What Is Local SEO and Why Does Your Business Need It?

More than 50% of all site traffic comes from organic search. That’s why SEO is so important—it makes your website that much more visible.

In other words, you’ll have more opportunities to convert prospects into customers.

Did you recently launch a business? Want to up your local SEO game so that you’ll get more traffic? If so, you’re on the right page.

We’ll be going over everything that you need to know about the topic below. Keep reading to learn more!

What Is Local SEO?

Local search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing a website so that it becomes more visible in local search results.

Basically, it lets Google and other search engines know that your business is located in a specific location and that you’d like to be found by potential customers in that area. That way, you’ll gain more traffic from local queries.

For example, if you own a coffee shop in New York, you can optimize your site for the keywords, ‘coffee shop in New York.’ If done properly, your page will show up on the results page when someone searches for that phrase.

Tip: You can always hire a professional (e.g. davidtaylordesign.com) if you need help with business marketing. They’ll be able to come up with a plan that’ll help boost your site’s local ranking.

Improving Your Local SEO Strategy

SEO is a complex digital marketing strategy that requires both effort and time. Here are a few things that you can do that can help.

Create a Google My Business Account

Creating a Google My Business account will allow you to manage your business profile. For example, you can use it to update your hours, location, and contact information. Not only that, but you can also upload profile photos, which can help customers recognize your business.

To set up an account, follow the instructions on Google’s website. Make sure to provide a clear business description (try to incorporate a few keywords if you can) and choose the best possible category for your listing.

Get Reviews From Happy Customers

Encourage your customers to leave reviews. Not only will that boost your online presence, but it’ll also encourage others in the area to buy from you.

For example, you can ask them to leave a review once you’ve completed a sale (in person). You can also ask through an email or text message (assuming that they’ve given you their contact information).

Keep in mind, however, that you should never pay for reviews. Google can and will penalize your site if you’re caught. For instance, they may prevent you from showing up on the search results page completely.

The Importance of Local SEO

Local SEO is important if you want your business to stand out from the rest. And as you can see, there are a couple of things that you can do to improve your ranking. Just remember, it can take time to see results.

Interested in more content like this? If so, be sure to check out the rest of our business section!