With over 97% of search engine users using the internet to find local businesses, local SEO is no longer an optional marketing strategy. Regardless of whether your business is big or small, if you want to stay on top of your game, you need to be paying attention to local SEO.
They won’t just help improve your local visibility, but they’ll help your business scale the local constraints of search! The number of searches involving the phrases “near me” or “in the city” is skyrocketing—and with the right SEO techniques, you can leverage this trend to make sure your business grows and thrives. Here are some ways to boost your web and foot traffic with local SEO.
Research Industry Best Practices
If you are completely new to SEO and don’t know where to start, don’t worry. The first thing you’ll need to do is to find out what your competitors are doing. Study their local SEO strategies in detail, focusing on the most popular industry keywords and backlinks.
Keep in mind, though, location is a significant factor from an SEO perspective, and what works in one city or even ZIP code may not work for another. So it’s absolutely essential to study similar businesses in your specific location. This will help you identify localized versions of target keywords, making it all the easy to attract your core audience.
One of the best ways to identify your competitor’s successful local SEO strategies is by running a local search. For example, if you run a cafe, try searching for ‘cafes near me” and then see which businesses are listed on top of search results.
Use Google My Business
GMB listings are one of the most effective ways to gain local exposure. More importantly, this free online tool comes with a range of utilities. You can give customers information relating to your business address, your Google maps location, working hours, product and service categories, reviews and ratings using your GMB profile—you name it!
This information won’t just boost your Google search rankings, but also your rankings on other third-party platforms that use GMB and Google Maps information to generate location-based data for users.
Include Reviews and Testimonials on Your Website
Customers are always looking for reliable products and services on the internet. So, positive reviews and testimonials about your products will help you gain their trust. Make sure that your website includes a “Reviews” section for your products and services.
Apart from giving your customers a place to share their thoughts, reviews and testimonials will also encourage new customers to engage with your business. This can help improve your conversion rates and enhance your traffic.
Leverage Local Forums and Platforms
It’s no secret how much people love the internet. For businesses, this is an amazing opportunity to reach your audience where they already spend their time. Posting on local forums and communities, as well as social media, can help you get many useful backlinks and generate more foot and web traffic.
Additionally, it will also help boost your brand visibility since customers who use these platforms will also become more familiar with your business. The best part? Interacting with consumers online is free! It just takes a little time and effort.
If you want to get your business noticed online or in your location, reach out to the professionals at SEO727! We offer customized solutions for all your digital marketing needs. You can count on us to manage your local marketing stack and customer journeys to give your business the boost it deserves!