Local SEO Tips for Small Businesses
You’re looking for a coffee shop that’ll fix your mood, a pharmacy where you grab some quick health essentials and a laundry to help you with your clothes - how do you find them? Stuck? No need to be!
It is obvious that you will pull up your questions on your favorite search engine and perform a little online research. Correct? Oh, yes.
Customers are no different. When they’re looking for a service similar they’re going to go online to find it. You may not know it, but 69% of online searches are for nearby businesses.
The other amazing benefit is that when you go local, your only competitors are other businesses operating in the same region. It’s an excellent way to avoid the rat- race of trying to claim the top search engine rankings nationwide.
Just for your information: If you don’t have a strong local search presence then your business could be missing out on up to 70 million potential customers that Google can bring right to your door!
Find out all the right tips of local SEO in this column and position your business in the best way. Stay connected till the end of this blog.
Why Do Small Business Owners Need Local SEO?
Local SEO for small business owners is like a green signal in a crowded city– it helps them stand out in the crowd, guiding customers straight to their doorstep.
So come let us understand all the benefits a small business can enjoy with local SEO;
Generates more qualified customers
Interactive experience for your target audience
Provides good conversion rates ( As per the study, small businesses can level up their conversion rates by up to 87% if they invest in local SEO)
Simplified sales
Offers helping hand towards your customer
Offers precise understanding of your customers.
What are the Local SEO tips for Small Business?
Local SEO involves improvising your online presence to enhance visibility in local search results.
Here are some basic Local SEO tips for small businesses:
Tip # 1 : Create & Optimize your Google My Business listings
Indeed, GMB(Google My Business) has become the foremost powerful technique to perform.
As it is one general fact that Google supports, verifies, and shares its content generously and to do that you surely need an SEO company. Also, your small business can find huge success targeting local searches. As the stats prove, people searching locally are potential customers waiting to be converted. To see and understand that you're optimized for Google My Business all you have to do is:
Create your Google My Business profile and verify it.
Utilize Google Posts within your account.
Motivate your customers to share reviews online.
Respond authentically to reviews.
Update working hours
Add social media links
Add offers, price and services
Did you know : 78% of people use the Internet to find information about local businesses in their area more than once a week and 21% search locally every day.
Tip # 2 : Ensure Consistency in Your NAP ( Name, Address, Phone Number)
Make it super quick and convenient for people and search engines to find you, and to make this happen you have to set up your NAP.
N = Your Name
A = Your address
P = Your phone number( with area code)
Alongside, your NAP has to be crawlable HTML text on your site for Google to make it look better according to location-based search results.
PRO TIP: Avoid the usual mistake of only adding the NAP within an image.
Tip # 3 : Add Images In Your Google My Business Listings
Adding images to your Google listing profile allows you to increase your local positioning that is your online visibility. Google rewards local business listings that precisely and consistently publish new content.
By regularly adding new photos, you are more likely to appear at the top search results on Google and Google Maps.
Tip # 4 : Target local keywords
Even for local SEO, there happens to be a struggle with keywords. However, many marketers have a convenient time locating productive keywords in the local marketplace.
Thinking about what is the secret? It starts with a healthy mix of broad and long-tail keywords. Need an example? Let’s say you run a bakery in LA. " Bakery near me or "bakery near me for birthday cake" are straightforward broad keywords.
Long-tail keywords are more specialized and usually indicate greater buyer intent. Focus on your products, such as “best cakes in LA.”
Tip # 5 : Add Locations Pages on Your Website
If you have one or more than one brick-and-mortar location
(Say for example: a local grocery store and the corner bank), it is the best practice to create location pages.
Location pages offer readers your name, address, phone number, store opening hours, store descriptions, promotions, and feedback from happy customers.
Tip # 6 : Create local content
Google continues to get smarter, which means content creators can now write more keeping in mind the users and less to satisfy search engines. And while writing about general topics that will attract a vast crowd, sometimes it's more important to divert your focus and write about local trends to attract a local audience.
Tip # 7 : Encourage Your Customers to Share Reviews on Google
A study by the New York Times found that a high number of positive reviews on Google could increase revenues by up to 20%. Reviews are also an amazing way to know what your customers want so you’re sure not only to give them but keep giving them.
One on the go tip: Consumers trust Google, more than any other platforms available.
Tip # 8 : Optimize Your Website for Mobile
Local and mobile searches are well associated.
Fact: 61% of all Google searches are performed on mobile, no strange in that!
The reasons why people use your site most of the time in a mobile environment are to look for the reviews, find directions to your location, and search for contact information.
The other best part? According to think with Google 76% of people who conduct a local search on their smartphone visit a physical place within 24 hours and 28% of those searches result in a purchase.
Tip # 9 Optimize for Voice Search
Optimizing for voice search helps you reach more people in comparison to text-based searches alone. Research shows that the number of people using voice assistants is expected to grow continuously.
For instance, if you’re looking for a Chinese restaurant in your neighborhood, you’re likely to type “Chinese restaurants near me” into a search engine.
But you’re more likely to create a voice search query like this: “Hey, Siri/Alexa, can you find a Chinese restaurant nearby?”
We get along with our voice assistants as if we’re talking to real people. Aren't we?
Tip # 10 List Your Business on Online Directories for More Visibility
Online directories often have high domain authority and visibility in search engine results. Having your business listed on these directories increases the chances of your business appearing in search results when potential customers are looking for products or services you offer.
Bringing it all together
By following these 10 tips, small businesses can establish a strong online presence, connect with their local communities, and ultimately drive growth. As you embark on your local SEO journey, remember that consistency and ongoing efforts are essential for sustained success. Your success in the local market awaits – start optimizing today!