In fact, 46% of Google searches are looking for local information and 97% of search engine users search for local businesses (Go-Gulf). These are huge numbers that represent how powerful and important local SEO is for businesses. Most already know how powerfulso they dive straight right in. But many don’t know the difference between SEO and local SEO. Small to medium businesses are the ones who benefit the most from local SEO. A lot fail in local SEO not because they lack the resources but because they lack the focus. They tend to compete for highly competitive keywords against huge corporations with a national or international presence.
And even if they get traffic from these
keywords, they don’t convert to sales because they are far from their business’ coverage. Local SEO is all about focusing on the area/s your business has presence, increasing your online visibility, and attracting more relevant customers who are near you. If you want to learn more, continue reading this guide! What you Need to Know: Local SEO Basics What is Local SEO? Local Search Engine Optimization or Local SEO is the process of optimizing a website to rank for keywords in a specific geographical location. Businesses that have a physical location or serve a specific area will benefit greatly from local SEO. Why is Local SEO Important? As I mentioned earlier, search is a part of the buyer’s journey.
Even in the age of e-commerce, majority of consumers a
re still in-store shoppers. Consumers nowadays use Google to find information online first before going to the actual store. Hubspot reports that 70% of shoppers prefer stores where they could purchase in-store. But how about competing with companies like Amazon? 72% of searchers say that they prefer looking for local merchants first which means you don’t have to be afraid that you will not get customers from doing local SEO. Still not convinced? Here are some more statistics about local SEO: “Where to buy” + “near me” mobile inquiries have grown by 200% in the past two years “Near me” or “close by” searches grew by more than 900% the past two years 86% of people look up the location of a business on Google Maps 72% of consumers that did a local search visited a store within five miles 97% of people learn more about a local company via the internet Local searches results in purchases 28% of the time 92% of searchers will pick businesses on the first page of local search results Google My Business Listing Google My Business is a free tool created by Google that allows searches to see a business’ information right from the search results.
It allows searchers to easily find your business
information and it also allows you to interact with them. seo hacker google my business profile Having a Google My Business listing is an absolute must for Local SEO. It is one of the first steps you should take. The process is not complicated and as long as your business has a physical address. If not (you own a fully digital business), you may have to use your personal address or any address that can represent your business (e.g. virtual office). Google’s Map Pack If you search for a product or service in a specific area, Google will often recommend three local businesses near your according to Google Maps.
This is called the Map Pack. google map pack sample
When a user selects a business on the brazil phone number library Map Pack they are immediately shown the location on of the business on Google Maps where they can easily navigate to it. You would need to have a Google My Business profile and your business should be visible in Google Maps. The Map Pack also has a different ranking algorithm. Other SEO efforts may affect your rankings here but it really boils down to two things: the location of the user and reviews. Google will tend to rank businesses nearest to the user higher but you may have a chance to outrank them if you have better reviews.
Because of this, you may not be able to do a
lot to affect your rankings here but it is important that you track where you appear in the Map Pack for searches in your area. Local SEO Optimization Tips Optimize Google My Business Your Google My Business profile appears when a user searches specifically for your business but there are also times when Google may show a user your GMB profile even if they are using a keyword. Whichever the case is, you need to have a good and optimized GMB profile because this is where you make your first impression on the user. Your GMB profile will also affect how you rank in the Map Pack.
You wouldn’t want to miss these crucial opportunities
so here are some tips to optimize your structure and of account 141 (advance account) Google My Business profile. Update your address – this is already an obvious one but there are some businesses who forget to update their business addresses when they move. Google will always use the address you used when you verified your business unless you change it. Users will also most likely use Google Maps to navigate to your businesses and if they don’t see your store or office there when they arrive, you could be losing a lot of money. Place accurate business hours and contact number – since users are most likely to visit your store/office after checking your profile, make sure that you have your updated business hours.
A contact number is also important for setting
appointments and other inquiries. Upload powder data images – images of your business greatly helps in attracting customers. It helps in proving the authenticity of your business and in building trust. Respond to questions – some users would need more information about your business and that is what the Ask a Question feature is for. Keep in mind that questions and answers are available to the public and can be seen by other users. Utilize Google My Business GMB profile for users to see. Posting sales and promotions can help bring in more customers and drive more sales.
