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According to a study by Search Engine Watch, Internet users are engaging more with businesses through local searches. Google's study also found that 56% of on-the-go searches have local intent.
46% of all Google searches are seeking local information. Additionally, “near me” searches grew by at least 900% over two years.
So, what do these statistics mean for small businesses? Simply put, if your business doesn't have a robust local SEO strategy, you're missing out on a huge opportunity to connect with potential customers.
With the local search on the rise, it's crucial for small businesses to make sure they are visible and easily found online. And this is where Local SEO comes in.
Local SEO (search engine optimization) is the process of optimizing your website and online presence to rank higher in local search results. It includes optimizing your website for local keywords, building local citations, and creating content for your local audience.
Still, needs more convincing? Check out the top reasons why your small business needs to market locally.
Local SEO Boost Sales
Most searchers will look for general terms while looking for information on a product or service. However, they switch to local searches when they're ready to buy.
For example, if you're looking for an SEO or digital marketing company, you might search “best SEO companies.” But when you want to use their services, you'll look for “local SEO companies Los Angeles.”
Or, if you're looking for a new dentist, you might start with a general search like “dentists near me.” But when you want to make an appointment, you'll look for something like “emergency dental care Boston, MA.
And this is where small local businesses can capitalize and boost their sales. For you to do this, small businesses need to make sure their website is optimized for local SEO. It means including their city and state in their title tags, meta descriptions, Alt tags, etc.
They should also create a Google My Business page and claim their business on other directories like Yelp, Foursquare, etc. By doing all this, small businesses can increase their chances of appearing in the local search results and getting found by people who are ready to buy. And that's how they can boost their sales with local SEO.
Local SEO Increases Local Business Online Visibility
Maximum online visibility and web presence are essential for any business that wants to succeed. You can have the best products or services available, but if potential customers can't find you online, they will go to your competitor. Increasing your local SEO is a solid and stable way to improve your online visibility and reach new customers.
One of the ways local SEO increases your visibility is by claiming and optimizing your Google My Business listing. It's a free listing that appears when someone searches for your business on Google.
By taking a few minutes to claim and optimize your GMB listing, you can make sure potential customers see important information about your business like your address, phone number, hours of operation, website, and reviews.
Adding photos to your GMB listing is another great way to increase your visibility and reach new customers. People are visual, so adding photos of your products or services can help you stand out from the competition.
Also, Google sorts out local search results into three categories: local map pack results, organic results, and paid results.
Local map pack results are the three local businesses that show up on the map when you do a local search. They show more prominently than organic or paid results, so it's important to try and get into the map pack. Also, the click-through rates for these listings are much higher than organic or paid results.
Organic results are the websites that show up in the main body of the SERP (search engine results page). And paid results appear at the top of the SERP with the “Sponsored” or “ad” label, and they cost money.
When you appear in the map pack, organic results, and/or paid results, you are increasing your online visibility, which will help you reach new customers and dominate your local industry.
Local SEO Increases Social Proof
Again, with increasing local search results, your potential customers are more likely to see your business as a credible source. Online reviews are the best form of social proof, and they're displayed in the local search results.
Potential customers will see that others have had a positive experience with your business, which will make them more likely to use your services.
It also helps to build trust with potential customers. If they can see that you're a reputable business with happy customers, they're more likely to do business with you. The more people recommend your store, the more likely it is that new customers will visit your business.
It's important to encourage customers to leave reviews, as they can significantly impact your local SEO ranking. You can do this by sending follow-up emails after their purchase or service, or by displaying review links on your website.
Also, it's important to respond professionally to negative reviews because this shows that you're taking customer feedback seriously and are willing to improve your business.
Local SEO Optimizes Your Website for Local Keywords
Localized keywords are essential to driving targeted traffic to your website. Therefore, if you want to improve your website's visibility in local search results, you need to optimize your site for local keywords.
For example, let's say you own a small business that sells products online. You want to target customers in your city, so you need to optimize your website for local keywords like “online store + city name.”
To find the right local keywords for your business, start by brainstorming a list of potential terms. Then, use a keyword research tool to find out which terms are most popular with searchers in your area.
Once you've identified a few local keywords you want to target, it's time to optimize your website. Here are a few tips:
- Add these keywords to your website's title tags, meta descriptions, and headings.
- Use them throughout the content on your site, including in blog posts, product descriptions, and on pages like your contact page and About Us page.
- Create local landing pages for each city or region where you do business. These pages should include relevant keyword phrases and be optimized for search engines.
- Make sure your website is listed on local directories and review sites. It can help improve your visibility in search results.
You must target the right keywords if you want to improve your website's visibility in local search results. By optimizing your site for local keywords, you can attract more targeted traffic and drive more sales.
Contact us if you want to get started with local SEO optimization but aren't sure where to begin. We are a local SEO company that can help you research keywords, optimize your website, and get listed on local directories. We can also help you create local landing pages and improve your visibility in search results.
Conclusion
If you're a small business, it's more important than ever to make sure your website is optimized for search engines. SEO may seem like something only big businesses need to worry about. Still, the truth is that neglecting your website's ranking, digital strategy, and online marketing could be costing you customers and sales.
Don't let that happen—our team can help optimize your site, so you can start seeing results. Contact us today to get started! We offer the Best SEO Services in Los Angeles, CA, that can be customized to meet your needs.