Local SEO and Off-Page SEO

People use search engines to discover local businesses. If they like what they find, they may visit one in person.

Local SEO can assist them with this endeavor by optimizing your website to match what customers are searching for on Google and managing multiple listings across platforms.

On-Page Optimization

As part of local SEO, the first step should be optimizing on-page content for relevant keywords, including page titles, meta descriptions and image alt tags. Furthermore, local SEO requires creating engaging and useful content for your audience by meeting their needs or solving their problems.

Google’s algorithms are constantly shifting, so staying informed on best practices requires staying current by monitoring search engine results with tools like LocalRank Flux.

Make sure your NAP (name, address, phone number) remains consistent across all online platforms and listings, such as your website, Google My Business profile, social media pages and directory listings.

Finally, customer reviews are essential to maintaining your reputation online and increasing search rankings. Be sure to encourage satisfied clients to leave reviews by providing signage in-store or prompt email follow up.

Off-Page Optimization

Off-Page SEO refers to any activities conducted outside your website which help improve local search engine rankings, such as link-building or local citations.

Off-page optimization aims to list your business on trusted online directories and social media, in addition to creating consistent citations (mentions of name, address and phone number) throughout the Internet.

Un important off-page SEO tactic is generating customer reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp and industry-specific review sites like Glassdoor and RateLab. More and better customer reviews can increase visibility in search results while building trust and brand image – you can encourage customers to submit reviews by using signage in store, email follow ups or other methods – these reviews also have the added bonus of strengthening local organic search rankings if used strategically. Forbes Agency Council provides an exclusive community for leaders within public relations, strategy, creative and advertising agencies.

Local Keyword Research

As with regular SEO, local SEO starts with understanding which keywords people use to discover your products or services. Google Keyword Planner or another similar tool can make this step simple.

Establishing a list of these queries will enable your business to determine what kind of content should be produced to rank higher in local search results. Furthermore, consider modifiers – terms which add specific services or features – which add context and specific services or features that increase results ranking in local searches.

Ubersuggest is an excellent tool to identify search terms people are typing into the search bar on a local search engine, such as Portland. By understanding how many searches a term generates and its potential worth for optimization – for instance “best portland dentist” has an impressive search volume and would make an ideal focus of an offer page or squeeze page on your site.

Link Building

Local SEO efforts can make all the difference for small, local businesses operating regionally. Learn from Moz’s SEO Expert Kavi Kardos how to develop an effective link building strategy that yields tangible results.

As with SEO, local search SEO factors in various ways, from Google Snack Pack and organic results to optimizing websites and building citations in major review platforms (Yelp, TripAdvisor and Facebook among them) for optimal local rankings. To avoid ranking issues it’s essential that all citations have the same NAP (name, address and phone number).

Event participation can provide great contextual links, like speaking at the Chamber of Commerce or sponsoring an event. Just make sure these links come from relevant domains rather than spammy directories or spammy websites; such opportunities often prove worth your while and can significantly boost local SEO juice.