With over 70% of people in the United States searching for local businesses online, investing in local search engine optimization (SEO) increases your odds of being found by potential customers in your area. This is crucial because local clients are the ones most likely to visit your store and recommend your business to the people they know.
In this article, you will understand why local SEO is important, even for enterprises with multiple locations, and how you can leverage tools like Google My Business to improve local visibility.
Local SEO optimizes your digital presence for a specific geographical area so it becomes easier for potential clients to find you every time they search for businesses in that location. For example, if you're a Seattle-based construction company and someone searches for "general contractor in Seattle," they will likely see your business at the top of the search results.
But why does it matter? Consider the following:
46% of Google's users are looking for information about businesses near them.
97% of people learn about businesses in their locale through the Internet.
76% of people visit or contact businesses they found through a local search within the day.
78% of location-based mobile searches result in people purchasing offline.
These statistics prove that potential customers actively seek businesses near them online. If your website isn't optimized to appear on local online searches, you are missing out on leads and potential revenue.
For enterprises with multiple locations, having a robust local business SEO strategy ensures they're visible in each location they operate in.
Increase your enterprise's chances of dominating local search results with the following tactics:
Even though Google My Business has been rebranded as Google Business Profile (GBP) since 2021, many people continue to use the old name. GBP is a business listing that contains crucial information about your enterprise, which Google uses to answer client queries and rank websites in local searches.
Here's how you can optimize your GBP listing:
Claim and verify your business. Go to the GBP website, claim your business, and finish the verification process.
Complete every section. Fill all sections with accurate information, including the description, services, and photos. The more information you provide, the better your chances of appearing in relevant searches.
Incorporate relevant keywords. When writing your business description, make sure to include relevant keywords. Using the above example, you could use keywords like "best general contractor in Seattle" or "reliable construction services in Seattle."
Encourage customer reviews. Positive reviews build trust with potential customers and improve your ranking in local searches. Respond to all reviews, even the negative ones, showing you value your clients' feedback.
Optimizing your GBP listing increases your chances of being featured on Google's Local Pack. This section appears above the organic results for relevant searches—a near guarantee that your target audience will see your business.
If your enterprise has multiple locations, create a unique GBP listing for each branch. This ensures each location has a chance to appear in local searches.
Creating business listings across relevant platforms helps build your online presence and credibility. Make sure your business's NAP (name, profile, and phone number) information is accurate and consistent across all directories, social platforms, and websites.
Search engines like Google cross-reference your business listings across the Internet. Inconsistent information will confuse potential customers, hurt your credibility, and lower your ranking.
To avoid these issues, use the same formatting for your NAP across all platforms. For example, if you write your phone number as (123) 456-7890 on your website, use the same format on all other platforms.
Additionally, list your business in top directories like Yelp and Bing Places, local chamber of commerce websites, and reputable industry-specific directories. For instance, if your business is in the home improvement niche, you can get listed on Houzz, HomeAdvisor, or Angi.
Finally, regularly audit your business listings to ensure they're accurate, especially when your business has a new location, phone number, or name change.
Any mention of your business online, such as in a local directory, review site, or social media post, is considered a citation. These citations reinforce your local business SEO by increasing your online presence and credibility.
There are several tactics you can use to build local citations. For instance, partnering with other local businesses could lead to your enterprise being mentioned on their websites and social media posts. You could also participate in local events to earn mentions by local blogs, community sites, and newspapers.
When your enterprise expands to a new location, create unique website pages for each branch. Of course, don't forget to optimize these pages, too. Here are tips on how to do that:
Make your content unique. Don't just copy and paste the same content across multiple pages, or you could end up with duplicate content, hurting your SEO efforts. Tailor each page to the area and highlight specific services, features, and community events.
Utilize local keywords. Use phrases with the format "[service] in [city]," and use these naturally in your content.
Add location-specific feedback. Reviews and testimonials from customers in the area can reinforce your business's local presence.
These pages can help build a connection between your enterprise and potential customers in your location, making it easier to gain their trust and loyalty.
A lot of local searches happen on mobile, so your website needs to be mobile-friendly. In fact, 61% of mobile users are inclined to contact a business whose website is mobile-optimized.
One area you should focus on is page loading speed. Users generally expect pages to load within three seconds. If your page takes longer than that, 53% of mobile users will leave. This not only negatively impacts user experience but also hurts your SEO efforts.
Further, use a mobile-responsive design for your website so it looks good on all screen sizes. Keep your site's navigation clean and simple to make it easy for mobile users to find what they want. Increase the size of your call-to-action buttons to make them more clickable on smaller screens.
A tailored local SEO strategy can transform how your enterprise connects with potential customers in your area. It can improve your visibility and increase the likelihood of customers choosing you over your competitors.
If planning and implementing an SEO strategy for your enterprise sound overwhelming, consider hiring a local SEO agency. An agency has experts who can help you with every step of your SEO efforts, from keyword research to content optimization. They can also monitor and update your strategy to ensure you stay relevant and competitive in all your business locations.
Partner with a local SEO agency today and grow your online presence.
Start your local SEO campaign today!
Our dedicated team is committed to providing you with prompt and effective support.
Whether you need help with a project or just want to explore your options, we’re available to help.
Feel free to reach out through any of our contact methods for a quick response.
A professional digital marketing agency delivering expert SEO services to increase your business's online visibility and attract high-quality leads.
Discover more ways to make your business stand out. Subscribe to our newsletter.
© 2024 Big Jaw Digital. All Rights Reserved.