Not every business will benefit from using local SEO techniques, but it’s a useful area to cover for many small companies. If you sell your products or services locally, you’ll want to promote them to people searching for what they need in your area. Local SEO can be tough to get correct, especially when you’re trying to fit local keywords naturally into your content. There are several important points to pay attention to in addition to more general SEO best practice. With the rise of mobile searches, using local SEO services is more important than ever, so getting it right is essential.
Mobile and Voice Search
In 2016, Statcounter said that mobile web use had overtaken desktop usage for the first time. It grew from less than 5 percent of loaded pages in 2010 to 51.3 percent in 2016. Not only are people using mobile devices more than ever, but Google says that (in the US) 41 percent of adults and more than half of teenagers use voice search daily. These are essential statistics to take into account for local SEO. Something to think about in relation to local SEO is the way people use voice search. For example, they might ask for something “near me”, then use a map application to browse their options.
How to Keep Local Content Natural
Local keywords and phrases need to be incorporated into content if you want to promote your local business. However, this can seem tricky to do, and many people get it wrong. You don’t want to stuff place names into irrelevant content. If you use local SEO services from a professional, they will always provide you with relevant local content. For example, if you want to promote your fitness company in Oxford, you might use a blog post about the best running routes in and around Oxford.
Business Listings Are Important
The Yellow Pages might not be as relevant as they once were, but getting your business listed in all the right places still matters. Instead of printing an advert in the phonebook, you should now be listing your business in key places online. This includes claiming your Google My Business page, which will make sure your business is easy to find on Maps and will show up at the top of search engine results pages. Your page should provide plenty of information, including a clear description, opening hours, contact information, and photos. Local SEO services can give you the tools you need to sort out both your on-page and off-page SEO, including filling out your GMB page.
Spend Time on Cultivating Positive Reviews
Reviews can make a huge difference to how people perceive your business. And when they’re searching for local businesses, they might be out and about and making a quick decision on their phone or other mobile device. Your reviews and ratings are likely to be one of the things they take into account to make their choice more quickly. You can encourage people to leave good reviews, but one of the most important things to do is respond to reviews. You can present yourself as a friendly local business, even when reviews aren’t so positive.
Get your local SEO right if you want to promote your business to local people. Whether your business is online or offline, tapping into your local community is vital.
