SEO is one of the best ways you can increase the visibility of your website and therefore of your brand. SEO helps websites rank organically, meaning that potential customers can find them so much more easily.
SEO is important because it can significantly enhance your customer reach. So now we’ve ascertained SEO is critical for growth, the all-important question is “How can you achieve it?”
Below are some core strategies to help you stand out in local searches.
1. Optimise your Google Business profile
It doesn’t matter how big or small (or new or old, for that matter) your business is, you’re eligible for a Google Business Profile. It’s important that you both claim and optimise this to ensure that the contact details and business hours on your profile are accurate and that the photos are of the highest possible quality. Update this regularly, and add new content whenever possible.
This step is small but important because it will boost the presence of your business in both local searches and Google Maps results.
2. Focus on local keywords
Keywords are vital to SEO. Keywords are essential because they help search engines understand the content of a website and determine how relevant it is to users’ queries. So, if you’re trying to generate local business? Those keywords should be local.
For example, words like ‘Birmingham Electrician’ or ‘Bakery in Leeds’ will perform much better than just ‘Electrician’ or ‘Bakery’. Focus on location-specific keywords as much as possible.
3. Create location-focused content
In just the same way that your keywords should be local, so should the content you create. Keep your chosen location in mind when writing articles and blog posts for your site. For example, if you’re a plumber then ‘Tips for Choosing A Plumber in Edinburgh’ would be a great piece. This positions your business as a local expert and can improve search rankings.
4. Use local citations
It’s not enough to rely on your own content alone. You should also list your business in directories like Yell, Scoot, and Thomson Local. Ensuring consistent name, address, and phone number (NAP) details across platforms helps search engines confirm your business’s credibility.
5. Encourage customer reviews
If you’re going to publicise your business on platforms such as Google and Yelp then you’re going to need positive reviews. These can greatly enhance your reputation and search rankings. Ask happy customers for reviews and respond to all feedback to show strong customer engagement. It’s important to respond to both positive and negative customer feedback.
6. Add location-specific schema markup
Schema markup helps search engines understand your location and services better. Using local schema markup increases your chances of appearing in local search results.
7. Build backlinks from local sites
Link building and backlinks are vital aspects of SEO. To build these on a local level, partner with other local businesses and media outlets for link-building opportunities. Quality backlinks from local sources increase your authority in regional searches, and they should be a key focus of your SEO planning.
8. Optimise for mobile users
Finally, people are just as likely to search for local businesses on their phones as on a computer. In fact, one study has found that significantly more searches are carried out on the mobile phone (64%) than on the desktop (35%). Fast load times and a straightforward layout improve user experience and reduce bounce rates so make sure that your website is mobile-friendly.
Final thoughts
Local SEO is something that needs a lot of work, and that you have to work on constantly. But it’s worth putting in the effort because it’s important. When done well, local SEO can help attract local customers and, ultimately, help your business grow.
