5 Ways To Boost Your Local SEO
Many people still think of search engines as a way to find information, but these days, they're so much more. They're also a way to help you find the best products and services in your area — which is where local Search Engine Optimization (SEO) comes in. If you run a small business and want to get more customers without investing in expensive advertising, then read on for our top 5 tips on boosting your local SEO!
First, What Is Local SEO?
When digging into how to better optimize your website for SEO, you likely came across this terminology, “SEO” and you might be wondering, WTF is SEO?! Don’t worry. We’re here to break it down for you. Focusing on your local SEO simply means you are helping your business become more visible in local search results like Google. Have you ever used Google Maps to find a business? Well, did you know that 46% of searches on Google have local intent? Plus, with local intent searches, there’s typically a much higher intent to purchase and therefore, a higher conversion rate.
So, what does this mean? It means you absolutely should focus on this for your business. If not, you are missing out on a huge opportunity and missed revenue. Do These 5 Things to Improve Your Local SEO:
1. Setup Your Google My Business Account
Create a Google My Business account.
Add your business location and photos.
Add your business hours, phone number, and website.
Add your business categories and tags.
Set up a call to action for customers to call or visit your business.
2. Clean Up Your Listings on Other Web Directories
Make sure your business is listed on Google, Yelp, and other local directories.
Keep your listings up to date.
Make sure your contact information is correct (phone number, address, etc).
Add a link to your website in the listing so people can easily find you online!
Add photos of your business!
3. Ask for Reviews and Testimonials from Customers
Ask for reviews and testimonials from customers.
Make it easy for customers to leave reviews.
Use a tool like Yotpo to help collect reviews, or ReviewTrackers if you're on a budget.
4. Optimize Your Site for Local Search
Optimize your site for local search. This means optimizing your website—and especially the address and location information on your site, if applicable—for Google Maps. You can also optimize your company’s social media accounts by tagging them in locations relevant to you or including a link to Google My Business, which is a free platform that allows businesses to create a business listing with complete details about their business that appears directly on Google Maps.
Drive traffic from social media. Social media sites like Facebook and Instagram include features like customer reviews and check-ins that allow users to share their experiences with friends, family members and other potential customers who might be interested in using the service/product offered by your company. Encourage positive reviews by offering incentives such as discounts or free products when someone leaves a review of one of these platforms (you should also ask politely if anyone has any negative experiences so that you can address them).
5. Tag Your Location on Social Media
To attract more customers, you need to make your business location known. This can be done by simply tagging your location on social media posts.
For example, if you're having a sale at the cafe you own, then post an image of the menu, and tag the location!
Ready to Boost Your Local SEO? Let's Get Started!
