If you run a local business, you know just how important it is to have a visible online presence. But with so many businesses competing for the attention of every passing customer, how is yours going to stand out from the crowd? Well, enter local SEO-your ace in the deck for enticing prospects passing by! In this guide, we're going to break down the nuts and bolts of how you can optimise your website for local searches, all while keeping it fun and light. Let’s go ahead and explore the steps to optimise your website for local SEO.
What is local seo, and why does it matter?
In its most basic sense, local SEO is about optimising your online presence so it attracts more business from relevant local searches. When people search for a product or service in their general vicinity, you want your business popping up near the top of those results. Think of it like sticking up a big neon sign that says, "Hello, we're right here!
As of 2024, local SEO has gained much momentum. With the rise in mobile searches and location-based searches, buyers are looking for solutions in their neighbourhood. And it is said that 76% of the people performing a nearby search visit a store within a day. So, missing out on optimising for local search may cost you a mine of customers. Here are the steps to optimising your website for SEO purposes.
Claim your ‘Google My Business’ listing
First things first: If you don't have your GMB listing yet, drop everything and take care of it now! GMB helps businesses manage their online presence all over Google, including search results and Maps. What to do:
- Head to the Google My Business website and click "Manage now."
- Enter your business name and address.
- Choose the appropriate category for your business.
- Fill out your profile with hours of operation, phone number, and website.
- Confirm/Verify your business. If you are verified, remember to keep your information current.
Website optimization
Now that your GMB listing is finally set up and ready to go, it's time to shift your focus onto your website. Your website should be a local SEO powerhouse, jammed full of keywords and content your audience is searching for. What to do:
Keyword research
Follow google keyword planner or Uber suggest to uncover local keywords relevant to your business.
Location pages
In case of service provision to several different areas, one page can be created for each. It helps Google in favour of showing where you will offer your services.
Use keywords locally
The keywords you decide upon using, should be included in titles and headings of your site along with the content; but again, using them as naturally as one would be the best. Nobody likes keyword-stuffed content.
Make your site mobile-friendly
Think you understand how significant it is to make your website responsive? More than half of all web traffic flows through mobile phones. In 2024, having a website that's responsive isn't just a nice-to-have, it's a must, and unless your site is optimised for mobile, you are probably losing potential customers faster than you can say "responsive design." What to do:
Responsive design
It means, automatically, your site adjusts itself to the size of the screen on which the end user is opening it. It assures that your site remains equally usable on phones and tablets.
Fast loading speed
You have to check how fast your site is loading through Google Page speed Insights. If it is slow, then you will have to be optimising images or using a content delivery network (CDN).
Get those local listings and citations
Local citations are mentions of the name of your business, its address, and phone number online. The greater the consistency of your citations across the web, the better you are going to rank in local SEO. What to do:
List your business in local directories
This includes local directories like Yelp, yellow pages, and all sorts of industry-specific sites. Ensure NAP information is consistently correct on every platform.
Engage with customers
Encourage satisfied customers to review on such platforms. Good reviews will not only build reputation but also enhance your local search engine optimization.
Engage in reviews and reputation management
Talking about reviews, they form an essential part for the local SEO. As a matter of fact, 90% of the customers reading the online reviews visit the business. Having a treasure of good reviews can certainly make you stand out. What to do:
Encourage reviews
Ask happy customers to leave a review on your Google my business listing and on other platforms too. Make this easier by sending them the links directly.
Respond to reviews
Respond to positive and negative reviews alike. It shows customers that you value their feedback and actually care about their experience.
Use schema markup
Schema markup sounds pretty technical, but it is a lot easier than it actually sounds. This is code you can add to your website that helps search engines understand your business better. Rich snippets, on the other hand, are the enhanced organic search result-nice examples above. Using local schema markup will increase your chances of showing up in the rich snippet and increase your visibility for local search greatly. What to do:
Add Schema markup for a local business
Go to the [Schema.org](https://schema.org/) website and find the right markup that identifies your type of business. Then implement it on your website, making sure to at least include your NAP, hours of operation, and the services you provide.
Test Your Schema Implementation
To ensure your schema has been correctly implemented, take Google's structured data testing tool.
Create local content
Creating content that speaks to your local audience can amplify your local SEO effort manifold. Be it in the form of blogs, videos, or even infographics, local content gives you credence within your community. What to do:
Write about local events
Give your views about some local events, news, or trends in your industry.
Highlight local partnerships
Partner with other businesses in your area and blog about the joint projects. It will help create links for you, which is awesome for SEO.
Track your success
By now, you have put into practice all those techniques, and now all that is left is to sit and wait and watch the magic take place. But, oh no, do not just sit idle; it is also monitoring, whereby you shall be able to know what works for you and what doesn't. What to do:
Use Google analytics
This will help you see your website traffic and user behaviour to get a sense for how people locally visit your site.
Check your rankings
Tools like Moz or SEMrush will allow you to see how you rank in local search and compare yourself to competitors.
Optimizing your website for local SEO doesn't have to be overwhelming. If you follow these steps, not only will you be enhancing your online visibility, but you will also be attracting more local customers and growing your business in the process. Remember, local SEO is a continuous process. Stay informed about the latest trends and continually work on improving your efforts.
So roll up your sleeves, and begin optimizing! The waiting local customers are looking out for you, and with a little effort, you will be right where they can find you-at the top of the local search results! Here is a further guide to optimising your website for local SEO.
