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Local SEO

To be successful in today's highly competitive search engine results pages (SERPs), visibility is more crucial than ever.

There are 12 proven methods to boost your website's rank in local search results.

Getting your business in front of local searchers actively seeking your goods or services is essential if you want to grow your clientele.

With local search engine optimization (SEO), you're gaining a huge chance to connect with prospective consumers in your neighborhood, which might result in increased foot traffic, sales, and income.

Read on to learn why optimizing for local search results is crucial to your company's success and how to get started.

1. Get On A Local Search Platform

Moz, Yext, RIO, RenderSEO, Chatmeter, Uberall, and SweetIQ, to mention a few, are just a handful of the local search systems that won't break the bank.

It is significantly simpler to handle several listings if you use a platform.

That means ensuring that your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are listed correctly throughout a wide variety of local search engines and directories and fixing any mistakes they may find.

However, doing so manually could be more efficient and lead to mistakes across the local search ecology due to human error.

Putting location-specific content into your website is a crucial local SEO strategy.
There are a few approaches to taking care of this.
First, your contact information (name, phone number, and address) must be prominently displayed on your website.
This data is often shown in the website's header, footer, and/or Contact page.

After that, you may optimize your website and blog for local search using keyword-rich content.
Including the word "NYC Dentist" within the content of your service page would help you rank for the search "NYC Dentist," for instance.
One of the most crucial aspects of local SEO is including specific locations in your keyword optimization.

It's not allowed to overuse keywords, so beware.
When implementing their initial local search engine optimization (SEO) plan, many professionals make the common error of using too many keywords across their website's pages, blog posts, and online listings.
Because of the negative connotations that this strategy has with search engines, material and listings that use it are often demoted.
Use the keywords organically in the text.
For optimal results, you should also include them in the page's title, headers, meta description, and picture alt tags.

Create a Google My Business Page

Google is by far the most widely used search engine in the world, with a staggering 92% market share.
Having a claimed and well optimized Google Business Profile is a must (formerly known as Google My Business).
This is the result that Google returns when a user searches for your company's name, physical address, contact details, or pertinent local keywords.
Google Maps also features these listings.

Make the most of your free map listing and Google account by providing as much information as possible about your business.
Users must have access to your name, address, and phone number at the very least.
Your NAP details are those shown here.
You may add your website, hours of operation, customer reviews, and more to your Google Business Profile in addition to your contact information.

Use this checklist from Search Engine Journal to ensure that your Google Business Profile is as complete as possible.

Create online profiles and directories.

There is no shortage of online directories and listing services.
These portals compile online directories of firms catering to a certain market, geographic area, or product type.
These sites are useful for reaching out to neighboring clients since they provide easy access to essential details like an address and hours of operation.

You should take the same care in filling up these profiles as you would with your Google Business Profile.
Don't forget to provide contact information like your name and address.
Bing Locations, Yelp, Whitepages, and Foursquare are just few of the many popular listing sites that you should consider signing up for.

Local SEO

Extra Suggestion: If you own an online store, you should use Google's new See What's in Your Stores tool (SWIS).

You can add an inventory feed to your Google My Business page.

Take advantage of the many people looking for your goods and services daily by posting your available stock as a free listing on Google Images, Shopping, and Maps.

There are few platforms where this is a standard feature, so take advantage of the introductory price.

2. Use Structured Data

Increased clicks, impressions, and conversions are well-known benefits of using structured data to aid Google's understanding of content.

Local searches follow the same rules.

It is crucial to use structured data formats, such as local businesses, geocoordinates, postal addresses, and reviews, to boost efficiency.

3. Tap Into Google Business Profile & Optimize for It

A Google Business Profile is a free and powerful marketing tool that may help your company stand out to potential customers in search results.

Be as thorough as possible in your Google Business Profile optimization; include images, descriptions, menu items, and the full scope of your offerings.

The Search Engine Optimization Power of Semrush vs. Another Competitor

We compared Semrush to another popular SEO tool. As expected, Semrush prevailed. We need more search terms, more citations, and more applications.

