If you’re a business that depends on local traffic, then you should be prioritizing local SEO. Boosting your local SEO can continuously deliver new customers, putting your business on the map for anyone interested in a service you offer. Google is the most valuable piece of digital real estate your business can’t afford to pass up, which is why you should put your effort here.
Local SEO requires a different strategy compared to general SEO for businesses that aren’t location-dependent. You don’t just want any traffic going to your website; you want traffic that converts real customers in your area, using the best local SEO company you can find.
That’s why we put together this list of the top 5 local SEO strategies that can help boost your business’s rankings on Google.
1. Hire a local SEO expert
Although there’s a lot you can do on your own to boost local SEO, hiring a local SEO expert ensures you check all the boxes and tackle the technical details that are crucial for boosting your rank. If you try to do everything on your own, you’ll need to have the tools and expertise to gather and organize data, keep up with Google’s updates on SEO best practices, and code your website in a user-friendly way.
To outrank your competition, you’ll need to be familiar with what Google requires in terms of site mapping, desirable stats with web analytics, and you’ll need to work your SEO strategy from many different angles. Local SEO experts typically delegate tasks across a team of hyperspecialized individuals with extensive expertise in the field.
2. Create local content
Google search algorithms are becoming increasingly sophisticated. When a user searches for a service online, Google can recognize the importance of location-relevant searches and puts local listings at the front of their results. A search made in a different location will show the user different results because Google’s mission is to show user’s the most relevant options for their needs.
When you create location-specific content, it helps give more clues to the algorithm about where to focus your location-based rankings. You can try covering local events and news and even writing about your own promotions to garner more local traffic. Not only will this help the algorithms, but it can also help make your website a valuable local resource to members of your community.
3. Optimize your website for mobile users
Over half of all Google searches are made online, and 88% of people who do a local search on a mobile device visit or call a store within a day. This makes it essential to keep your website optimized for mobile users because you are more likely to get traffic that way. It will also improve your bounce rates, indicating trustworthiness to the Google search algorithm.
Bounce rates tend to be a lot higher for websites that aren’t optimized for mobile users, especially when it comes to local searches. A bounce rate is a rate at which users enter your site and leave before interacting with it. It can indicate a poor user interface and is a red flag to the algorithms, meaning it can drastically affect your local rankings.
5 quick tips for improving a mobile website:
Avoid using pop-ups that cover text or valuable information
Prioritize website speed
Simplify web design
Perform mobile testing for all changes
Increase the size of buttons
4. Use Location Pages On Your Website
It’s best practice to use location-specific pages for all your locations. This makes it easier for potential customers to find specific information about your business when they do a search in your area. It gives more clues to the algorithm about where you are located. Make sure to include detailed information about your business and its location.
You can use your address, phone number, directions, reviews, and promotions to quickly gain location-specific keywords and increase your rank in local searches. If you have more than one location, it also helps users in different areas find your business. Adding location pages on your website isn’t hard to do and it doesn’t require a lot of creativity compared to other content you make for your website.
5. Keep Google My Business Up to Date
Users rely on accurate business listings to make decisions on where to go for a particular service. If your business hours, location, name, or phone number aren’t kept up to date, you could lose many new customers. If you haven’t already claimed your business on Google, then doing this can give your local rankings a significant boost. Besides ensuring the information on your listing is accurate, you should also make an extra effort to make the listing look appealing.
You can hire affordable local SEO services to optimize your listings on Google and other widely used platforms. Some customers may never make it to your website, only relying on listings to inform their decision on where to go. Google gives businesses a lot of leverage on how they want to market their services by giving you the option to upload menus, interior photos, product photos, or exterior photos.
6. Add your business to local directories
Adding your business to local directories is another great way to boost your local SEO. It can help your website obtain valuable inbound links or links that point towards your website. This indicates trustworthiness to the search algorithms and makes it far more likely to display your website in the first few results.
Start by searching for location-specific directories in your area, then begin adding your business to service-specific directories. Besides building links, you are also likely to get traffic from the directories you add your business to, making it a great strategy for websites that are just starting.
Directories you can add your business to:
Yelp
Facebook
Google My Business
Whitepages.com
Yellowpages.com
LinkedIn
Angieslist
Yahoo Local
Orange SEO - affordable local SEO services
Squeeze the most out of your website with affordable local SEO services from Orange SEO. We are the best local SEO company providing valuable full-service options for our clients, offering a collaborative experience that prioritizes your business’s goals.
If you want to consistently outrank your competition, hiring a local SEO expert is the best way to do it. Many businesses that try to do local SEO on their own miss valuable pieces of the puzzle, confusing the search algorithms and potentially losing valuable business. By leaving it to us, you can put your focus where it matters most—your business.
Our team of experts uses strategies with proven results, taking all the guesswork out of your digital marketing campaign. Contact us online to learn more about what we can do for you, or schedule a consultation today.