Local SEO
What is Local SEO?
Local SEO is particularly associated with brick-and-mortar businesses and operates to increase their search visibility. It is focused on giving businesses a higher ranking online for a specific area.
Technically, local SEO is all about optimizing a website for your local area. If you have a business that operates physically and from a certain situation - for example, a restaurant, grocery store, or an agency - then you want greater visibility in that area. You want people living or doing business in that area to know that you are there.
That’s where local SEO comes in - you optimize your website so that your presence grows online, and that people increasingly associate your product or service with the location that you are in.
How Does Local SEO Work?
Optimizing your website locally means one thing: letting Google and other search engines know that you operate from a certain area. For this reason, you need to have a proper address. This will make it easier for you to emphasize your locality. For example, by creating local landing pages and being available on local store locators.
Additionally, your website is not the only place that needs to be optimized. You need to add all the details to your Google My Business account as well so that Google can register you as a contender for the locality in question.
Why Pay Attention to Local SEO
However, why is local SEO important, and why should businesses, especially brick-and-mortar businesses, pay attention to it? Well, it’s mainly because it comes with some very noticeable benefits.
More visibility online
For starters, local SEO makes sure that your business gains more visibility online. When you are a business that mainly operates physically, improving your online strategy can be harder than it sounds. By making local SEO a part of your online strategy, it can be quite easy to expand your business in the online spectrum and grow exponentially.
Overshadow competitors
If you neglect local SEO, other businesses in the vicinity can take over your spotlight. You certainly don’t want that, since, to resonate with your existing and potential customers, you must stand out from competitors in every regard. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to local SEO and establish standing for yourself in that regard.
Repeat customers
Local search does not only mean getting new customers, but it also means getting repeat customers who want to do business with your brand again. They can easily search and find you online! In this regard, local SEO can help you expand your customer base.
Reduce advertising cost
One of the best things about local SEO is that it can help you save up on advertising costs! When you have a business that is locally optimized, you will automatically get to have an interaction with your target audience. This means that you don’t have to invest extra bucks on advertising and marketing your business via other means.
The Bottom Line
If you are a local business looking to solidify its online presence along with increasing its sales physically, then local SEO is not an option but a necessity.
The good thing is that since local SEO is a sub-component of SEO, there are hundreds of resources available that can help you increase your knowledge on the subject. You can easily learn the ins and outs of SEO and local SEO, and then put them to your advantage.
Once you do that, it isn’t going to be a challenging job making your business seem like the best possible option for customers!