Local SEO Guide for Small Businesses
Companies of any size have to do some important things to make sure they conform to the rules of local SEO, an algorithm started by the most popular search engine Google. When people search the web to look for a product or a service, they will see the best results and find businesses within their area that are relevant to their query. A small business owner would have to make sure they have all the requirements to increase their ranking on search engine results and expand their brand image to make it more “localized.”
Domain Name and Keywords
Because a lot more people rely on their mobile phones when trying to find products or services, localized SEO will guarantee that the results are related to companies near their current location. This would allow them to get what they are searching for instantly and effectively.
Therefore, the first thing an online marketer should do is to make sure their website is oriented with local SEO. They must focus on creating a domain name that is related to their business. They also have to pay close attention to their keywords and add a long tail keyword with the location of the business.
For example, if the business owner wants to make “hair salon” as their keyword phrase, they may want to include a long tail keyword that has their city name on it.
Remember not to stuff the content with keywords as this will look unnatural. Nowadays, SEO is not anymore based only on keywords. It is a more comprehensive method that considers every detail on the website, including its marketing strategy.
Important Information on the Website
A business website must have noticeable company information:
- Name
- Address
- Contact Number
Rather than having these details only on the homepage or contact page, they now have to be seen on each web page. This will make it easier for search engine to determine the location of the business when potential customers look for a specific product or service within their area.
As much as possible, business owners must also add certain local information in their website because this can help improve their local visibility. This will also guarantee that search engines know the business location to help them rank high in search engine results.
Google+ Local
Aside from having a website, businesses can take advantage of having a business listing on other websites. Google+ can boost a local SEO strategy if the business is listed there. That way, the business can be easily identified by queries with a particular location.
The business owner would just have to make sure that the information on the Google+ local page is the same as that on the business website. Moreover, the business listing must be in the right category to make sure they can be seen quickly. Search engines rely on business listings to look for relevant companies for local queries.
Social Media
Businesses must fully take advantage of the social media for local SEO. They must create a Facebook, Twitter, and other social media pages and make sure their company name, address, and contact information are visible on these pages.
Make sure to post regular updates to create a fan base and keep them informed. The more followers a business has, the more they will be noticeable. These followers will then be directed to the website and can be turned into a loyal customer.
Local Events
Being a small local business does not mean that cannot be involved in local events. They can actually consider promoting a local event on their website. When people pick it up, the website will be noticed, boosting their local SEO efforts.
