For smaller businesses, local SEO is essential to successfully operate on a regional level. When compared to national search engine optimization, there will be more focus on ranking areas across the whole country. Local SEO puts a focus on local areas and prioritizes SERPs in a specific area.
Optimizing for local searches will mean more leads, an increase in website traffic and conversions because the optimization focuses on local customers and what is more relevant to them. The main benefit of improving your local SEO efforts is that it helps small businesses have a leg up on the competition that serves customers nationally. Without the use of local search engine optimization, small businesses may be losing out on a huge opportunity to increase their traffic and sales.
- Optimize Website For Mobile Devices
More than 50% of searches done for businesses online is through a mobile device. Because of this, you need to ensure your website is optimized for mobile use. There are various ways you can optimize your site to be easily visited on mobile devices. One method involves ensuring your site loads quickly. Second, be sure the font on your mobile site is larger for easier readability on a small device. Last, be sure to take strategic steps when adding copy and images so you do not overdo it and fill up the limited space you have.
- Optimize Business And Google Account
To begin, claim your business through Google My Business. This is a free way to establish the presence of your business in the search engine. This will also allow your business to show up when people search on Google Maps. If Google authenticates your company as being legitimate, you may find it coming up in searches on the sidebar of the search engine when people enter your targeted keywords.
- Obtain New Links
Another way to improve your local SEO is by getting new, high-quality backlinks to your website. The quality and quantity of links that are directed to your website from other sites that have authority, the better effect it will have on your local rankings in the search engines. There are various opportunities to get new links such as giving presentations to local businesses, talking with local universities and getting articles published online by local news outlets.
- Improve Linking Structure In Website
Not only are external links important to improve your local SEO, but your website also needs to be optimized with internal links as well. Where relevant, add internal links within the content of your pages. This can include informational pages, blog posts and service pages. This needs to be done consistently, but it is important not to overdo it. If Google crawls your site and it is filled with excessive amounts of backlinks, it may perceive your site as a scam.
- Create Local Business Profiles
Another way to improve your ranking in local searches is by creating local business profiles for your company. This will make it easier for customers to find you because you will be establishing a presence for your company on popular review sites and your industry through Yelp, Google Plus and Yellow Pages. Each business profile you create adds another landing page for your visitors to find you through. Doing this also gives your business a great opportunity to improve social proofing and help to drive people back to your sites.
- Get Reviews
As a small business owner trying to improve your local SEO, it is important to get regular and positive reviews from as many customers as possible. This will give your business credibility, earn trust for new customers and optimize your presence on Google My Business. When potential customers see positive reviews about your products and services while doing their search locally, they will be more encouraged to purchase from your business. There are several ways to get reviews from your customers. You can ask them after they have made a purchase or entice them with deals for leaving a positive review.