Chances are that you have opened your phone and searched up the best barbeque restaurant or the closest craft store or something similar, maybe even recently. The results were likely something that was locally owned and in close proximity to where you were doing your search. That is, essentially, what local SEO services can do for your business. Keep reading to gain a better understanding of how it works.
What exactly is Local SEO?
Local Search Engine Optimization is what Local SEO stands for. The focus of these services is to utilize local search engine results to improve the visibility of your local business. The search would have included geographic constraints, limiting the results to business near where the searcher was at that moment or in a specific city or state that the searcher put in.
Why is Local SEO Services Important for my business?
Top 10 digital marketing courses in Gurgaon, These days, almost half of Google searches are local searches. The search for something “near me today/tonight” saw a 900% increase from 2017 to 2019 in google searches. Google, in order to meet this demand, began to provide results that were more geographically located for the searchers. These results will include proximity, relevance, and prominence. So, let’s say that someone is doing a search, in your area, for the product or service that you offer. If you have optimised local business listings, then you have significantly increased your chances or being found by the potential customer.
What other benefits of Local SEO Services are there?
Cost-effective is a big word in business and local SEO services are that for sure! Using Google My Business and Facebook, you can set up your local business listing and it is free.
Of course, your repeat customers will typically be those who live locally. In fact, 72% of customers who perform a search for a business, will visit one that is no more than five miles away. Thus, if local search results or Google Maps pulls up your business, you will have significantly increased the likelihood of gaining new customers.
Someone doing a search for a specific service or product is not likely doing so just for fun. About 80% of the local searches turn into sales. That high number is probably because the consumer sees a result at the moment they are considering the product or service.
Further, those who see your business pop up in their search are more likely to bring their business to you because you are right by them versus being 50 miles away. Think about it this way, if you need a car repair done, do you want to have your car towed to someone 50 miles away or to someone within just a few miles of your home?
For a website to catch the viewers’ eyes, it has to be enhanced with elements ranging from author boxes and guest posts to coming soon pages. Depending on the type of website you have, you will include elements that suit it the best.
How can my business use Local SEO Services?
Start with your citations. Make sure that they are accurate. The business name, address and phone number should be updated and mentioned for ease of contact. Also, make sure that you are consistent with how you list the business information, this helps the search engines trust the information you are putting out there.
Use online directories to list your business. These include major search engines such as Google My Business, Yelp, Yext, Bing Places and Facebook. Doing this will help search engines to verify your business is real and your data is correct with much more ease.
Create a Google My Business profile and maintain it. This will feed right into Google Search and Google Maps. As an added bonus, you will be able to see business reviews in Google as well as update your business hours.
Speaking of reviews, be sure you take the time to respond to all reviews, the good and the bad. This will show your customers that you care and it may increase your local search rank.
Use local words in your website copy. Doing this will help the search engines to have a better understanding of what your business is about and what it offers, plus your business will have a higher chance of showing up in the search if someone searches in your area.
Now that you understand what Local SEO services are, how they work, and the benefits for your business, it’s time to get started!
Author’s Bio: Hitesh is a digital marketing strategist and entrepreneur with more than 15 years of experience in digital marketing, start-ups, branding, and customer acquisition strategies. Hitesh is the CEO and Founder of Reposition Group, which specializes in digital growth strategies for companies in the cryptocurrency market such as Bitamp.com.