People use the web for everything, especially when it comes to shopping. The web provides people with a convenient way to shop for the things they need without leaving their homes.

In this digital age, even local shops and businesses have an absolute need to make themselves visible online and reachable to as many people as possible. Every local reality nowadays is if it wants to compete, it MUST have its website present on the Internet.

Why is online visibility important for businesses? From 2017 to 2019, Google said that searches for the phrase "near me today/tonight" have increased by 900%. Thus, to best satisfy its searchers' requirements, Google began delivering more results for geographically-related queries based on:

Prominence
Relevance
Proximity

That means if your business is close to the searcher and relevant to their query, you're more likely to show up higher in the search results. And this is especially important for local businesses because it allows them to be found by people searching for the products and services they offer in their specific geographical area.

SEO is not a luxury; it's a necessity. You're missing out on many potential customers and business opportunities if you're not doing it. Still doubtful? Here are a few reasons why SEO is vital for local businesses and what makes it special.

Reaches Customers Who Are Ready to Buy

According to Google, about 76% of mobile searches visit a business within twenty-four hours, and 61% are ready to buy. And this is a huge opportunity for businesses to capitalize on.

Local SEO can bring your business closer to your target audience, establishing a link that impacts the purchasing decision. It's especially important for small businesses that may not have the resources to compete with larger companies on a national or global scale.

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For example, if you own a digital marketing company, someone searching for the "Best SEO Services In Los Angeles, "local SEO company in Los Angeles," or "best local SEO companies near me," will probably see your business in the search results and may contact you.

Or, if you have a home-based business, someone searching for "product X near me" is likely looking to buy that product now and will appreciate knowing your business is nearby.

There are a few things you can do to help reach these customers who are ready to buy:

Claim your Google My Business listing and make sure all of your information is correct.
Optimize your website for local search.
Make sure your website is mobile-friendly.
Use local keywords on your website and in your content.
Generate reviews and testimonials from past customers.
Add location pages to your website if you have multiple locations.

We are a local SEO company that can help you optimize your Google My Business page. We'll do all the work for you to ensure that your business is found on Google Maps. We'll optimize your listing and send proximity signals to rank you in your target market and locations.

Gain More Localized Traffic

When your site is optimized for local search, you'll get more localized traffic, increasing your sales. What does getting optimize for local search mean?

Well, local SEO focuses on local search terms, which may include geographic references like country, state, or town. Also, some may even include specific streets or neighborhoods. The more specific search terms are known to be hyper-local.

For example, if you own a pizzeria in Atlanta, your site should be optimized for "pizza Atlanta." Or, if you want to attract customers from a specific neighborhood, you can use the name of that neighborhood.

When you rank high for these local search terms, you'll get more traffic from people who are searching for exactly what you offer in your area. The higher you rank, the more likely you'll receive click-throughs to your website, and the more customers you'll get.

About 88% of local mobile searchers visit a brick-and-mortar store the same day as the search, and 72% of people using computers who conduct a local search visit the store the same day.

With these statistics in mind, it's clear that you need to focus on local SEO marketing if you want to attract more customers and get more sales.

SEO Builds Trust & Credibility

Think about it this way: when you're searching for a new product or service, what do you do? You probably head to Google (or your preferred search engine) and type in a few keywords. Then, you scroll through the results until you find something that looks promising.

You're not alone. According to GE Capital Retail Bank, 81% of shoppers conduct online research before making a purchase. What does this mean for local businesses? It means that if you want to succeed online, you need to make sure your website is optimized for search engines. Why? Because SEO builds trust and credibility.

When customers see that your website is ranking high in search results, they'll automatically assume that you're a credible and trustworthy business. After all, why would Google promote your website if it wasn't a reliable source of information?

Also, when customers see that your website is getting a lot of visitors, they'll be more likely to trust it as a source of information. It's because they know that lots of other people are finding your website useful, so they're more likely to think that your website is worth their time.

