Local SEO: 10 Things to Know

by | SEO

Local SEO is all about increasing search visibility for businesses that serve their communities. These businesses can be brick-and-mortar with physical locations (like an office) or service companies that operate in a city (like an electrician). Local SEO algorithms include everything from claiming a business listing to ensuring a franchise location appears in a local search on Google (a process known as citation management). For the business owner, Local SEO can include managing online ratings, reviews, and social media presence.

Local SEO works by gathering information for local search. Search engines rely on signals such as citations, local content, social profile pages, and links to provide the most relevant local results to the user, which is why your Local SEO game must stand out from the rest!

Be Curious
Local SEO is essential. It helps your business stand out from the local competition and directs more organic traffic to your website through online leads. It’s crucial in providing critical information to potential customers, such as NAP (Name, Address, and Phone Number). One method of local SEO comes in the form of Citations, which mentions your business’s name, address, or phone number. These city guides, trade association listings, map listings, and even Yelp help search engine users (aka your potential customers!) discover your business, thus increasing your traffic and local search pack ranking.

61% of people who initiate a local search end up calling a business from the local search pack results. Local SEO, and your search pack ranking, also lends your business credibility and makes your listing more visible for potential reviewers.

So how can you get started on your Local SEO, or improve your existing Local SEO? Knowing how vital Local SEO is, is the first step. But what’s next? First, you can create a Google My Business account and build your business’ GMB listing. Check out our Google My Business guide for more info on setting up your listing! Being the largest search engine, establishing a quality Google presence will improve your Local SEO rankings.

My G Suite Local SEO
Local SEO services are also available to boost your Local SEO presence. You can add an SEO specialist or SEO Marketing team (like TKD Design!) to increase your search engines’ visibility to your core, local audience! Great Local SEO is achievable but time-consuming. Having someone with in-depth knowledge of the Local SEO market will allow you to free up a considerable time to focus on your business and your clients. You can find SEO specialist services starting from about $300/month, depending on the depth and complexity of the Local SEO work that your business requires. Contact TKD Design today to get in touch with a Local SEO specialist!

Another great, if not essential, Local SEO resource is BrightLocal. BrightLocal is an integrated local citation, NAP consolidation, and SEO platform, complete with all the tools necessary to increase your business’s visibility in the local search pack and attract more local customers. The platform is used by thousands of professional agencies, digital marketers, and freelancers across the world!

Marketing Strategy
So how does BrightLocal work? When you set up your account, you will be asked for your business NAP, location, and contact information. BrightLocal’s Citation Tracker tool will then scan the web for any citations (mentions) of your business or your business’ NAP information, and consolidate them. You can then edit or delete any incorrect NAP or business information, or even add your business on platforms that you haven’t been previously, making it an invaluable Local SEO tool. To learn all there is to know about BrightLocal, look out for our next blog post, 7 Great Things BrightLocal Can Do For Your Site!

Some more ways to improve your Local SEO ranking include:

  • Getting Positive Reviews from Regular Customers

Encouraging your regular or happy customers to leave you a review on your Google My Business listing, or a review site like Yelp, can significantly increase your authority in Local SEO matters and improve your local search ranking.

  • Taking Advantage of Local Review Sites and Directories

Taking advantage of industry-specific directories and popular review sites like Yelp and FourSquare can improve your Local SEO ranking by increasing your authority as a business, making the algorithm more likely to place your listing higher in the SERPs.

  • Focusing in on Local Keywords

Using keyword research tools like Ahrefs or Wordstream, you can focus on the most popular search keywords relating to your practice in your community, and make sure to rank for them.

  • Optimizing your Website for Mobile

According to Google, more than 50% of search queries are now entered from a mobile device, meaning that if your website is not optimized for mobile users, Google will not rank your site very high for its users in the local search pack.

iPhone

And that’s the lowdown on Local SEO! For more information about Local SEO practices, or more information about TKD Design’s Local SEO and BrightLocal Services, contact TKD Design today!

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