With the number of searches for “near me” increasing nearly two-fold over the past year, local SEO is more important than ever. With more than 72% of consumers visiting a local store after performing a local search, it’s clear that more people are looking for businesses nearby than ever before. Using local SEO services to your advantage can help you reach these audiences and improve your bottom line. Read on to discover the benefits of local SEO for your business.
Inbound links boost local SEO
If you haven’t yet, you can begin building inbound links to your website. You can use a tool called link analysis to look at your competitors’ inbound links. The tool will display the types of inbound links they have and their relative popularity. For local SEO, you should build links to relevant pages in your niche. This will demonstrate the popularity of your website and its relevance to local consumers. In addition, inbound links are beneficial for search engine rankings.
One way to build local SEO is to use your local business’s expertise. When a user performs a search on a local topic, they are more likely to click on the three pack results than scroll down and look for an organic result. Jack the plumber uses his blog to share his expertise, and his articles have been so well received that local hardware stores link up with him and pass on the link juice. This boosts local SEO and makes local traffic a great deal more relevant.
Keyword research is a critical component of any local SEO campaign
While the algorithm for Google and Bing is not set in stone, keyword research is still an important aspect of any local SEO campaign. Content is king and without valuable content, it is impossible to optimise anything. Without keyword research, content is not visible on your website, and you can’t optimise anything without it. Keyword research ensures the right content is on your website. Here’s why keyword research is so important for local SEO.
Once you’ve figured out the keywords, it’s time to find related search terms. Try entering your chosen keyword into a search engine to see what other results pop up. This will give you dozens or even hundreds of keywords to work with. You can use this list to refine your content. Make sure to include related search terms as well, as this will help you write better content. If you don’t know how to phrase your keywords, try using a glossary to understand the terms and make your content easier to understand.
Citation building campaigns
There are many ways to improve your local SEO, but one of the most proactive ways is to build your citations. One excellent tool for building your citations is WhiteSpark, which helps you find great local directories and business listings. Citation building services should focus on finding citations in your industry or business sector. To ensure you get the most out of your campaign, be sure to create a comprehensive list of citations.
A proper citation building campaign can speed up the discovery process in the search engines and establish local search traffic. If your citations appear regularly, they can boost organic and local link signals, helping you stay on page one. This strategy is essential for your local SEO campaign, especially if you are targeting a local audience. To increase your business’s citations, make sure you update your social media profiles. Here are some ways to do that:
Google My Business
In addition to conducting keyword research and optimizing listing details, local SEO services will add photos of your products and services to make them more compelling to potential customers. They also know how to optimize images to boost local SEO traffic, from choosing the correct file size to modifying alternative text and geotagging photos. Here are some tips to get started:
First, verify your business listing. After verifying your listing, Google will send a postcard containing a verification code that you can enter into the box. Once verified, you can add additional details, such as business hours, business messaging options, descriptions, and photos. Once you’ve verified your listing, you can edit its details, which are extremely important when it comes to local SEO. Verification helps Google rank your business higher than other listings, so make sure you claim your listing with complete information and keep it updated.