How to Use Local SEO to Get Your Business Noticed in Local Search Results

Google prioritizes local results first, and this can mean that your business pops up in front of people who are searching for a product or service in your industry.

This is a great way to boost your visibility and increase conversions. But local search is not without its challenges, and a lot of work goes into it.

1. Keyword Research

Keyword research is an essential part of any successful search engine optimization (SEO) strategy. It helps you understand the search terms that consumers use to find your products and services online, so that you can optimize your website and pay-per-click ads accordingly.

Local SEO is different than national SEO, because it targets keywords and phrases that are specific to a certain geographic area. For example, “Dallas boutique” is a local keyword because it is a search phrase that is used specifically to find a store in a certain city.

You can use a tool like PPCexpo Keyword Planner to help you identify long-tail and transactional keywords that are relevant to your business and will drive high purchasing intent traffic. These keywords are often easier to rank for than more generic, higher volume keywords.

2. On-Page Optimization

On-page optimization is the process of optimizing your website for better search engine results. It involves fixing issues with page elements, content quality, keyword density, and page experience and usability.

In local SEO, on-page optimization can also include optimizing your Google Maps and Google My Business listings. These listings appear on the top of local search results and can lead to more direct calls and leads.

Before starting, you’ll need to map out your target keywords. This includes creating unique titles and meta descriptions for each page on your site, as well as writing informative, keyword-optimized content that explains what your business does and the services/products you offer.

3. Link Building

If you want to rank well in local search, you need to get a lot of links. These links tell Google that your site is authoritative and they can help you improve your rankings.

Link building is a vital part of any SEO strategy, but it’s particularly important in local SEO. This is because it helps you target the right keywords and attract specific customers who are more likely to buy from you.

You can build links by reaching out to local websites and bloggers who are interested in your business. Ask them to write a review or mention your business in an article.

4. Social Media

In this day and age, social media is an integral part of business marketing. Whether you’re talking about a small business or a big one, social media is an invaluable resource when it comes to building a brand, attracting new customers and increasing visibility.

It’s important to understand how local SEO and social media work together to boost your business’s search engine rankings. For example, Facebook Page posts can help you rank for specific keywords if they’re relevant to your business and are shared by other people.

Twitter is also a powerful platform for local SEO. It’s indexed by Google and customers can find your tweets when searching for relevant keywords.

5. Reputation Management

Your brand can’t control everything that’s said about it online, but a negative reputation can be devastating. A bad review or mention can cause a company to lose customers, sales, profitability, stock value and more.

The best way to avoid these issues is to develop an online reputation management strategy that works to prevent them from happening in the first place. That means a combination of SEO, public relations and other strategies to shape the narrative around your brand.

Local SEO can help with this by optimizing your Google Maps and Google My Business listings. Higher rankings in these results could lead to more direct calls, new leads and sales.