Local SEO can be an effective way of increasing foot traffic to your business and ranking higher in Google search results, drawing customers in from surrounding regions.
Start with keyword research using Semrush to identify relevant search terms for your business. Next, build citations: these include mentions of your name, address, phone number and website URL on various web platforms such as Reddit.
Keyword Research
Keyword research is one of the cornerstones of local SEO. This process involves identifying relevant terms to your business and optimizing web pages and PPC ads for them. Furthermore, it’s vital that your list is regularly revisited and revised as the keyword landscape changes.
One effective method for finding local keywords is by studying your competitors’ websites. Use an analysis tool like SE Ranking to monitor these pages and identify any words being used by their pages that you could then incorporate into your own content to increase chances of ranking on Google.
One method of finding local keywords is by analyzing search volume data. A tool like Google AdWords Keyword Planner allows you to view this information, providing insight into different geographic regions’ search volumes that will help prioritize keywords based on potential revenue potential.
On-Page Optimization
As part of your local SEO marketing strategy, on-page optimization should also be an element. This includes elements like metadata (small pieces of information about each page) and structured data markup – an extra bit of code you can add to your website so search engines understand your content more readily.
Focus on building authoritative backlinks from local websites and blogs by creating relevant content to share on social media, as well as submitting guest blog posts to popular local publications. Finally, ensure all locations’ NAP information is consistent across platforms and websites so search engines can identify which location should appear for certain queries while also eliminating duplicate listings that could negatively impact rankings.
Off-Page Optimization
An effective local SEO campaign should include off-page optimization techniques. These could range from public relations to link building; although PR may not officially count towards Google rankings, it can increase brand recognition and lead to more branded searches or mentions.
Also, page title tags and meta descriptions should include your business’s geographic location for maximum effectiveness in search engines identifying what the website is about and increasing chances of appearing in map pack results or organic results.
An off-page technique to help increase rankings is citation building on consumer directories such as Yelp, Yellow Pages and Foursquare. Citations should reflect your name, address and phone number (NAP) consistently across all these citations as any inconsistency may cause search engines to misinterpret or even ignore your NAP completely and damage SEO efforts.
Social Media Marketing
Local SEO (search engine optimization) is a form of search engine optimization designed to help local businesses and service-area companies outrank competitors on Google Map Pack and organic search results. This strategy employs many of the same techniques used in traditional SEO, but with some key distinctions.
One key distinction of local SEO is linking to local authority sites – like Chamber of Commerce or city government websites. Tools like Ahrefs can help you identify these local websites that could serve as valuable links.
Local SEO distinguishes itself by prioritizing consistency of name, address and phone number (NAP). This involves making sure that your business information can be found across major citation sites like Yelp, Bing Maps and Facebook without missing out.
Link Building
When employing local SEO techniques, link building requires different strategies. You must seek opportunities that relate directly to both industry and location for backlinks that you create.
As an example, if you run a plumbing business, look for opportunities in local publications to obtain quality links from websites with audiences your plumbing services can serve. This will allow your business to get maximum exposure!
Consider creating a page on your site listing businesses you recommend as another great way of building links and driving referral traffic. Just be sure to include only high-quality recommendations.