If you are a small business, optimizing your local SEO strategy is paramount. This is because 46% of all Google searches are for local information, so you’ll definitely want to rank for your industry on location-based search terms.
If your business isn’t optimized for local search, you may be missing out on potential customers ready to shop in your part of the world. So stay in the spotlight with these 5 local SEO tips:
1. Optimize for Google My Business
One of the easiest things you can do is create and review a Google My Business page. Make sure all contact and location details are correct and update your hours of operation. All information should match what is on your website and social media channels to avoid confusion. As soon as a new entry has been created, a Google Maps location is generated. This is synced with Google Search for easy access and searchability.
It’s also a good idea to encourage customers to leave reviews. You can do this by sharing your short URL from your computer’s Google My Business dashboard or via the mobile app. You can then respond authentically by providing your location. A response example could look something like this: “We appreciate your feedback on XXX in LOCATION. We appreciate your contributions and look forward to working with you again. Entered by the COMPANY NAME. “
2. Perform a local SEO audit
Get your local SEO strategy on track with an audit. What does your Google My Business page look like on the SERPs? Is the information factually correct? If not, fix the problem immediately as it can affect your local SEO search results. You can also go to Google Search Console and troubleshoot errors that could be hindering indexing. Is your website fully crawlable? If not, why not? How does your website work? Analyze data to get a well-rounded view of your demographics. Have you attracted a local audience or is work required?
3. Set geographic search phrases as a target
When it comes to local SEO, it is important to target geographic search phrases. This means developing a content strategy based on specific local SEO keywords. For example, you might decide to do a blog series about the best SEO services in Kentor. Top Family Getaways in Oxfordshire. After all, every new blog post is a new indexed page for your website and a new way to rank for a local SEO term. One of the easiest ways to incorporate local terms is to focus on news and local events.
Remember, optimization is key. Every time you write any piece of content, you need to make sure that it is optimized for search engines with large keywords in the URL, title, header, meta description and text content.
4. Add location pages to your site
If you have multiple company locations, it is a good idea to create separate location pages for each of those locations. For example, if you are selling registered used Audi vehicles in the South East of England, you could create pages like Used Cars in Canterbury Kent, Used Cars in Ashford Kent, Used Cars in Maidstone Kent, and so on. Each location page should also contain important business information, including your name, address, and contact information.
5. Make sure your website is suitable for cell phones
Did you know that 61% of all Google searches are performed on mobile devices? This means that local search and mobile search go hand in hand. People access your website on their cell phones to look up reviews, find directions to your location, and find contact information. So it is very important to have a mobile friendly website. The number of “Near Me” searches on mobile devices has also increased by 250% since 2017. It is therefore a must to have a presence on Google My Pages, to keep information up to date and to optimize it for local search terms.
Contact Whitefish Marketing, a Kent SEO agency, for help with your local SEO marketing.