There’s no question we are living in an age of instant information. Everyone carries their smartphone with them, no matter where they go. It’s clear that it is time to focus on local SEO. In fact, this is a powerful tool for businesses of all types and sizes.
You likely understand the importance of “Near Me” searches and maps listings but may still be fuzzy on the purpose or meaning of local SEO.
If you want to ensure your clients are found locally but customers searching for what they offer, use the local SEO efforts mentioned here.
NAP Consistency
NAP stands for “Name, Address, Phone Number.” It’s an important place to start when optimizing a site for local traffic. Maps, directories, search engines, and more will access your information from several sources. Because of this, you need to ensure the information is consistent.
You have likely seen companies that have “Inc.” included on Facebook, but on Google Maps, “Inc.” is missing. Another example would be listing Suite 3 in the address on one site and Apt. #3 on another. While these may seem like little things, they can hurt your business’s ability to show up in local search results. Because of this, you need to ensure your business NAP is consistent across the web.
Presence of Reviews
Local, small businesses need reviews. Acquiring client and customer reviews on sites like TrustPilot, Angie’s List, Yelp, and Google (along with others) is the new “word of mouth” advertising. When people have easy access to different reviews about your business, products, or services, it’s a trust signal that helps them decide what business to use or buy from.
Local Directories
There are directories all over the internet. Making sure your business is listed on FourSquare, Yelp, or the Yellow Pages directories is a good place to start. It gets even better if you research local directories.
Some directories are extremely granular and specific to a town or county. Even some neighborhoods have a directory site that lists all the small local businesses.
Create Localized Service Pages with Local Keywords
There’s no question that “content is king.” In fact, this has been the case since SEO was first introduced. Customizing your content to the local service area will provide the right signals to search engines if someone is searching for a related keyword or business in the area.
Just make sure you don’t overdo it with service pages. If you have a small business and 20 pages on your site, it may hurt your relevancy if you add a page for the 200 different areas you provide service to.
Improving Local Search Results for Your Customers
If you want to help ensure your client’s businesses show up for local search, make sure to use the tips above. Doing so will help with local search results and ensure your client’s site is found instead of the competition. Being informed is the best way to make the most of local search results.