Improve Your Website Traffic With Local Internet Marketing

Local SEO drives nearby customers to brick-and-mortar businesses. 76 percent of people who search locally on a smartphone visit a business within one day, and nearly 90 percent of local business searches run through Google. Optimizing Google My Business, review signals, and local landing pages is how a small business wins those searches.

What Is Local SEO and Why Does It Matter

Local SEO is search engine optimization aimed at appearing in results for nearby customers. Google prioritizes proximity and intent when determining local results, so a local SEO website will not appear if the searcher is fifty miles away, but a customer located five miles away will see it. The stakes are high: 76 percent of people who do a local search on their smartphone visit a business within one day, and in many cases that visit results in a purchase or service.

Nearly 90 percent of local business searches are conducted through Google, and 46 percent of those searches involve geographic locations. Local SEO also targets both desktop and mobile users. Recent studies show that 79 percent of people use their mobile phone or tablet to conduct local searches, and the number of local searches on mobile devices has doubled in recent years. A mobile-friendly website is part of reaching those consumers.

How to Build a Local SEO Campaign

lpBuxYR - Improve Your Website Traffic With Local Internet MarketingA local SEO campaign helps businesses target their niche. In addition to local search, it can also help them gain more reviews and build their social media presence. As an example, a local SEO campaign can improve a website’s rankings in Google Maps and on other search engines. The primary purpose of a local SEO campaign is to get a website linked to by Google, the search engine’s primary objective.

Identify a geographic niche to target

Choose the neighborhoods, cities, or regions you want to show up for before writing content or building citations.

Create a local page on your website

Build a local landing page with language and service offerings specific to that location. Many businesses optimize each location separately for local search results by creating a local landing page with language and service offerings specific to that location. Include team photos and updates. A local baseball team’s website will link to your page as a sign of support and interest, and local SEO content is a good way to earn local SEO backlinks.

Track efforts across platforms

Keeping track of local SEO efforts across a few different platforms is essential for success. Establish a baseline of results and measure future optimization opportunities. Combining strategies for several locations can generate a big revenue bump.

How Reviews Affect Local Search Rankings

Consumer reviews are another way to boost your local search results. Many consumers will trust reviews with relevant information. In fact, 87 percent of consumers look for reviews online when looking for local businesses. The majority of consumers only read reviews written in the last month, and 48 percent of consumers wouldn’t do business with a business that had less than four stars. Search engines are incorporating consumer reviews into their algorithms, which display them at the top of organic search results.

Why Local SEO Pays Off for Brick-and-Mortar Stores

Developing a local SEO campaign is essential for brick-and-mortar stores. It can help your business gain visibility among a local audience by catapulting it to the top of local searches. By increasing your website traffic, local SEO will increase the number of potential customers. Don’t forget to use local influencers to promote your business and boost your online presence.

FAQ

What is local SEO?

Local SEO is the process of optimizing a business to appear in search results for nearby customers. It relies on Google My Business, review signals, and customer reviews, and Google prioritizes proximity and intent when ranking local results.

Why are online reviews important for local search?

87 percent of consumers look for reviews online when looking for local businesses, and 48 percent wouldn’t do business with a company that had less than four stars. Search engines incorporate consumer reviews into their algorithms and display them at the top of organic search results.

How many local searches lead to a store visit?

76 percent of people who do a local search on their smartphone visit a business within one day, and in many cases that visit results in a purchase or service. Nearly 90 percent of local business searches are conducted through Google.

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