According to semRush, the stats clearly show that the popularity of “near me” searches skyrocketed by 400% from September 2019 to August 2021. This means that businesses have a good opportunity to benefit from ensuring they top the results of local searches.
This article highlights eight essential tips for local SEO dominance for small businesses, allowing companies to stand out among their peers and become market leaders in their vicinity.
Table of Contents
Overview of local SEO
Importance of local search for small businesses
Tips for local search dominance
The bottom line
Overview of local SEO
Local search engine optimization (SEO) refers to a goal-oriented approach to SEO that seeks to increase a firm’s online visibility and generate more local buyers. Out of all of the Google searches that are being done right now, nearly half are localized. This means users are often on the lookout for results that are related to businesses in their neighborhoods.
There has been a massive 900% escalation in searches that included the phrases “near me today/tonight” between two years, from 2019 to 2021. The following year, Google reacted by moving towards location-related results to deliver what its users desired.
Importance of local search for small businesses
1. Increased traffic
A local SEO strategy allows business owners to reach consumers, enhancing their chances of being chosen by potential customers over their competitors. This pinpointed strategy promotes better visibility, which in turn results in increased traffic in website visits and customers visiting physical locations, thus inevitably leading to a massive sales increase.
2. Better conversion rates
The enhanced local search engine helps improve conversion rate as customers choose trustworthy businesses that are known and familiar. As covered in the next section, companies can improve their conversion rates by utilizing proper local SEO strategies.
3. Competition
With local SEO small businesses compete on equal terms with larger firms giving them more opportunity to succeed. There are a number of strategies that help local firms excel against their rivals’ ranking position in search engine results, and this leveled playing field gives small local businesses a chance to establish themselves in their location and stand out against the competition.
Tips for local search dominance
1. Enhance your Google Business Profile
Having one’s business promoted on Google Business Profile, which is the revamped Google MyBusiness, means having your company registered in a dynamic online catalog of businesses presented by Google.
Google Business Profile is more than just an online business card. It is your virtual megaphone, where you can present the latest and most exciting updates to your audience, and you can add your location to feature in location specific search results.
2. Boost your results with localized keywords
Businesses can boost their analysis using localized keywords. These are customer-specific keywords, particularly long tail, such as “Dry cleaner near me.”
Use tools like Google AdWords, Keyword Planner, or Content Harmony to make these localized keywords. Whitespark or BrightLocal can determine area-specific keywords through the use of local SEO.
Once you have identified these key phrases, integrate them properly into the site in title tags, meta descriptions, and webpage content.
3. Stay updated on Trends
Keep a close watch on Google Trends to understand the trends in search interest and behaviors associated with pertinent keywords and relevant topics around your brand or industry. Things can change quickly in our dynamic world, and keeping up with the events around us has become a necessity.
Carry out a complete analysis of your business’s most important keywords, tracking how these searches are currently trending and observing their evolution.
Simultaneously, monitor the performance of your website to gain insights into user behavior and conversion trends during this period.
4. Make use of reviews and social proof
Let customers give you feedback or testimonials after their purchase, as they have time to consider their satisfaction. The reviews help increase Google’s rankings and act as a compass pointing out where one is doing well and which areas need improvement.
Suppose you want to get the number one position in local search rankings. In this case, Google must see your business offering exclusive, high-quality, and locally relevant content for each regional site. This criterion is one of the most significant factors in shaping your local SEO results.
If your business operates in different locations, the website should have specialized pages with exemplary local content, such as articles about community news events or activities.
5. Optimize your website for mobile devices
With more and more people relying on smartphones and tablets, the trend to use these gadgets is gradually overtaking those who use desktops or laptops. This change implies that from this point on, people searching locally will more likely rely on their phones to look for your enterprise.
This means it is a good idea to make sure your website designs, layouts, and navigation are mobile-friendly. A website that provides a seamless mobile experience minimizes its bounce rate, which is an aspect that can affect the promotion of your website in search engine ranking.
6. Verify your information with business directories and local citations
Business directories in your area have business listings, where you may find citations by entering keywords such as [your city] directory. Due to their high rankings, online directories are also a good way to achieve organic search results. Website directories such as Yahoo! and Bing display hyperlinks in search results, which is where you could aim to place yourself. Suppose you are not listed on any of these directory websites, you would miss the opportunity of directly linking to your landing page, and this could impact your SEO ranking as well.
7. Create local-friendly content
Creating locally-friendly content is the easiest way to gain dominance around your area. People from the region could search for these events on Google, which is another opportunity for your content to perform well. Generate content about events and focus on proper keywords that can lead interested audiences to your website. If local business events are upcoming, get engaged actively. Your engagement further promotes the brand image of your business at this event. It gets you backlinks from linking to pages as part of some landing or promotional materials across different social media channels.
8. On-page SEO
On-page optimization ensures that your website provides a good user experience and attracts search engines, resulting in increased rankings and targeted local traffic.
When your website becomes more apparent in the search results, it looks impressive and gains credibility as an online authority. Increased credibility serves as a catalyst, promoting increased conversions and leading to subsequent growth of your business.
The bottom line
Empower yourself from a local level and dominate search results with these small business SEO tips. Given that local SEO is crucial, it is important to learn how to optimize your website for more traffic and higher conversion rates if you aim at beating your competitors.
That is why this guide offers actionable tactics for local search domination, including optimizing your Google Business Profile, staying on top of trends and utilizing social proof. Take advantage of the opportunity to make your business more visible and start to lead the market in your location today.
