For businesses wanting to get local customers online, it’s important to do local SEO. This means ensuring your business shows up when people in your area search online for your offer. Lots of businesses are working hard on local SEO. If you don’t do it too, your competitors might get customers who could have chosen you.
Local SEO became even more important when Google launched Pigeon in July 2014 (in the U.S.). Pigeon helps Google understand local searches better. So now, when you search for “coaching services,” Google shows you nearby coaching services first, not just general results.
If this doesn’t convince you to start working on your local SEO right now, then maybe the following data will:
- In the last year, 92% of consumers searched for local businesses via an online search.
- Some regions have put an end to door-to-door delivery of yellow pages, following a serious decline in distribution.
- Following the launch of the Pigeon, many websites found their SERP rankings lowered in favor of local directories like TripAdvisor and Yelp.
- Google Maps’ guidelines for local pages now reflect the algorithm changes.
- For some categories, you will no longer see the local carousel of images in SERPs, as it has been replaced with more relevant information and such advanced options as the ability to book a hotel room right from the results page.
Besides these facts, the benefits offered by local SEO should definitely convince you to launch your local SEO campaign as soon as possible. Among other things, a successful local SEO campaign can:
- Generate traffic to both your website and the business itself
- Gain brand recognition and establish authority
- Increase your conversions as a result of more targeted traffic
- Provide you with higher ROI, as a locally optimized site typically offers more value to the business
Now you might see why it’s important to include local SEO in your online marketing plan. But remember, local SEO can be a bit tricky. Things like where your business is and where people are searching can affect it. Luckily, there are things you can do to make sure your local SEO works well.
Google My Business
Many people say Google+ is dead, but these people say that about SEO as well and we know local SEO is far from dead, right? The truth about Google+ is that some features, like Google Business Profile, still make it into search results when local searches are done. It therefore pays to optimize your Google My Business page. The best way to do this is to make sure the page is completed according to the guidelines set by Google.
Make sure all the info you provide is up-to-date. Choose the right categories for your coaching services, write custom descriptions, add pictures, and claim a unique URL. Remember, this info will show up as a short description on search results, so it should accurately represent your coaching business.
It’s also good to confirm your business info like your email and website to show you’re legit. You might also add your neighborhood name after your business name. For example, if your service is Rainbow Coaching in the Upper East Side (Manhattan), you could put “Rainbow Coaching Upper East Side” in Google My Business.
NAP
A crucial part of local SEO is getting your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) listed on other websites like online directories and local sites. Every time your business is mentioned online, it’s called a citation. The more citations you have, the better your local SEO is likely to be. It’s also smart to include your website address when listing your business on these sites.
But just listing your NAP and website isn’t enough. It’s even more important to make sure all the info you provide on these sites is correct and consistent everywhere online. Keep your info updated on all sites. If your business moves, update your address on all your listings to match what’s on your official website.
Reviews
Even in today’s digital world, word-of-mouth is still a powerful marketing tool. But now, it’s not just about people talking face-to-face; it’s also happening online. That’s where social media comes in.
Social media sites are places where people chat and share online. When people say good things about your brand on social media, it’s like digital word-of-mouth. Being active on social media and interacting with your followers can help spread the word about your brand and attract more customers, just like traditional word-of-mouth does.
When you get reviews, both good and bad, respond calmly and respectfully. This shows you care about your customers’ opinions and feelings. If you handle reviews this way, you’ll probably get more positive ones. Even if someone has a problem with your products, they’ll still feel good about your brand because of your good customer service.
For local SEO, social media platforms are more important than your business website. Your website might have all the info, but sites like Facebook, Yelp, and TripAdvisor are where customers share their experiences and feelings. Focus on making your social media profiles local and encourage people to comment and leave reviews there.
Schema Markup
Schema is like a special code you put on your website to tell search engines more about what your pages are about. You can use schema to make sure search engines know the right details about your business location and contact info. One easy way to do this is by using the MicroData Generator. You just need to confirm your business type and contact info there, and it’ll create the code for you. Then, you can ask your web developer to add this code to your website.
Responsive Website
The rise in local SEO’s importance is closely linked to the surge in mobile searches. More people are using their phones to search online, and a big chunk of those searches lead to purchases. That’s why Google has been pushing businesses to make their websites mobile-friendly. Just recently, Google updated its algorithm to consider mobile-friendliness even more. If your site isn’t mobile-friendly yet, it’s time to act.
If you’re not sure if your site works well on mobile, you can test it on sites like MobileTest.me. If it doesn’t look good or takes too long to load on a phone, it’s time for a redesign. You can either make your current site mobile-friendly or create a separate mobile site. Talk to your web developer to figure out which option is best for you.
Regular SEO techniques are still important for your content, even if you’re focusing on local SEO. You just need to tweak your strategy to include local optimization techniques. The good news is, these tips are pretty easy to follow. So, don’t wait any longer—start improving your local search visibility today!
Staying Up to Date with Local SEO Trends
Staying up to date with local SEO trends means keeping track of the latest changes that affect how your business shows up when people search for it in your area. It’s like staying in the know so you can make sure your business stays visible to local customers who search online.
You can stay updated by reading blogs, websites, and forums that talk about local SEO news and tips. You can also attend online or in-person events that focus on local SEO to learn from experts.
It’s also helpful to keep an eye on what your competitors are doing. If you see a competitor ranking higher in local search results, they might be using new strategies you can try too.
Checking how your own website is doing in local search results using tools like Google Analytics can also give you insights. You can see how people find and use your website, and make changes to improve your local SEO based on what you learn.
Lastly, don’t be afraid to try new things. Local SEO is always changing, so experimenting with different tactics can help you figure out what works best for your business. Being curious and flexible can help your business stay competitive in local search results now and in the future.
Conclusion
Learning about local SEO can help your business get noticed more online and attract more local customers. By following the steps in this beginner’s guide, you’ve figured out how to make your website better, create interesting stuff for people to read, and use online directories and reviews to make more people aware of your business locally.
Just keep at it and be patient – good things take time!
Keep checking how things are going, changing what you need to, and keeping up with what’s new online. With practice and hard work, your business can do well in local searches, bringing more people to your shop or website. So, take what you’ve learned and put it into action to make your business stand out in your area and grow even more.