When it comes to local SEO, it's more important than ever to optimize your onsite and offsite SEO strategies for clients and customers searching for local businesses.
Local competition is fiercer than ever, and even if you're not at the top of the rankings, you can assume that your competitors are too.
Here are six local SEO strategies you can use to help your business rank higher for local search keywords.
Title and description tags are HTML elements that can be customized to reflect the content of your web page. The text from the title and description tags appears in search results.
Think of this text as a “mini-ad” that needs to be carefully crafted.
The title and description are the only way to grab the searcher's attention and get them to click on the link in the search results and go to your website. So think carefully about what you place in these areas of your web page.
Google will often create or “rewrite” tags for your titles and descriptions if they're missing or if Google thinks they're not good enough. (And what Google creates can often be unappealing.)
Both should describe the content of the page and You need to include your keywords so that they stand out on search engine results pages.
The generally acceptable length for title tags is approximately 50-60 characters, and for description tags approximately 160-200 characters. Take advantage of this space and use it wisely.
Address your audience in these areas. What will stand out to them?what makes them want click your What is the difference between a link and every other link on the page? These are important questions to ask yourself when creating your title and description tags.
If you're not sure how your title and meta description tags will look or how many characters you can use, try using an emulator like Yoast's SEO plugin for WordPress. You can see how the title and description look in both. Mobile devices and desktops:
Writing titles and descriptions is considered an art in the SEO world.
If this text isn't unique, compelling, and descriptive in a sea of ​​competing search results, your click-through rate will drop (which can negatively impact your rankings).
Additionally, too many words or characters can cause the text to be cut off with ellipses (…).
Now, this may not be a real tragedy. Some SEOs may recommend exceeding the recommended maximum character count. However, this seems unprofessional, especially if this occurs in the middle of a sentence, causing you to stop thinking mid-sentence.
lesson? This space is valuable and every letter counts. Here are some tips:
- Don't waste space on page names or words that don't give searchers useful information about what your web page (or business) is about.
- If you want to stand out to local customers, include the name of the city your business is located in or the area your business serves (e.g., “Serving Iowa City and Cedar Rapids”) .
- Focus on using one targeted keyword and carefully place it as close to the beginning of the tag as possible.
Remember, once your business shows up in search results, you have one shot to get someone to click your link. The title and description are the deciding factors.
Don't ruin it by wasting characters that won't help convince searchers that your site is worth visiting.
2. Google Business Profile: Claim and Optimize
Google Business Profile (GBP) is one of the best local SEO strategies for local businesses that meet customers face-to-face.
If your business is eligible for GBP listing, you should apply. and Optimize your Google Business Profile. (This is one of the best ways to get your company ranked higher on Google.)
Google Business Profile is free and can give your business incredible exposure if it's optimized to appear in Google's local 3-pack.
To claim your Google Business Profile, visit google.com/business. You will need to go through an application and verification process.
This verification process is necessary because Google wants to make sure your business is a legitimate, real company. Business owners must apply for GBP listing.
If you're working with a digital marketing agency on your SEO efforts, you can later give them permission to manage your business profile. This allows you, the business owner, to maintain control of your profile even if you end your relationship with the agency.
The next step is to optimize and continually improve your GBP listing by:
- Selecting category.
- Add business hours.
- Write a solid explanation.
- Upload photos and videos.
- Creating posts/updates.
- Answer potential customer questions.
- Please include the product or service you sell.
- Reply to reviews you receive.
- more!
The Google Business Profile/Knowledge Panel is packed with information about your business, so be sure to complete all relevant sections to complete your Google Business Profile.
3. Online reviews matter
According to BrightLocal's 2023 Local Consumer Reviews Study, up to 84% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
Online reviews are like gold to businesses, especially when it comes to 5-star reviews. Typically, your Google Business Profile should have at least 10 5-star reviews. But your goal doesn't stop there.
We want to continue to ask our satisfied customers to leave reviews for GBP. why? Online reviews are known as a ranking factor, so getting good reviews should be one of your top priorities.
“High-quality, positive reviews from customers can increase your business' visibility and increase the likelihood that shoppers will visit your store,” Google says.
Two places you should focus on getting reviews are your Google Business Profile and your Facebook page. These are big ones.
Many people turn to social media to see what their friends and family think about their business. So, having good feedback on your business's Facebook page will help bring in potential customers.
Third-party reviews may also appear on your Google Business Profile.
If a review is left about your business, be sure to respond, whether positive or negative. This shows others reading reviews that you, the business owner, care about what your customers think.
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4. Build individual service pages
If you run a service-based business, one of the best things you can do is build individual pages. Each service You can offer more than just a one-page list of services.
Creating service pages allows you to optimize keywords associated with the locations you want to target and the specific services you offer in a more targeted way.
Instead of just a line list or a short paragraph on your Services page, you can use an entire page to describe each service you offer. This means you have much more room for your content and can optimize your text to serve you better.reader and Google (for SEO purposes).
So, even if you only have time to create one page at a time, take the time to create a separate page for each service you offer. It will be worth it in the end. i promise!
5. Online directories and citations
You need to accurately and consistently list your business in top online business directories (aka citations) such as Yelp, Facebook, Merchant Circle, Citysearch, and more.
why? This is because organic search results often rank higher in online directories.
If your business isn't listed in these directories, potential customers won't be able to find your company when they click on the link in the search results.
It's also a good idea to look for high quality ones. Use local directories to list your business.
Check with your local newspaper's website or chamber of commerce to see if they have a local business directory where you can list.
You can also search using keywords such as “.”[your city] Search for other local citation sites or directories using “Directories''.
It's also important to obtain your business's name, address, and phone number (NAP) with major citation data aggregators such as Foursquare, Data Axle, and Neustar Localeze.
Data aggregators distribute your company's information to hundreds of other online directories.
Always make sure your company's NAP is consistent across as many directories and citation sites as possible.
6. Be social
If you've avoided social media in the past, now is the time to embrace it. Google Business Profile now lets you add social media links to your business profile.
You can add one social media profile for each of the following platforms:
- X
- tick tock
- YouTube
to make things equal more Interestingly, Google recently started displaying actual social media posts on Google Business Profiles. (Note: This is a new feature and may not yet be available for business profiles.)
Posting social media posts on your GBP listing can increase your business profile listing and engagement on Google. really like engagement!
These six local SEO strategies are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to local SEO. Implementing the six local search strategies listed above will help you get a head start on your competitors. Get started today!
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the guest author and not necessarily those of Search Engine Land. Staff authors are listed here.