Local SEO: What Is It and How to Apply It to Your Business
When you launch your business, it’s crucial that you establish an online presence. One of the main things to prioritize is showing up on search engines, especially for local users in your area. You can accomplish this by developing a local search engine optimization (SEO) strategy.
What is local SEO, and how can you apply it to your business? Keep on reading to find out.
What Is Local SEO?
Local SEO is the process of optimizing your website and digital content to rank in search engines alongside local businesses. According to Web Marketing Today, 85% of consumers use local search to find businesses, and it’s only getting more popular.
Although local SEO can be similar to standard SEO, several differences exist. For one, you’re mainly targeting local search users. You’re seeking nearby customers looking for what your business provides.
Another way local SEO differs is the way online searchers use it. When searching online, people usually use a keyword. With local SEO, they’ll often use a location.
How Does Local SEO Work?
When you rank in local search results, you’re showing up to people in your area. When they click on your result, they’ll be directed to your website. From there, you can tell them about your products or services and encourage them to do business with you.
Unlike standard SEO, local SEO doesn’t focus on your website’s content. Instead of tweaking the code, you’ll tweak your information. Your focus will be on where your business is located, your services, and your customer base.
How Can You Apply Local SEO for Your Business?
You can do a few things to optimize your local SEO strategy for a particular location. You can:
1. Optimize Website Content
The first step is finding out what you have to offer and what customers are searching for. You can do this by brainstorming keywords, such as the services you offer, your location, and your customers' demographics.
Next, you can write unique and on-point content according to the keywords you’ve brainstormed. You can add these keywords to your content in several ways, including:
The titleThe URLA section of textAn imageA videoAn infographic
Make sure to use your keywords frequently and naturally. Also, use various sources like videos, infographics, and checklists.
2. Get Positive Online Reviews from Past Customers
You can also attract customers through online reviews. This helps boost your rankings in local searches because it lets people know you’re a legitimate business.
You can ask your existing customers to leave you a review on their favorite site, such as Yelp. Some platforms, like Facebook and Google, give higher ratings to businesses that have more reviews, so asking for more reviews on your profile will be a great help.
3. Get Listed on Local Directories
Another great way to boost your local visibility is by getting listed on local directories. You can submit your business information to these sites, then list it on search engines. You should prioritize a listing on the following platforms:
Local directoriesYellow pages directoriesMapsRealtor listings
For example, if you have a hair salon, you can get listed on Yelp. This site opens up more opportunities because it allows you to add a link to your website and has more traffic than most other local directories.
If you have a brick-and-mortar business, you can also include your location address in your listing. This lets people know where your physical store is, which can help boost your local visibility.
Final Thoughts
Local SEO is essential because it gives your business local visibility. It shows up in search engines, allowing you to reach nearby customers. From there, you can tell them about your products and services. You can apply local SEO to your business by optimizing your website content and getting positive online reviews. You can also submit your business information to local directories, which will help you get more traffic.
For local SEO services in Frisco, TX, work with us at Calling Digital. As a creative digital marketing agency, we will help you attract more local customers and generate more sales. Give us a call today for more information.