A Guide to Local Search Engine Optimization for Small Businesses
What exactly is Local SEO Marketing? Local SEO marketing is any online marketing you perform offline to promote a particular location-based company that interacts directly with its local consumers. Local SEO internet marketing can be performed by all kinds of companies from small independent operations to large chain retail stores. It’s also an ever-increasing trend for new businesses to start up in neighborhoods they wish to locate themselves as well.
Why is Local SEO so important? Local Search Engine Optimization (SEO) helps businesses gain high search engine rankings and attract the kinds of visitors who will then buy from them. A study conducted recently by researchers at Boston University School of Business found that businesses located within just 3 miles of their offices had a larger chance of generating sales than businesses located within 5 miles of their offices. This makes perfect sense since your potential clients may not be searching for what you offer within that very short distance. They may instead be looking for services or products that are more distant. But even within just a short walking distance, you need to consider local seo citations to be able to maximize your internet marketing resources.
Social Media Presence: Even if your product or service is far away, it doesn’t mean that you can’t take advantage of the next best thing. Social media is a great way to not only gain exposure but also encourage existing customers to recommend your business to their friends, family members and Google search engines. While it takes time and effort to build your social media presence, it pays off big time when you can rank highly on major search engines like Google and Yahoo! Local.
Getting Found: Just because you’re located within a certain area doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try to get found! Using local seo strategies will help you find business without spending a ton of money. For example, listing in Yellow Pages, advertising in newspapers, and listing in mobile phone stores (if you operate a service based business) are all effective ways to get your company name out to those in your local area. In fact, you should consider listing in a number of these sources to help ensure that you are optimized for the search engines.
Branding: When your local businesses are well known, they will build brand recognition. Consumers will recognize your company name or logo and they will likely return to purchase more of your goods and services. Having a strong brand identity also leads to trust and confidence, which are another vital component for converting online traffic into sales. This is why it is important to include images, keywords and clear descriptions when creating your business cards, flyers and more. The more credible you are, the more likely consumers will trust your brand and purchase from you.
Site Visibility: Getting found on Google or Yahoo! Plus searches is imperative to achieving success online. To increase your presence on Google, do your homework and find out what keywords are being used to search for your products and services. Then, optimize your site to be listed in the search results. Make sure to use local SEO strategies to help improve your rankings.
If you are not getting found on Google or Yahoo!, then optimizing for local search engine optimization can help you generate high quality traffic to your website. This strategy consists of using localized keywords (like coffee shops in your city) in your web copy to attract customers. You can also use Google Places and other local business listings to increase visibility and brand awareness. Your local customers will be happy to check out your website, if you incorporate location-based search engine optimization.
Hopefully this short article has given you some useful insights into local SEO. Local SEO is a great way to get your company noticed and featured in the search engines. Local search engines mean more exposure for your products and services. So begin implementing these tips for higher visibility in the online world.