Do you know why local SEO is important? 8 out of 10 consumers use a search engine for finding local information. If you have a local business for example ( Chiropractic or a Medspa ), you can miss 80% of your potential customers when your business isn’t optimized for local search.
Here is a case study: John has a Land Development business in New Mexico. Before taking our service, he usually would get around 3 clients in a month with traditional inbound marketing. But this scenario changed dramatically when we came on board. We immediately realized John had no GMB listing. That’s why he was missing so many leads and sales. We optimized his business, and now he is getting 10-12 clients in a month. So the ROI is 4x better than before.
Want to rank your business on a local search like John?
Follow these 7 simple ways to rank locally on Google/ Bing:
Step 1 – Optimize for Google My Business:
To be optimized on Google My Business, you’ll need to make and verify a GMB listing for your business. Essentially, another way to embrace credibility is by ensuring the presence of your business over the Internet. It’s a step that helps Google to recognize you and establish that recognition.
A verified account is destined to get more views and appear at the top for relevant searches. Not only that, an account or business persona that is verified by the platform will also generate more recommendations and visits.
By doing so, you can eventually share and utilize Google Posts within the account. This also boosts customer reviews. But what’s the catch?
Well, always get back to your loyal users and customers. Respond as fast and as authentically as possible with specific location details. This builds strong morale between the two parties. Remember, Google wants to bring its users the world’s information but also those that are heavily optimized.
Step 2 – Add Location to your website:
A single location description can prohibit the duplication of content with an added bonus point to your website if you’re on Google Map. If you’re still confused about what this option specifies, well, it’s merely a source that provides your customers with your business name, address, phone number, open/close hours, store information, reviews, and star ratings from consumers.
Step 3 – Create Local Content:
A famous rap-singer is selling his house for a couple of billion dollars. Now, think about it for a moment. If you’re not someone from the same state or even the same country as that rap-singer, why do you see the advert?
Call it a glitch or otherwise, but focusing on local content is vital. Your focal point is your targeted industry and the local community. Spread out the word amongst them because Google keeps getting smarter, so it’s time that you use it to your benefit too.
Be adamant about enriching the local minds with your work. Google will follow the instructions via your bulls-eye writing. Only write for those where you can sell. Be specific and let Google take care of the rest. You are solely trying to deliver to your genre of the audience here and not the search engine.
Step 4 – Ensure your website is mobile-friendly:
Did you know that 60% of the searches take place on the phone? Believe me when I tell you that people utilize their mobile phones for their immediate or leisurely searches rather than waiting to fire up a laptop or PC.
It’s a world of convenience, so what else do you expect?
Run and re-run tests online to comprehend if your website is mobile-friendly. Everything starting from the look, appeal, like an option, videos, and pictures must always be soothing to the screen of multiple devices. Optimize and ensure that your site isn’t only restricted to the comforts of one device but all.
Keep updating and reconfiguring the user experience. Make it easier for them to understand and operate. Other than that, never forget to make the users’ experience enjoyable too, to make them stay longer without the risks of diversion.
Step 5 – Ensure your Name, Address, and Phone Numbers are consistently online:
Most convenient if placed in the footer or header of the site. The NAP also referred to as name, address, and phone number is indeed, another easy way out for people to reach out to you.
With the proper NAP details, consumers can search and locate you faster. However, please avoid clarifying such necessary information through images. It doesn’t do good to either of the parties.
Use HTML, which is far more convenient in terms of crawling back or copy/pasting.
Step 6 – Optimize online directories and citations:
If you’re in search of companies that can help you with map data, you can rely on Bing, Trip Advisor, Yelp, Apple, and more. Again, your focus is local; hence search for the best local option that satisfies your needs.
A warning – never let any discrepancy creep into your information systems. A minor misspelling, incorrect number, or address can get Google confused. And when your dear server gets confused, it will either show incorrect results or show no search results at all.
Here are my two cents – be patient and re-check every minor detail. Especially your NAP’s.
Most of us, who are stuck in our 20s, have backaches that resemble that of a 60-year-old. And as we define “couch potatoes,” we search for ways to relax our jammed up spine and neck on Google.
And I did exactly that only to find some very insightful home remedies and massages by a few renowned chiropractors. Why am I telling you this?
Well, the content shared is more important now than ever before. We’re all so heavily dependent on it, aren’t we?
Google, along with well-established businesses, believes that social engagement and daily posts are vital in order to keep poking at the consumer’s memory system. If you’re always available, you’ll end up being the user’s first option. This also further aligns your strategy, the search results, and your goal.
These are simple tactics that help businesses climb up to the top. You can be one of them too. Utilize these simple tips and embrace the gift of the Internet. If you still need any help to rank your business on local search, schedule a call. We will help you to rank your business on local search.
