How to Use SEO Local to Increase Your Website Traffic and Conversions

January 22, 2023

Local SEO increases the visibility of a website in search results for nearby customers. It helps business owners compete against other businesses in their area and reach customers who may not find them through traditional means.

What does local SEO actually do for your business?

Local SEO puts your business in front of nearby customers who are actively searching for your products or services. The more visible your site is in local search results, the more people learn about your business, which can lead to more website traffic and conversions.

How do you set the right SEO local goals?

Setting goals is one of the most useful things a local business can do to improve online marketing. Clear goals help ensure the right prospects reach your conversion funnel, and tracking them lets you measure the success of your marketing efforts.

Before you set your SEO goals, define what you want to achieve. That definition also helps you decide what resources you need to make the goals real.

Your SEO goals should have a measurable, specific, and time-bound component. For example, if your goal is to increase the number of leads you receive by 10%, you can use a metric such as the number of new leads per day or month.

How do you identify the right keywords for local SEO?

Targeting the right keywords helps increase traffic to your website and gives your business a chance to appear on the first page of Google.

Several tools can help you determine which keywords are most effective. You can go to Google Search Console and look at the queries that are coming in to Google Maps, then track the results to see what is working and what is not.

Another option is a tool like Ubersuggest, which can help you analyze your competitors and identify the most relevant keywords to target.

How do you get started with Google My Business?

Google My Business is an alternative to conventional advertising and helps businesses reach their target audience locally while also improving search engine rankings. Optimizing your listing is what makes it effective.

Start with the basics: make sure your business has a verified listing. A verified listing is considered more trustworthy than other local listings, and your information will be indexed by Google Maps and Google+.

Why do the quality and quantity of local citations matter?

One of the most effective ways to increase local search rankings is to make sure your citations are accurate and complete. Citations are business listings that tell Google that you have a business.

In most cases, a citation will contain the business name, address, and phone number. It is also helpful to include links to your website, blog, or social media profile. When a user is searching for a business, they will likely do so using a business’s NAP, so it is important to make sure your NAP is consistent throughout the internet.

There are two types of citations: structured and unstructured. Structured citations are easier to obtain, but unstructured citations are still important.

How do you take your local SEO efforts to the next level?

A few tactics can lift your local SEO strategy: creating a comprehensive listing strategy, engaging in local-centric social media, and managing online ratings.

Some of these tactics are time-consuming, but they can pay off in the long run. Using a tool to monitor your rankings and search volume can help you stay on top of algorithm changes.

FAQ

What is local SEO and why does it matter for small businesses?

Local SEO is a technique that increases the visibility of a web page or website in local search results. It matters for business owners because it lets them compete against other businesses and brands in their area and reach customers who may not find their products or services through traditional means.

How do you find the best local keywords for your business?

Use Google Search Console to look at the queries coming in to Google Maps, then track the results to see what is working. You can also use a tool like Ubersuggest to analyze competitors and identify the most relevant keywords to target.

Why are local citations important for SEO?

Citations are business listings that tell Google you have a business, and they typically contain your business name, address, and phone number. Accurate and consistent citations across the internet help your business rank higher in local search results.