SEO is constantly changing. As soon as you feel like you may have grasped an aspect of it, it is likely to change again and you will have new things to learn. If you depend on the traffic from sites like Google, then it is likely that you already know how important it is to stay up to date with these trends and be doing all you can to make sure that your local SEO is up to date.
There are many different types of SEO that you could decide to focus on, but for a small business, one of the most important type is the local SEO. In fact, data curated by seotribunal.com show that a third of all mobile searches are directly related to location. This is why local SEO can help you stand out from a crowded market, so you might as well try to use it to your advantage.
If you are not on top of your SEO rankings, then you can bet that your competitors will be. Here are 5 tips you can use to help your business rank higher for local search terms.
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Use online directories – Many people would consider online directories as old fashioned, but those who don’t use them are missing out on huge opportunities. It is very important you list your business on some of the top directories out there such as Yelp, Citysearch, and MerchantCircle, as well as seeking out reputable local directories and listing yourself there as well.
Make sure that all the information is correct. If Google is not sure if the information is right, it will either display the wrong information or may not list your business at all. -
Online reviews – People tend to trust online reviews just as much as personal recommendations, especially if there are plenty of reviews to read. There are several tools out there that can help you proactively get reviewed. You can also count on many social media sites which will alert you any time your brand is mentioned. Google looks at reviews as a major ranking factor.
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Categorizing – This is one of the most crucial steps for optimizing for local search, with the majority of search engines allowing you to use several categories to help them fully understand what it is that your business really does. Without doing this, your business may be miscategorised, which could be detrimental in your SEO efforts.
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Quality photos – When people are searching for local businesses, the chances are they want to see pictures. It is important that you include photos of your building, your products, and your logo.
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Optimizing your site – You should ensure that your website is also optimized for local search, which means you should have contact information shown somewhere on your site. You should also try and include a city or a regional keyword wherever possible and write content that is specific to your local area.
As a smaller business, it is likely that people will not know about you yet, so search engines like Google can be invaluable tools to help people who are looking for a provider of the services that you offer.
Follow these tips to build up your local SEO to the stage that you want it to be.