Who did Semrush end up losing to?

Including high-quality images in your ad is a great way to get more views and inquiries.

Frequently updating your picture library with new photographs showcasing your company's inside and outside (including signage) and the many services you provide is highly recommended (rooms for hotels, food and drink for restaurants, products for retail, etc.).

Images of your storefront and company signs are vital to put on your page to help avoid Google's algorithm from wrongly suspending, deactivating, or classifying your listing as a duplicate of another business.

In addition to high-quality photos, your listing may now have brief videos that will play with your photos and can be embedded in Google posts.

It would help if you were mindful of Google's recommendations when uploading photos and videos.

Many well-known brands, in my experience, fail to make use of online directory listings by failing to place their companies in the most relevant categories.

Pizza parlors may advertise themselves under the "food and drink" category.

Google is continually expanding its list of food categories, making it possible for restaurants to specialize in a particular niche.

Whether you want to keep ahead of the competition, it's a good idea to examine if your company listing can take advantage of a new category.

Taking the time to fill out the menu, description, and other details is crucial for ranking well in local search results.

Furthermore, make sure that your details are constantly up to date.

A terrible user experience might occur, for instance, if I searched for [modell's near me] and found a shop with great ratings that look open, only to drive there and discover that it is closed.

There's a possibility I won't give the shop another try even if it reopens.

Companies must update their local search results to make it very obvious to prospective consumers that they are closed.

Google Maps now includes the ability to see information about a store's hours of operation.

Below, we can see how GBP may be useful for multi-department stores that provide extended hours.

Make advantage of this function to modify as necessary:

• Department hours.

• Senior hours.

• Drive-thru hours.

• Delivery hours.

• Takeout hours.

• Visiting hours.

• Pick-up hours.

Brunch, lunch, and dinner service times may now be included in restaurant listings.

In your Google My Business profile, be sure you update the Q&A section to include any new or relevant information, such as:

• changes to business hours or closures

• In the case of postponed or canceled events, we will gladly provide • full or partial refunds or swaps for your tickets.

• The number of incoming messages/calls and any foreseeable wait times.

• Appointment processes will be modified.

• The steps you're doing to ensure a safer workplace.

• The availability of some services may change.

4. Update Event Status

The event schema should always be used if there is an event. The new EventStatus schema type provides users with information about the status of their planned event.

Qualities include:

Cancellation of the event is indicated by the EventCancelled status.

The event may now be found at the new URL (EventMovedOnline).

New dates for the event are yet to be determined. Therefore, please consider this a postponement.

The event has been moved to a new date, so please mark your calendars accordingly.

The event is still on track to happen at the stated time.

Your website's event schema and third-party APIs like Facebook Events, Eventbrite, and Meetup may be mined for relevant event details and included in your company profile.

5. Audit Your Listings

Listings should be checked often to see whether they include the following:

• Automatically changes the status to reflect any changes to business hours ("Temporarily Closed," etc.).

• Proposed or potential alterations to current business hours.

• Feature updates that are either in the works or have been recommended.

• Details about the company that is in the process of being altered or are being considered for change.

• Additional signs of impending or proposed changes.

• Lists with disabled features.

You should expect Google to adjust your company listing based on user feedback since it takes such input seriously.

Since Google users could be better, it's important to constantly review your listing for these proposed modifications and ensure they're accurate.

6. Manage Your Reputation

When trying to get to the top of the Local Map Pack, it's important to focus on client satisfaction and favorable ratings. So many businesses I've looked at have great and bad ratings but have yet to respond to their customer's feedback.

I may think twice before hiring a painter with 20 5-star ratings and five unanswered 2-star ones.

Reviews carry weight with consumers, and when the business owner doesn't bother to reply to criticism, it loses even more weight.

The community's faith in them and their ability to attract new customers might grow.

The Lesson Keep an eye on and reply to both good and poor reviews, and work on increasing the number of reviews that come to you organically. Additionally, your site would benefit from user-submitted testimonials written in the first person.

