Local businesses are often leery of the term SEO. To them, it’s either a gimmick or a marketing service reserved only for large companies with unlimited budgets. I have spoken with a number of local companies who have tried “SEO” with a so-called expert and ended up paying thousands of dollars with very little if any return at all. Local SEO can be extremely powerful to businesses of all sizes if done correctly. Using these 5 tips consistently will help your business capture the audience that’s looking for your services or product.
Related Posts:
There are hundreds of reasons why your business should invest in a local SEO strategy, but I’ll let the numbers do the talking.
- 50% of consumers who searched for a local business on their smartphone visited the store within 24 hours. (The number of computer/tablet searchers who did the same was 34%)
- 51% of consumers search for local businesses on-the-go
- 30% would prefer to buy in-store (vs. online) if they knew a local store was nearby
- 4 out of 5 consumers use search engines to find local information
Below are 5 tips you can use to in your local SEO strategy to optimize your business’s exposure and help you rank above the competition.
Table of Contents
Tip #1: Capitalize on Long Tailed Keywords
Too often local businesses are trying to rank for very broad and competitive terms. Because Google’s algorithm gives weight back to larger directories such as Yellow Pages or Yelp, it’s nearly impossible to break into the top ten for some of these terms. Local businesses need to capitalize on their long-tailed keyword opportunities. Instead of trying to rank for “Shoe Store”, optimize your content around more specific keywords such as “Cross-Country Running Shoes in Melbourne FL”. Adding your city and state is a great way to narrow your approach and begin to rank quickly. Not to mention it will also drive much more targeted traffic to your site.
Tip #2: Be Consistent
Where and how you display your information matters. Remember, everything you do communicates something to your audience. You should always have you name, address, and phone number (or NAP) on all of your online profiles. Make sure that not only the information is consistent and correct, but that the format of the information is also consistent. Consistency helps in web design and social as well. It lets the visitor know they’re in the right place!
Tip #3: Be Social
People who connect with a local business or brand online are more likely to become promoters. The end goal of your business isn’t the sale, it’s building a following who will consistently use and promote your product or service. Social shares and stats are a part of the Google algorithm and have an impact on your efforts. Make sure you use local terms and hashtags so that people in your area can connect with you.
Tip #4: Mobile Matters
Mobile optimization matters more now than ever. In April, Google released a mobile-specific algorithm that impacts the ranking of your site based on its mobile-friendly status. The stats above also prove that local search on mobile devices has a higher lead-to-conversion ratio, so mobile friendliness can’t be overlooked. Not sure if your site is mobile-friendly? Click here for a free assessment.
Tip #5: Get Listed
The more listings the better, if they are listed correctly! (See Tip#2) Having your site correctly listed across all the major online maps and directories has a huge benefit to your local strategy. Your NAP should be listed in as many places as you can. It can be extremely time-consuming to find all these directories so we have a free tool for you to scan your site and see how you’re ranking locally.
A local search is a powerful tool for any business looking to draw targeted traffic that converts. By using these 5 simple tips your site and the company will begin to move up the ranking and in return drive more sales-qualified leads to your business.
If you have any questions or comments we would love to hear your thoughts. Comment below and let’s start a conversation.
![SMART SEO & Content Marketing How Your Message Impacts Rankings [Infographic]](https://www.smamarketing.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/SMART-SEO-Content-Marketing-How-Your-Message-Impacts-Rankings-Infographic.png)
