keywords in it. Always ensure that the content is articulate.
Tip 4: The Magic of Citations
Citations are like keywords in its intent and output. It provides quick access to the business information to consumers. It lists out business names, addresses and phone numbers, commonly known as NAP in the SEO terminology. Crisp local citations are a make or break in Google rankings.
Moz recently conducted a research where it concluded that citations are the fourth important factor which determines the ranking.
Tip 5: How fast does the page load?
Many users will bounce back to the search page if they feel that the page is taking too much time to load. So, ensuring that your content passes Google’s page loading speed test becomes key here. Businesses need to remember that consumers expect quick service and do not appreciate the wait time.
61 percent of local searches lead to phone inquiries.
Tip 6: Is the content mobile friendly?
Consumers are more likely to use their smartphones, rather than a desktop or PC for accessing business information. It becomes indispensable to keep in mind that your website or blog is easy to navigate on a phone.
Nearly 80 percent of local mobile searches lead to an in-store purchase.
Conclusion
From the point of view of search engines, they look for the purpose of the page, both the quality as well as the quantity, the reputation of the creator and the content and the interaction of the user.
It is important for a business to keep this in mind while creating content and using keywords. There are professionals in this field who can be consulted. To conclude, there are only pros in optimizing and localizing SEO, so why not venture and earn profits in a risk-free and convenient way.
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