7. Use Hyper-Local Content

Search engine optimization (SEO) is about facilitating the satisfaction of information needs for end-users by offering a good content experience across all devices and platforms.

Keep putting in new, high-quality information specifically tailored to each area. This kind of hyper-local content is a great way to boost brand recognition among nearby prospective clients.

Make sure that your on-page SEO plan includes hyper-local phrases as well. Everything from section titles to metadata to picture alt text is considered text.

In addition, COVID-related material should always be available.

From the end user's standpoint, this will help you get rave evaluations.

Proving that customers' safety is a top priority might result in increased sales when they come to pick up meals or buy.

Use Google Posts on your company listing to learn about upcoming events or new products.

Regular use of the Post function may boost user engagement with your listing and, in turn, your local search engine rankings.

There is no better place than a blog post to draw attention to a product or service that doesn't fit neatly into your major or secondary business areas.

8. Connect With Customers Via Always-On Messaging

To make it easier for consumers to contact you, install the Google My Business app and enable messaging.

Customers may obtain the assistance they need through message if they need it outside of normal business hours or when you are not accessible by phone.

As a bonus, you may inform consumers of your company's current state by creating an automated welcome message.

9. Monitor Trends

Since we live in an unpredictable world where things can change rapidly, it's important to keep an eye on Google Trends to understand how search interest and behavior are shifting around terms and subjects pertinent to your business and sector.

Check the search volume and popularity of the most important terms for your company.

The next step is to keep an eye on the website's analytics to see how people are responding throughout this period and to revise projections and reports to account for the effect of global events.

As a bonus, you can use Google Trends data to see what subjects are "exploding" in popularity right now by visiting ExplodingTopics.com. It's a great tool for scouting potential new markets and learning about untapped business opportunities.

10. Optimize For Voice Search & Mobile

It's a question-and-answer world, and your brand has to be ready to answer those inquiries, even if the customer is using a digital assistant to get the info.

Furthermore, your website has to be designed to provide solutions to frequently asked concerns about your goods or services.

Check your search statistics and stats to discover what queries customers often ask about your company for ideas on what to add.

Make advantage of Google's People Also Ask (PAA) function and other tools.

Most people now do local searches on their phones, so you should make your site mobile-friendly by reducing load times and improving picture and content quality.

11. Track Rankings & Build Out Local Landing Pages

While not definitive, rankings may be used to gauge the efficacy of a local search marketing strategy on a per-city or per-zip basis.

Ensure your local landing pages are user-friendly and enjoyable by integrating features like easy navigation, clear CTAs, and up-to-date schema markup.

With the strategies mentioned earlier, there is potential for increased visibility and sales for your brand in all markets.

As a bonus, consider using one of the many locally optimized landing pages available on most platforms rather than spending time and resources having your team create new page templates. Moreover, they'll host the pages for you, so your internal employees can focus on other priorities.

12. Don't Forget Links Are Still Very Important

When building your link profile, quality always trumps quantity.

EAT's Authority and Trust factor are based on the credibility and trust earned by a website via its connections to authoritative sites, which may be attained by providing useful information and responding to user needs.

Also, try to be included on local blogs and directory websites.

It's still crucial and may do wonders for your profile's exposure.

Considering the intensity of competition on search engine results pages (SERPs), it is now more crucial than ever to have a solid local search presence.

When consumers look for things associated with your brand online, you need to be there to capture their attention and propel your business forward.

If you follow these tried and true steps, you will soon be ruling the search engine results pages (SERPs) and the local results.

Local search is a great method to let consumers know that although the restaurant may be closed for business, they can still get takeout.

Google Maps now includes the ability to see information about a store's hours of operation.

As a conclusion

To succeed in the retail industry, brick-and-mortar businesses need to be visible to consumers precisely when they are looking for your goods or services.

The ability to dominate local search results, expand brand awareness, and increase revenue is in the hands of businesses that stay abreast of the latest developments in local search engine optimization (SEO) practices.

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