12 Local SEO Tips For Small Businesses You Can’t Ignore
Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy. In fact, there are more small businesses in America than there are large businesses. And while big businesses often have the resources to invest in search engine optimization (SEO) and other online marketing strategies, small businesses often don’t have the same luxury. That’s why it’s important for small business owners to know about local SEO – a form of SEO that is tailored specifically for businesses that operate within a specific geographic area.
If you’re a small business owner, there’s a good chance that you’re not familiar with local SEO. But don’t worry – we’re here to help. In this blog post, we’ll share 12 local SEO tips that you can’t ignore if you want your business to be successful.
- Optimize Your Google My Business Listing
One of the most important things you can do for your local SEO is to optimize your Google My Business listing. Your GMB listing is what appears when someone searches for your business on Google Maps or in the Local Pack (a list of three businesses that appear at the top of the search results).
To optimize your GMB listing, start by claiming your listing and verifying your business. Then, fill out as much information as possible, including your business name, address, phone number, website URL, and category. You should also add photos and videos, as well as create a custom URL for your listing.
- Get Listed in Local Directories
Another important local SEO tip is to get your business listed in relevant local directories. There are dozens of directories that cater specifically to businesses within a certain geographic area, such as Yelp, Yellow Pages, and Angie’s List. Getting listed in these directories can help improve your visibility in the search results and attract new customers to your business.
To get started, claim your listing in as many relevant directories as possible. Then, fill out your listing information completely and ensure that it is consistent with the information on your website and other online listings.
- Optimize Your Website for Local Keywords
One of the best ways to optimize your website for local SEO is to include relevant keywords throughout your site. These keywords should be targeted specifically to your geographic area and should be included in your title tags, meta descriptions, headings, and body copy.
For example, if you’re a plumber in Los Angeles, you might want to target the keyword “Los Angeles plumber.”
- Build Citations
Another important local SEO tip is to build citations for your business. Citations are listings of your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) on other websites. The more citations you have, the higher your chances of ranking in the local search results.
To get started, create a free account on Moz Local. Then, enter your business information and Moz will generate a list of citations for you. Once you have your list, start claiming and optimizing your listings on the top citation sites.
- Build Links
In addition to building citations, it’s also important to build links to your website. Links are one of the most important ranking factors for SEO, so the more high-quality links you have pointing to your site, the better.
There are a few ways to build links, but one of the best is to reach out to other businesses in your area and ask for a link. You can also create local content that is shareworthy, such as a blog post or video, and promote it on social media and other websites.
- Optimize Your Content for Local Searches
If you want your website to rank in the local search results, it’s important to optimize your content for local searches. This means including relevant keywords throughout your content, as well as adding your city and state to your titles and meta descriptions.
It’s also important to create content that is specific to your geographic area. For example, if you’re a real estate agent in Los Angeles, you might want to write a blog post about the best neighborhoods to live in LA.
- Use Google AdWords
Google AdWords is a great way to attract new customers and drive traffic to your website. When you create a campaign, you can target specific keywords and geographic areas, so your ads will only be shown to people who are searching for businesses like yours.
AdWords can be a bit pricey, but it’s worth it if you want to improve your local SEO.
- Create a Google+ Page
Another important local SEO tip is to create a Google+ page for your business. Google+ is Google’s social network, and having a presence on the platform can help improve your visibility in the search results.
To create a Google+ page, simply sign in to your Google account and visit the Google+ page creation form. Then, fill out your business information and choose a profile photo. Once your page is created, be sure to add content regularly and interact with other users on the platform.
- Optimize Your Google My Business Listing
If you want to improve your local SEO, it’s important to optimize your Google My Business listing. Your GMB listing is what appears in the “map pack” results on Google, so it’s one of the first things potential customers will see when they search for businesses like yours.
To optimize your GMB listing, start by claiming your listing and verifying your business information. Then, add photos, videos, and other content to your listing to make it more complete. You can also encourage customers to leave reviews on your GMB page, which can help improve your ranking in the local search results.
- Promote Your Business on Social Media
If you want to attract new customers and improve your local SEO, it’s important to promote your business on social media. Social media is a great way to connect with potential customers and build relationships with people in your community.
To get started, create social media accounts for your business on major platforms, such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Then, start posting interesting and engaging content that will appeal to your target audience. Be sure to include relevant hashtags, as well as your city and state, in your posts.
- Get Listed in Local Directories
Another great way to improve your local SEO is to get listed in local directories. There are a number of online and offline directories that list businesses by category and location, so potential customers can find you more easily.
To get started, simply do a search for “local directories” and see which ones are most relevant to your business. Then, create a profile on each directory and include all of your important business information, such as your website URL, phone number, and address.
- Stay Up-to-Date With Google’s Local SEO Guidelines
Finally, it’s important to stay up-to-date with Google’s local SEO guidelines. Google is constantly updating its algorithm, so it’s important to stay on top of the latest changes.
One way to do this is to sign up for Google’s Webmaster Central Blog, which will send you notifications whenever there are major updates to the algorithm. You can also follow local SEO experts on social media to get the latest news and tips.
With these local SEO tips, you can improve your visibility in the search results and attract more customers to your business. If you need help getting started, contact a local SEO agency that can assist you with optimizing your website and online presence.
