Local SEO’s primary goal is to help users get the most relevant results to their location-based search queries. If a website is optimized for local SEO, and a user located nearby searches for your products or services, your website will rank higher on his organic search engine results page.
Mobile searches are on the rise and users searching behavior has evolved. Nowadays is quite common to specify location references on your searches – for example “Best barbecue in Austin” or “Best barbecue near me”. It’s time to take action and start benefiting from having your website optimized for local searches.
Local SEO search based on “Best barbecue in Austin“
Following is a list of 7 tips to help your business tap on local SEO business opportunities.
1.Get on Business Directory Listings
Find business directories and claim your business. Some key directories include: Bing Places for Business, CitySearch, Forsquare, Google My Business, Local.com, Magic Yellow, YellowPages.com, and Superpages.
2.Update NAP information
NAP (name, address, phone number) must be up to date in every page of your website. It’s a key action item so Google knows your local information as bots scan your web pages.
3. Get Social
Depending on your industry, some social networks may be a better fit to talk with customers than others. If you are a B2C business, Facebook is typically a good choice to start. Beyond building your Facebook Page and keep it updated publishing regular valuable content for your customers, attach your business page with your personal profile, and start looking for industry-related local Groups where you think your customers are participating. Typically members will ask others about businesses where they can find your type of products/services.
Facebook Group Search Results for “Cats Boston”
If you are B2B, you should do the same with LinkedIn.
LinkedIn Group Search Results for “Healthcare Boston”
4. Local Influencers
For local stores Yelp is the most trusted and used local review portal. TripAdvisor is super popular too. In both sites, top influencers are the top rated reviewers and you can search for them and reach out to try your business. Twitter is also a great tool to connect with local influencers.
5. Work on Local Citations
Expanding previous point, it’s good to get as many local citations as possible, so expand your search beyond review sites, into blogs and even press releases – all these links help increase your domain authority.
6. Google Reviews
Getting Google Reviews definitely helps on your local searches ranking, as long as they are associated with positive ratings.
7. Use Google Adwords Local Extensions
Recently Google introduced a new feature that affects location-based searches. If someone searches for a business type from a mobile phone and adds “nearby”, the search results page displays 3 or 4 local businesses. Location extensions show your business name, phone number, and a map marker with your Adwords ad text next to it.
