How To Implement Onsite And Local SEO Tactics For Your Small business

Did you know that 46% of Google searches are for local information on services and businesses? We know small business owners are relatively busy. But if their business doesn’t rank on local search queries, they are missing a good chunk of inbound leads. In other words, local SEO(search engine optimization) is your way to stay relevant and grow authoritatively.

This article will focus on simple, quick-wins SEO Tactics to help optimize your small business for local Search Engine Optimization. We will also talk about the best local SEO practices to help your business increase revenue through the proper implementation of these tactics.

Just like you, potential prospects will always pull their favorite search engine for online research when trying to solve a problem.  This is why it is so important to have your answers show up front and center. Keep reading to get the knowledge to rank your business locally and help customers find your information online. Let’s drop a hard time and jump in!

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The Benefits Of Local SEO

A great thing about SEO is that it’s trackable. You can track your progress and know how well your site works in the SERPs (search engine results pages). Google is the primary source of traffic for most small businesses. It’s essential to show up on the first page when potential customers are looking for your product or services on the web.

Using Local SEO tactics help you:

• Get found on Google when people in your area search for the products or services you offer
• Ensure your Business Listing is complete and accurate
• Get more website visitors from organic search traffic
• Improve the click-through rate of your website
• Increase your chances to get generating qualified leads that are likely to convert into customers

In other words, Local SEO is essential if you want to be found online and generate more leads for your small business.

Local SEO Tactics That Will Help You Grow

SEO is an evergreen marketing tactic that will continue to bring results for years. But as with everything else, the landscape is constantly changing, and new tactics are always emerging.
To help your small business stay competitive and stay ahead of the race, we’ve put together a list of the top local SEO tactics that will help you grow.

1. Optimize Your Google My Business Listing

Google My Business (GMB) is a free listing that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google Search and Maps.
Here are a few tips:

• Claim and verify your listing
• Use a local phone number
• Use a local address
• Use keywords in your business description
• Add categories
• Select the right business hours
• Add photos and videos

2. Create Local Content

Focus on creating local content. As long as it’s relevant to your local audience and contains targeted keywords, it will help you rank higher. Feature other local small businesses and talk about events that you or your business has attended or sponsored. When writing more detailed posts, try and show imagery that reflects the values and passions of your local community and search out ways to link to other local resources within your articles and website.

3. Optimize Your Website For Local SEO

In addition to creating local content, there are a few other things you can do to optimize your website for local SEO.

• Add your city and state to your website’s title tags and meta descriptions
• Use local keywords throughout your website
• Add a Google Maps widget to your website
• Add a local news section to your website

4. Build Local Citations

A citation is any mention of your business on the web, even if there’s no link to your website. To do this, making sure your business is listed in as many relevant directories as possible is important. Some of the best directories to list your business include Yelp, Yellow Pages, and Foursquare.

5. Answer Negative Reviews

Negative reviews don’t have to be a death sentence for your business. They can be a good thing, as long as you handle them correctly. The key is to respond to all reviews, both positive and negative. This shows that you’re active and engaged with your customers. When responding to bad reviews, stay positive and professional. Don’t get into a back-and-forth argument with the reviewer.

6. Create A Google Maps Listing

In claiming your GMB listing, you should create a Google Maps listing. This is a separate listing that appears in the map results when someone searches for a keyword related to your business.
To create a Google Maps listing, search for your business on Google Maps and click the “Add a missing place” link. Make sure to use a legitimate address. If your company does not have a physical location you may also select “Service Areas.” Make sure to add 5-10 of the most relevant cities to your listing.

7. Perform a Local SEO Audit For Your Website

An SEO audit is a comprehensive website analysis to identify potential problems that could hold your ranking down in the SERPs. When conducting a local SEO audit, check for common local SEO issues, such as duplicate listing, missing NAP information (name, address, phone number), and incorrect categories. Having all your information as accurate as possible is paramount to your success.

SEO Tactics

8. Do Local Keyword Research And Content Creation

If you want to rank higher in local searches, you need to target the right keywords. To do this, you need to perform local keyword research. This involves identifying keywords relevant to your business and having a high search volume in your local area. Google Ads keyword planner is a great free resource for doing this.

9. Monitor Your Local Rankings

Once you’ve implemented the above local SEO tactics, it’s time to start monitoring your rankings. You can do this using various tools, such as Google Analytics and Google Search Console.
These tools will help you track your progress and identify any potential problems that could be holding back your rankings.

10. Hire A Local SEO Expert

If you’re unsure how to implement the above local SEO tactics, or if you don’t have the time to do it yourself, you can always hire a local SEO expert. A local SEO expert will have the knowledge and experience necessary to help you rank higher with local SEO tactics. In addition, a local SEO expert can provide you with customized advice and guidance based on your unique needs and goals. Hiring a local SEO expert is an investment, but it can pay off handsomely!

Are You Ready To Get Your Business Found Locally?

Local SEO is a necessity for any marketing strategy. Following the SEO tactics shared above can give your business the boost it needs to rank higher in local results. If you need assistance getting started or are looking for more customized advice, consider hiring a local SEO expert. An experienced local SEO expert can provide the guidance and support you need to take your business to the next level.