If you’re a local business trying to get more people to come through doors, then implementing a local SEO strategy can go a long way. Local SEO differs from other SEO strategies in that it needs to be hyper focused on your region or town. Without these focus your efforts won’t amount to much.
In this post we’re going to look at a few key areas your local SEO strategy needs to have covered, if you want to see a boost in your rankings.
Reviews Truly Matter
Before coming to your business most people will do a search for the service or company they’re looking for. If you have a series of one or two star reviews chances are people are going to go with one of your competitors.
Beyond people thinking positively or negatively about your business the number of reviews you have can also influence your search engine rankings.
Getting reviews can be hard. But, by having a solid strategy in place they will start to add up over time. One way to get reviews is by offering an incentive for your customers to leave a review.
Fixate Around Your Local Market
Your content needs to focus on your local market. This means mentioning places in your local area, linking out to other local businesses, and adding local maps and directions.
You can even cover local events and shows happening in your town. Even if most of your content focuses on your business and services, see if you can drop in a post or two that has a complete local focus.
Optimize Your Directory Listings
If used properly then local directories can provide a huge boost to your rankings. Doing a simple search will leave you with a host of local and niche specific directories you can submit your business to.
By getting your business listed in these directories you’ll be able to see a boost in your rankings. However, you need to make sure the local location information you submit is consistent across every directory.
If your location information is inconsistent, then search engines get nervous about listing your business in the results, as they don’t know which address to use. So, if you’ve been in business for a while and have moved locations, then consider updating your information to reflect your current location.
By taking the above steps to heart you’ll have a solid local SEO strategy that will help you start ranking above your competition. When it comes to SEO keep in mind that it’s a long-term game, you might not see results right away, but over time a consistent strategy will help your rankings increase.
If you’re looking for a local strategy that works, then get in touch with our team. We’ll be able to craft a unique strategy that works for you and your business.
by Calvin Bryant
Digital Marketing Geek
