Local SEO (search engine optimization) is the process of improving visibility in search engines for local businesses, mainly those with physical locations. By following local SEO best practices, companies can improve organic traffic derived from searches conducted by customers in nearby areas. Local SEO is important for online businesses and for businesses looking to attract foot traffic. A few decades ago, consumers may have looked for local businesses in the yellow pages or on the map.
Today, they use search engines to find contact information, location, hours and other details about a company. Proximity is how close your company is to the search engine. Google tends to generate the listings closest to the user. This factor isn't something you can control, but it's essential to consider it when optimizing your Google business profile for local search.
Local SEO helps your business stand out, even if you don't have a website, and to attract more traffic to your premises through potential customers online. Therefore, while local and organic SEO are interconnected in these ways, each requires a unique strategy with different optimization tactics. When creating local SEO content, you'll want to include keywords that users use verbally to find your business. Local search is an integral part of any SEO strategy aimed at customers in a specific region, city, or neighborhood.
If you want to promote your products or services, or your brand as a whole, local SEO must be an integral element of your marketing strategy. Local searches generally seek information about local businesses, so having the information available (i.e., business directories) is a great way to get local citations, but any local website, blog, or industry-specific site can have the same impact. Local search results show a selection (Snack Pack or Local Pack) of the three most relevant results. If you're selling products and services online, rather than through a physical store, you might assume that local SEO isn't for you.
If your business depends on both online and offline customers within a specific geographical area, local SEO can make the difference between your business surviving and thriving. Citations are one of the most important aspects of a successful local SEO strategy and are one of the easiest elements of any campaign. In addition to optimizing your web pages to adapt them to your current keywords, you'll need to update them to ensure that they also reflect local SEO content. Because people are more likely to interact with a company close to them, local SEO sends segmented traffic to your website and optimizes your conversion rate.
