SEO Local is an effective strategy for brick-and-mortar retailers to increase omnichannel sales. It helps shoppers locate your business online, which may lead to in-store visits.
Any business with a physical location must prioritize local SEO, as more than 30% of searches on Google are related to specific geographic areas. Discover how to optimize your website for localized results and boost sales!
Keyword Research
Keyword research is an integral component of any SEO campaign. It allows you to discern what people are searching for online and provide insight into what terms your competitors may be using.
Local keyword research differs from traditional keyword research in that it focuses on a local target market(s). For instance, if your restaurant is in Brooklyn, local keywords might include “restaurants Brooklyn” and “restaurants near me”.
Keyword research is an ongoing process that should be done as often as possible. It’s especially beneficial when creating new content for your website, selecting what to promote on social media accounts and even making modifications to an existing site.
On-Page Optimization
On-page SEO is the practice of optimizing individual web pages for specific keywords to boost search visibility and traffic. This involves aligning page elements like title tags, headings, content, and internal links with targeted keywords.
Keyword research is the process of identifying pertinent keywords in your industry that align with the target audience for your business. This can help you construct an organic SEO campaign that draws qualified visitors and converts them into customers.
You can use a tool to identify keywords with respect to their search volume, cost-per-click (CPC), and keyword difficulty. Selecting words with reasonable CPCs and relevant search volume will guarantee you’re targeting the right audiences.
Additionally, you should optimize your NAP (name, address and phone number) on your website to help Google rank you higher for location-based searches. Doing this will enhance your local business profile and boost the likelihood that potential customers find you online.
Local Citations
Local citations can be an effective tool for increasing your business visibility to potential customers and cultivating its online reputation. They serve a dual purpose: they link back to you from other sites, while helping build the credibility of the brand itself online.
Citations are online listings of a business’ information that include name, address and phone number (NAP) data. Having an presence on these sites can be beneficial in SEO Local as it will boost your rankings in Google’s localized search results.
Although there are various methods to build citations, it’s essential that you avoid spammy citation sites and only acquire reliable references. Placing your NAP information on low-quality websites can adversely impact your business’ SEO and lead to negative associations with the brand.
Link Building
Link building is an integral element of any local SEO strategy. It helps boost your site’s domain authority and rank for relevant search terms, thus increasing the chances that new customers will discover you.
You can build links using various tactics, such as publishing useful content for your audience, reaching out to influential influencers and getting links on local resource listings. However, unlike general link building techniques, local SEO link building focuses more on getting links from sites within a specific geographic region.
If you know any local bloggers, why not reach out and request a link back to your site? In exchange, they can write about your business and give their readers an extra benefit?
When it comes to local link prospecting, the most important rule is to seek out websites that are pertinent to your target market. That could mean linking from a competitor down the street instead of your aunt’s horseback-riding school website which has little relevance and low authority.