Are you looking for the most effective strategies to optimize your business for local SEO? If so, you've come to the right place. In this comprehensive guide, we'll cover the best tips and tools to help you get the most out of local search. With 61% of all Google searches done on mobile, it's essential to stay on top of local SEO. By implementing these 10 actionable items, you'll ensure that your business takes advantage of lucrative local search and has a solid foundation when new SEO features are introduced.
If you don't have the bandwidth to make these adjustments, you may want to look for a small business SEO service provider. Filling out your Google My Business profile is a good place to start. Why not both? As a small business, you can make the most of the geographical proximity and familiarity you share with other businesses in your area. Local link building is synonymous with community engagement.
Managing your brand message across multiple channels is no easy task, especially for small businesses. Once you create a profile on the social platforms of your choice, you need to update it regularly. What your brand stands for cannot. Voice search is another topic that has already been discussed in depth and represents a valuable opportunity for local SEO.
As this is still a fairly new technology, competition may not be as high. As is already clear, local SEO solutions appear in all relevant Semrush tools, such as Position Tracking and On Page SEO Checker. So, if you are looking for solutions for your local SEO needs, know that Semrush has a whole set of local SEO tools to help you through the whole process.
Since smartphones are part of our daily lives, it is only natural that many people use their phones to search for local businesses and information. Uberall commissioned a study which found that 82% of respondents had used their mobile devices to conduct a 'nearby search'. This shows the extent to which people use their phones for local search.
We've had our fair share of run-ins with Google My Business, so if you find yourself banging your head against a wall, you're not alone. However, claiming your business listing and populating the content on it is essential for your local SEO listing, especially for your Google Local Pack and SERP results. Don't be discouraged if your business category isn't listed, although there are over 2,000 categories, they have some rare ones, so do your best to find the one that makes the most sense for your business.
Use both primary and LSI keywords whenever you can when populating your content, as this counts for almost 20% of your chances of getting into the Local Pack. Did you know that 46% of Google searches are for local information? In addition, another study revealed that 69% of users search for local businesses online at least once a month. These statistics are a clear indicator of the importance of local SEO.
Whether you are a restaurant owner or a plumber, local SEO is crucial for everyone. As a business owner, you should work on local SEO strategies to promote your business. You could lose a lot of potential customers if you don't work on it.
What Is Local SEO?
Before we get into the details of local SEO strategies, let's first understand what local SEO is. What would you do if you were in a new city and wanted to find a cinema near you? If you're like most people, you'd probably do a quick Google search.
In the case of Sacramento, the search results are as shown in the screenshot below. In these results, you would most likely check the top listings. If a business owner can get their listing to the top, it can make a big difference to their business.
In addition to increasing awareness, a top listing can also increase the likelihood of a conversion. In short, it can be a key factor in the growth of any business. If you want to succeed in marketing in the digital age, local SEO strategies should be your focus. They can be an indispensable tool to get more conversions.
How To Thrive In The Local Rankings
To thrive in the local rankings, you will have to come up with a decisive strategy that can help you in the long run. Of course, it requires a lot of planning, perseverance and time.
Until a few years ago, all SEO experts emphasised the need to use long tail keywords. That was before Google announced that it was using a machine learning algorithm called Google RankBrain to improve search results.
If you dig a little deeper into how RankBrain works, you'll realise that it favours mid-tail keywords. When a user searches for "best spas" and "best spas near me", they will end up getting similar or exactly the same results. This is because Google understands that, in both cases, they are essentially searching for the same thing.
Previously, Google used to show results that matched the exact keywords you entered. Now, if you want to rank, you have to optimise your content for RankBrain. This means that mid-tail keywords should be an important part of your local SEO strategy.
What Are Mid-Tail Keywords?
As the name suggests, mid-tail keywords are in between short-tail keywords and long-tail keywords. They are literally in the middle of the pack.
They are more focused than short tail keywords and tend to get more search volume than medium long tail keywords. Therefore, to develop a solid local SEO strategy it's important to include mid-tail keywords in your content.
Conclusion
Local SEO is an essential part of any digital marketing strategy today and should not be overlooked by any business owner who wants their business to succeed online.
By following these tips and using mid-tail keywords as part of your strategy, you will be able to increase visibility and get more conversions from potential customers who are searching locally.
