For many businesses, Local Search Engine Optimization (Local SEO) is the most important tool in their marketing toolbox. It is designed to give a leg up to local businesses that thrive on traffic from nearby neighborhoods or cities.
You may not know it by name, but Local SEO is a tool that influences each of us every day. Whenever you search something on your phone or laptop, typically the options that pop up are those that are geographically nearest to you AND whose websites have the best SEO. To get your business on top of those local pop-up lists, you need to do far more than simply put your address on your website.
How Does Local SEO Bring More Customers to My Business?
This local focus is provided by search engines like Google or Yahoo because they know 90% of users are searching for local answers with certain search terms. For example, users searching “Pizza”, “Dentist”, “Florist”, “Math Tutor” and so on are almost always looking for an answer that is geographically nearby. A properly designed website with good SEO puts your business at the front of the line for users to view.
A website with good local SEO has several components. First, you need well-written, relevant content with a local focus. Second, you need to “check all the boxes” with Google, Bing and Yahoo and get your business information properly registered with them. Finally, you need to be sure your website has all the elements of traditional SEO with good link usage, structured data, and organic review signals as well as good social signals from other websites.
