Local SEO

Thinking of Tackling Local SEO?

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, and they need all the help they can get to succeed in today’s digital age. That’s why search engine optimisation (SEO) is so important. But what is SEO, and is it really worth it for small businesses?

In this article, we’ll explore the world of local SEO and explain why it’s critical for small businesses to invest in this powerful marketing tool.

What Is Local SEO?

Local search is powerful for small businesses: 46% of all Google searches are looking for local information. If your business isn’t optimised for local search, you could miss out on potential customers ready to shop in your area. In short, local SEO is critical if you want your business to stay relevant.

Local SEO is the practice of search engine optimisation for local search results. On Google, that means helping your business listing in the Local Pack/Map Pack rank higher and appear more often in response to a greater volume of relevant queries.

Why Is Local SEO Important?

There are several reasons why local SEO should be a top priority for small businesses. Consider these statistics:

  • According to Google, 76% of people who conduct a local search on their smartphone visit a business within 24 hours, and 28% of those searches result in a purchase.

  • 30% of all searches it processes are related to location, also according to Google.

  • 61% of consumers said in a recent local search survey that they search locally every day.

  • A recent local SEO survey found that 82% of consumers read online reviews for businesses during a local search and spend close to 14 minutes doing so before making a decision.

  • 86% of people rely on Google Maps to find the location of a business.

  • Yelp appears in the top five search results for SMB searches 92% of the time.

  • Worldwide, 74% of in-store shoppers who performed their search before physically arriving at the store said they searched for things like [closest store near them], [locations], [in stock near them], and other types of hyperlocal information.

  • More than half of Internet users worldwide use a mobile device for their local searches.

  • 83% of searchers use Google Search to learn more about nearby businesses; 55% use Google Maps, 44% Apple Maps, 39% turn to Yahoo, and 31% choose Bing.

How Google Determines Local Ranking

Google keeps its organic search ranking algorithms a closely guarded secret but is much more open about what it takes to rank in local results. The three main categories of local ranking factors, according to Google, are:

  • Relevance – Refers to how well a local Business Profile matches what someone is searching for.

  • Distance – How far each potential search result is from the location term used in a search.

  • Prominence – How well-known Google considers that business to be.

Top ranking factors include the GBP primary category, keywords in the listing title, proximity of the business address to the searcher’s location, physical address in the city of search, additional GMB categories, high numerical star ratings, completeness of GBP listing, quality and authority of inbound links to the associated domain, and keywords in native Google reviews.

5 Ways to Improve Local Search Ranking

If you’re ready to improve your local search ranking and attract more customers to your small business, consider these five tips:

Optimise Google My Business

Create and verify a Google My Business page, use Google Posts within your account, encourage your customers to share reviews online, and respond authentically to reviews, specifying location.

Engage on social media and add posts to Google My Business

Google considers content shared on social media more important now than ever before. Now that you’ve carved out a beautiful Google My Business page, share it on social media, further aligning social and search.

Ensure your name, address, and phone number are consistent online

You’ve got to make it easy for people and search engines to find you, and to do this you have to set up your NAP. If you need help maintaining consistent business information across the web, we’ve got the tool you need!

Ensure your website is mobile-friendly

Local and mobile search go hand in hand. Make it easy for your prospects and customers by making your site mobile-friendly.

Optimise URL, title tags, headers, meta description, and content

Every time you write a piece of content, optimise it for search engines by using high-volume keywords in the URL, title, header, meta description, and body. If you’re having trouble coming up with geo-targeted content, consider highlighting customer success stories and case studies.

So, Is It Worth It?

Local SEO is critical for small businesses who want to attract more customers and increase their bottom line. By optimising your website and online presence for local search, you can ensure that your business is visible to potential customers who are ready to shop in your area. So, is local SEO worth it for small businesses? Absolutely. Don’t miss out on this powerful marketing tool – invest in local SEO today!