Local SEO myrtle beach helps small businesses stretch limited marketing dollars by tailoring their online presence to the specific interests and needs of nearby customers. Unlike traditional search engine optimization aimed at large national sites, local SEO centers on the “where” of marketing: the physical location of the customer and the service area of the business. Small businesses can pull more value from local SEO by focusing on targeted keyword research, building trust through community signals, and tightening on-page elements like meta descriptions and internal links.

What targeted keyword research looks like in practice

Targeted keyword research starts with studying local consumer habits, preferences, and buying patterns in the market a business serves. Once that research is done, the marketer compiles a list of keywords and phrases to promote the business. The list should include both general terms that apply to many products and services and specific terms that match consumers located in a defined area. Each keyword and phrase on the list should be relevant to the product or service the business offers.

Working with a local SEO firm like BrightLocal

BrightLocal, a local SEO firm in Tampa Bay, Florida, offers clients a range of tools and SEO services. Services run from pay-per-click advertising to professional analysis and consulting. BrightLocal works with small businesses across service areas including Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, St. Pete Beach, Bradenton Beach, and Venice.

Building connections and trust beyond links

Local SEO is more than links and search engines. It is about making connections and gaining trust. Marketers build that trust through social media strategies such as blogging, discussion forums, and social networking, and through inbound links from relevant websites. Those inbound links can come from newer sites with little exposure online or from older, high-ranking sites that have already established themselves in search results.

Why internal linking structure matters

Internal linking structure is another important piece of local SEO. Internal linking means placing keywords within pages on your own site that describe what each page is about. For example, a page selling a potted philodendron could include anchor texts such as “philodendron care” or “philodendron gardening.” Those anchor texts form part of the meta description and show up in search engine results when a consumer performs a related search.

Getting meta descriptions right

Meta descriptions matter a lot for local use, just as the rest of the meta tag affects site ranking. Marketers have to be careful with the content placed in the meta description. Put positive keywords and keyword phrases in the business name, address, and phone number, and avoid overloading the meta description with so much information that it loses focus.

How social media affects rankings

Posting on social media sites can have a large impact on where a website ranks. Popular social media sites include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Google+, among others. To rank well on these sites, content should be relevant to the topic and keyword rich. Another path to good rankings is creating links back to the website from the social media pages a business creates.

Using Google Places, Google Maps, and Google Maps mobile

Online businesses can rank well for local searches using Google Places, the Google Maps application, and Google Maps mobile. Local SEO companies know how to maximize these programs to get businesses the results they want. With an optimized profile, properly labeled business profiles, and accurate maps, businesses can reach a wider audience. Businesses should also make sure the correct names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, and website domain names are used when posting to these services, add plenty of relevant content to the profile, and include keywords in every comment made on social networking sites.

FAQ

What is local SEO and how is it different from traditional SEO?

Local SEO is an approach to marketing focused on the location of the customer and the service area of the business. It is different from traditional search engine optimization or search marketing aimed at larger national sites, which do not center on a specific “where.”

What services does BrightLocal offer small businesses?

BrightLocal, a local SEO firm based in Tampa Bay, Florida, offers tools and SEO services ranging from pay-per-click advertising to professional analysis and consulting. The firm works with small businesses in service areas including Dunedin, Tarpon Springs, St. Pete Beach, Bradenton Beach, and Venice.

How can Google Places and Google Maps help a local business rank better?

Online businesses can rank well for local searches by using Google Places, the Google Maps application, and Google Maps mobile. Optimized profiles, properly labeled business profiles, accurate maps, consistent business name, address, phone number, email, and domain details, plus relevant profile content and keyword-rich social comments, all help reach a wider audience.

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