Understanding the Fundamentals of Local SEO
Local SEO is the process of optimizing your site and online pages so that they can be visible in localized searches. While local businesses do not fancy going up against the national and regional giants, they can still get a significant share of the customer base by showing up in location-based searches. Local SEO is a whole digital marketing campaign that needs to be well planned for and executed. Read on and find out more;
When trying out local SEO, you can appear in a couple of places on the search engine results page. Normally, you will see a few ads when searching for a phrase that is localized. After the ads, you will three recommendations, which are referred to as the “Local 3 Pack.” These are the three businesses in that locale that the search engine found to be the best for you. Apart from that, you will find businesses in Google Maps and Knowledge Graphs, which are usually on the far left side of the SERP.
Local SEO Ranking Factors
It is vital to note that Local SEO is not all that different from mainstream SEO. Most of the fundamentals still apply, with the difference being that here, the target audience is the people located in a certain area. When looking at Local SEO rankings, it is good to analyze what influences the map results and the organic listing rankings.
For the map affiliated rankings, studies have shown that you should work on your Google My Business Page. Other ranking factors rely on link signals, on-page signals, citation signals, behavioral signals and social signals, among others.
For the organic rankings, Google My Business Page seems to have a lower influence with the link signals and on-page signals having the edge. These are similar to mainstream SEO.
Tips for Ranking in Google Maps
Your Google My Business listing is the foundation for ranking in Maps. If you do not have this yet, sign up and claim your page. Optimize it by keying in the right information and ensure that essentials such as the physical address and contact information are accurate. List the correct category so that customers and search bots know what you are doing. If possible, upload a few pictures of your storefront so that customers can easily locate your store.
How To Optimize Your Local Citations
Once your Google My Business page is up, next on your to-do list is to ensure that you get NAP citations. This stands for Name, Address and Phone Number. You will want to have these citations on various online directories due to the benefits of doing so. Most of these directories rank for localized searches, and people also use them to search for businesses. Apart from that, you can get links to your main site. Ensure these citations are consistent as Google evaluates them to determine your local authority. Having varying citations will rob you off any credits as the bots will see them as two different businesses.
On Page Optimization
You need to take care of your web pages for the site to rank for the keywords people use to search for your business. If your business serves various cities, create specific landing pages for each location. This will allow you to rank for areas where you do not have a brick and mortar store. Apart from this, all the fundamentals of on-page SEO, such as the title tags, meta descriptions, headers and content, should be in order. Ensure that you display your NAP on the site clearly, preferably in schema format. It is always a good idea to attach a section of a Google Map showing your location for users to find your store quickly. Have clear call to actions in your content and include reviews and testimonials to give potential customers some sense of confidence in your business.
Local Link Building
Here, the fundamentals still apply, albeit with some twist to improve your local rankings. You should publish valuable content for the audience, promote influencers, and get links on authoritative resource listing.
What sets this apart from general SEO link building is the specificity. Rather than aiming for links from any type of source, try to place them in targeted resource listings and blogs. You will find listings and directories that are specific to your location. You will find trade associations, councils, societies, and alliances that are relevant to your niche and can help you get a bunch of top-quality links. Join them and have people mention and link your business on these authoritative platforms that are specific to your locale.
Some of the essential aspects to go over when developing a robust Local SEO strategy have been highlighted. Note that they do not differ from what you are doing for your mainstream SEO campaign in a big way. However, here you need to target the efforts to your location, and the customers will be able to find you.
FAQs About Local SEO
Local SEO is the process of optimizing a business’s online presence to attract more customers from relevant local searches. It involves optimizing website content, Google My Business listings, and local citations to ensure that the business appears in local search results and on Google Maps. Salterra focuses on Local SEO to help small businesses increase their visibility among local customers, driving more foot traffic, leads, and sales.
Salterra’s approach to Local SEO is tailored to focus on location-based strategies that connect businesses with nearby customers. Unlike traditional SEO, which targets broader keyword rankings, Local SEO emphasizes geo-targeted keywords, optimizing Google My Business (GMB) profiles, managing online reviews, and building local citations. Salterra ensures that the business’s address, phone number, and hours are consistent across all online platforms to improve local search rankings and visibility.
Local SEO can help a business rank in Google’s “Local Pack” (the top three business listings that appear in local search results) by optimizing the Google My Business listing, building local citations, and gathering customer reviews. Salterra enhances the business’s GMB profile with accurate information, high-quality images, and relevant keywords. They also encourage positive customer reviews and include location-specific content on the website to increase the chances of appearing in the “Local Pack.”
Salterra conducts keyword research for Local SEO by identifying location-specific search terms that customers use, such as “best pizza in [city]” or “plumber near me.” They analyze search volume, competition, and user intent to select high-value keywords relevant to the business’s services and target area. By incorporating these local keywords into the website content, meta tags, and GMB listing, Salterra helps businesses attract more targeted traffic from local customers.
Optimizing a Google My Business (GMB) profile is critical for Local SEO because it helps the business appear in local search results and on Google Maps. Salterra ensures that the GMB listing has up-to-date information, including business name, address, phone number, operating hours, and high-quality images. They also encourage customer reviews and respond to them to build credibility. This comprehensive GMB optimization increases the business’s visibility and enhances its chances of ranking in the “Local Pack.”
Online reviews are a key factor in Local SEO, as they influence the business’s reputation and rankings in local search results. Positive reviews build trust and attract more customers. Salterra helps manage online reviews by implementing strategies to encourage satisfied customers to leave feedback, monitoring review platforms, and responding to both positive and negative reviews promptly. This proactive approach enhances the business’s credibility and local search performance.
Local citations are online mentions of a business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) on websites like directories, social media, and review platforms. Salterra manages local citations by ensuring the business’s NAP information is consistent and accurate across all platforms. They also build new citations in reputable local directories to improve the business’s authority and visibility in local search results. Consistent citations signal to search engines that the industry is legitimate and reliable, boosting local rankings.
Mobile optimization is essential for Local SEO because many local searches are performed on mobile devices by users looking for nearby services. Salterra ensures the business’s website is mobile-friendly, has a responsive design, has fast load times, and has easy navigation. They also implement click-to-call buttons and provide location information that is easily accessible. By optimizing the site for mobile users, Salterra improves the user experience and increases the likelihood of converting local leads.
The timeline for seeing results from Local SEO varies depending on factors such as the business’s current online presence, competition, and targeted keywords. With Salterra’s Local SEO services, businesses typically start noticing improvements in local search rankings, website traffic, and customer inquiries within 3 to 6 months. Salterra continually monitors progress through analytics, making necessary adjustments to maintain and enhance local search visibility over time.
Businesses should choose Salterra for their local SEO needs because of its personalized, results-driven approach. Salterra tailors its Local SEO strategies to the specific needs of the business and its target market. They optimize Google My Business listings, build local citations, create location-specific content, and manage online reviews. By employing proven tactics, Salterra helps businesses increase their visibility in local searches, attract more nearby customers, and drive measurable results.