Do you own a local shop or service business and would like to learn how to do local SEO marketing?
It is said that almost 46% of Google searches have a local intent!
Seeroundtable
You could be losing thousands of dollars every month just because you aren’t ranking your business on Google search or Google maps.
Whenever I’m looking for a local business for a service or product I head straight to Google and generally type in my keyword such as:
- Best coffee near me
Top of the search results would then consist of:
- Business name
- distance from my locations (if you allow location services)
- customer ratings (based on Google reviews) and a
- short snippet about the business.
It doesn’t take much to improve your website and online presence to capture your local market and have your store full, or appointment times booked out.
Let’s see what we can do to help you become the star of the community.
Understanding the Basics of Local SEO
To begin you need to understand some of the basics of local SEO to form a solid foundation.
Key local SEO basics include:
- Keyword Research – identify the phrases your local target audience are searching for
- On-Page Optimization – make sure your websites content & structure is relevant to keyword
- Content Creation – always create high-quality informative content that provides heaps of value
- Link Building – make sure you are receiving links back from good quality sites
- Technical – SEO – test your website to make sure it is mobile friendly, really fast loading and easy for search engines to crawl through and find information
These basics cover local and world-wide SEO so make sure you at least follow these 5 rules to a minimum.
Defining local SEO and its Importance for Businesses
Local SEO is amazing for local businesses. It helps them appear at the top of search queries for nearby customers, capturing more leads, making more sales and driving traffic for free!
Once set-up properly you will start gaining customers virtually on auto pilot. New leads and inquires everyday without spending a dollar.
That’s the powerful!
All you as a business owner has to do is set everything up correctly and you are away. I will show you how in a moment.
Remember you still need patience because it wont happen overnight.
Distinctions Between Local and Traditional SEO Practices
There are a few major differences between local and traditional SEO practices such as:
Traditional SEO
This technique focuses on ranking for general, worldwide keyword phrases. It looks at the overall big picture.
Local SEO
A local SEO technique targets specific areas that include your ideal customer searching for products and services nearby.
They both work in a similar way overall but one is global the other local.
The Core Components of Local SEO
Most businesses are probably doing this without realizing it, but you want to follow these core components to really pump your business up. Components include:
Google My Business profile
Establish your business online with google by claiming your online property and keep it updated on a regular basis. Accurate information must include:
- Business address
- Name of business
- Contact details – phone, email etc
- Operating hours
- Photos of business
- Website links
- Description of what you do and offer to the marketplace
Speak Your Local Language (Resonate with locals)
You need to use phrases and keywords your local area use and search for. Think “Best Cafe in Miami” or “Best Miami Plumbers near me” don’t think of keywords like Plumbers or Cafes etc.
Get Local Google Reviews
Encourage customers to leave reviews, even offer customers gifts or discounts if they leave a glowing review. 5 star reviews attract more customers.
Be Consistent in Your Copy
Make sure online profiles, are up-to-date listing local address, phone numbers and content.
Get Involved In Community
Partner up with local businesses, sponsor events, and create content that highlights your local connection.
Try and focus on this points above and you will be on your way to local success and stardom.
How To Do Local SEO Marketing & Strategy
Now let’s get into it, the nuts and bolts and learn how to do local SEO marketing for your business. These strategies will work for every business regardless of the market.
Let’s now take over your area using these easy to implement strategies:
- Google My Business – create your account via the Google browser.
Here you will need to have a Google email, once created go to the 9 dot box and click on Business Profile Manager.
- Become The Local Keyword Ninja – use keyword research tools to find keywords people in your area search for to find businesses like yours.
Take advantage of tools like:
- Google Keyword Planner
- Keywords Everywhere
- Ubersuggest
- Jaaxy
- Semrush
- Google Search
- Google Trends
- Optimize Your Website & Google My Business Profile – integrate all your local keywords into your website, website content, blog posts, page titles, meta descriptions, and GMB profile.
- Use Google Maps For Your Business – make sure your website shows up properly on Google maps. Generally activating your Google My Business page will ensure you land on the map for your customers to see.
Set Clear Goals For Business
Analyzing the business’s local SEO needs and set clear goals that you want to achieve in your local area. Example to this would be – I want 5 new leads per day and 5 jobs per week earning the company $200,000 dollars per year.
Click here for a Goals Setting Template from Google docs. Goals Setting Template click here!
Laser Focus On Your Niche
Be niche specific and try to focus on one target audience. The biggest problem with most businesses I see is that they want to be everything to everyone.
Trying to capture the entire local market. Try going narrow focused and get really good at one thing that excites you.
This will make local SEO easier and your marketing message clear to your ideal customer.
Learning and Improving Local SEO Techniques
Local SEO is a forever adapting process where you need to continue learning and improving techniques. You can learn all this for free online or enrol in some courses on SEO.
I will recommend some great places to start down below.
Recommended Resources and Courses for Mastering Local SEO
Here are some awesome resources and courses that you can check out when you have the time below:
- Moz Local SEO Resources
- Local Search Fuel by Hurrdat Marketing
- Search Engine Journal’s Local Search Articles
Paid Courses to check out:
Practical Steps to Enhance Your Local SEO, & Google My Business Optimization
Once you set up your business on Google using Google my business, you will need to get verified. This normally involves applying and waiting for a week until you receive a letter authorizing your company.
Now you can edit your business profile manager section in your Google Apps area (the nine dots to the right)
Your Business on Google
Now once in you just have to fill in all the areas that Google require and your set-up! Make sure all information is accurate such as:
- Profile – business name, category, description, contact details, trading hours, location, website links & social profiles
- Add Products & Services – what you provide such as business category
- Photos – photos of your business, products, customers, anything relating to company
- Advertise – in business manager mode you can place ads, watch your performance and write blog posts
- Messages – also you can send and reply to customer inquiries here
Once all done and dusted your profile should look a little like this below.
Use Local Keywords & Searchable Phrases
Finally my last piece of advice on the GMB process is to use as many local keywords you can find to place in your descriptions, blog posts, headings etc. Also be consistent and continually update information in here and you will have a powerful business page.
These words that your ideal customer searches for will put you in front of your local competition without having to spend any money.
How cool is that!
Learn Content Creation for Local SEO Success
If you want to learn how to create content that ranks highly in your local area then you will need to check out my super helpful article here.
Content Creation for Local SEO Success
This includes:
- Tips for writing local SEO-friendly content that resonates with your audience
- Know your audience
- Identifying and targeting ‘near me’ keywords
- Using local news, events, and cultural references to boost local relevance
- Be the local expert
- Embrace the local angle
- Location, Location, Location
- Visuals are key
- Schema markup
And much, much more!
Just Starting Out In Local SEO?
If your starting from scratch and need an easy to follow training system on all this I recommend the Wealthy Affiliate platform.
It’s really good and is where I keep all my websites, learn how to write, learn SEO and get huge support from over 2 million members worldwide!
If your interested you can start for FREE! here.
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