So, if you want to build trust and credibility with your customers, make sure you invest in SEO. For example, you can start by doing keyword research to find out what people are actually searching for online. Then, you can create content that's optimized for those keywords.

You can also make sure your website is mobile-friendly and easy to navigate. These are just a few of the many things you can do to make your website more search engine friendly. And when you do, you'll start to see an increase in traffic and customers.

Local SEO Means Increased Engagement, Traffic & Conversions

Why should you optimize your website for local searches? While there are many reasons, it boils down to increased engagement, traffic, and conversions. When you make it easy for searchers in your area to find your small business online, they are more likely to take the next step and visit your store or make a purchase.

For example, if you own a retail store in Los Angeles, you want to rank high in local searches for "clothing store Los Angeles." By optimizing your site for this search, you will increase your chances of being found by people who are searching for what you sell in your area.

The more people who visit your store, the more sales you will make. And, the more people who are aware of your business, the more likely they are to recommend you to their friends and family.

Thus, increasing engagement, traffic, and conversions. So, how do you optimize your website for local searches? Here are a few tips:

Make sure your NAP (name, address, and phone number) is consistent across all platforms.
Get listed in online directories like Yelp, Google My Business, and Bing Places.
Make sure your website is mobile-friendly.
Use local keywords in your titles and tags.
Add a map to your website.

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These are just a few of the many ways you can optimize your website for local searches. By taking the time to do so, you will see an increase in engagement, traffic, and conversions. And, ultimately, your bottom line will improve.

SEO Impacts the Buying Cycle

The buying cycle, also known as the purchase funnel, is a model that describes the stages that a customer goes through when considering and making a purchase. The model typically includes seven stages:

Awareness: the customer becomes aware of a problem or need
Discovery: the customer seeks out information on potential solutions
Evaluation: the customer compares different solutions and narrows down their options
Interest: the customer expresses interest in a particular solution
Intent: the customer intends to purchase a product or service
Purchase: the customer makes a purchase
Loyalty: the customer evaluates their purchase and decides whether to continue using the product or service

SEO can impact the customer's buying cycle in a few ways. For example, if a customer is searching for a solution to a problem they're experiencing, good SEO can help ensure that your website appears as a top result.

It's because appearing in the top spot on search engine results pages (SERPs) indicates to the customer that your website is a credible source of information. In addition, customers are more likely to click on websites that appear in the top spot on SERPs than those that appear lower down.

So, if your website appears in the top spot for relevant keywords, it's more likely that customers will click through to your website, which could lead them further down the buying cycle.

Search Engine Optimization is a Long-Term Strategy

SEO is not a one-time deal. You can't just "set it and forget it." You need to be constantly monitoring your site and making changes as needed. That's why SEO is considered a long-term strategy. It takes time, effort, and patience to see results.

But it's worth it, especially for small and local businesses. SEO can give you a competitive edge and help you stand out from the rest. Say, for instance, you own a small jewelry shop. You may not be able to compete with the big-name brands, but you can rank higher in local search results for certain keywords.

It will help you attract more customers and grow your business. So don't be discouraged by the time and effort required for SEO. It's a long-term strategy that can really pay off.

Conclusion

SEO is an integral part of any digital marketing strategy, but it's' especially crucial for small businesses. Without optimized search engines results, it can be difficult for potential customers in your area to find you online. SEO can be a complex and time-consuming task, but it's worth the effort.

It's important to keep in mind that SEO is an ongoing process, not a one-time event. Just as your business changes and grows over time, so do your SEO strategies and digital marketing efforts. As you add new products, services, and content to your website, you'll need to adjust your SEO tactics accordingly.

Contact our SEO consulting agency in Los Angeles, CA today and let our team help you with keyword research, a comprehensive digital strategy, or a digital marketing plan that will get your business seen by the right people at the right time.

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Why Is SEO Important for a Local business?