Whether you’re running a small business or a larger company, you need to ensure that you have a solid local search engine optimization (SEO) strategy in place. This can help you to increase traffic to your website, drive more leads to your business, and keep negative reviews from affecting your rankings on Google.
Optimize your website content
Using a few local SEO tips can help your website rank higher in local search results. This can lead to increased traffic and conversion rates. Having a mobile-friendly website can also help your business reach more people on the go.
To optimize your content, use high-volume keywords. These should be visible in your page title, body text, and meta description. If you have multiple locations, it may be best to create separate pages for each location. This makes it easier to rank for specific keywords.
You can also use geo-targeted content to draw in local users. This can include information such as events, case studies, or customer success stories.
Create a local landing page
Creating a local landing page is an effective way to boost local SEO. It is important to make sure your page is optimized for mobile users. More than half of all monthly search requests come from mobile devices, so your page must load quickly and efficiently. If it takes more than a second for your page to load, your visitors will likely click to a competitor.
In addition to optimizing for mobile, you should include the local search function in your landing page. Adding Google My Business logos, contact information, and a map to your page can help boost your local SEO. You can also add links to regional guides and local news sites to improve your local ranking.
Build citations
Having local citations is a great way to boost your search engine rankings and increase the visibility of your business. However, it is important that you build citations that are accurate and easy for search engines to find.
Google will scan the web for citations to determine how relevant your business is to a user’s search. For example, if someone types in a service they need and a location, Google can show a map of businesses in their area. In addition, if they click on a result, they can also see a citation for that business.
To start with, make sure to keep your business information consistent. The name, address, and phone number (NAP) must be the same for every citation you add. Mismatched NAPs account for 41 percent of ranking issues, so you should ensure your citations are accurate.
Assign keywords to URLs
Adding keywords to URLs is a great SEO tactic. However, it should not become a primary focus. Adding too many competitive and high volume keywords could cause your page to be penalized by Google.
To avoid this, try to stick to long-tail keywords. These are four or more words and are much more specific. They are also more likely to be used in a search query.
For example, if you are a restaurant located in downtown Seattle, you may want to mention the Space Needle. This will help you gain visibility in the local area and encourage more customers to visit your business.
Track your rankings on Google Maps
Boosting your local SEO rankings on Google Maps is a great way to increase your business’s visibility. When consumers are looking for a specific business, they are more likely to end up on a Google Maps business listing than a website.
There are a variety of tools you can use to track your local SEO rankings on Google Maps. Some of these tools offer a free version that allows you to check your rank for up to 20 terms per month. Others are a bit more expensive. These tools also allow you to export your ranking data in CSV format.
Typically, the higher your Google Maps ranking, the higher you will appear in the first page of the search results. However, this is only one factor. If your website is slow to load or if you have broken links, your ranking will suffer.
Prevent negative reviews
Having negative reviews on your site can hurt your search ranking. However, there are steps you can take to respond to these negative reviews without causing a lot of damage. If you are able to respond in a positive way, it can help your business get back on track.
When you receive a bad review, it is important to act quickly. Taking a passive-aggressive approach will only make the situation worse. Instead, respond in a way that shows you care about the customer. This will increase your chances of getting the review removed.
Some people may see your response as bullying, so try to keep your tone civil. If you are not able to resolve the issue, try to apologize. This will give you the opportunity to earn back the customer’s business.