When you think of local SEO, you will most commonly think of Google positioning, which is fundamentally crucial for Search Engine Optimisation.
Even if you have a professional website and the most excellent goods or services, chances are you won’t get much traffic if you aren’t on Google’s first page.
Potential buyers will mostly begin with a Google search while looking for your goods or services online; a whopping 92.2% of users turn to Google first!
You’re losing out on crucial visitors to your website if you don’t appear on the first page of results.
So, how do you ensure that your company is on the vital first page? In our latest Growth By Design blog, we look at some tips from our local SEO experts that can help!
1. Local SEO – Keyword research
A vital step in improving your website ranking is to do Keyword Research. This involves finding out what your potential clients are searching for and how they are searching for your product or service.
Keywords are throughout your website and will include headings, content, titles, meta description, tags, and alt text; the list is long!
How do you ascertain which keywords will bring you to the top of a search?
Some free websites can help, although these can often be generic and don’t forget they are widely available worldwide.
Looking at what your competitors say is a simple but effective method, particularly if your competition ranks highly on Google.
For a professional, in-depth solution that will maximise your chances of being at the top of a Google search, you need to have access to professional software and professional marketers that can provide an in-depth analysis of your business. Fortunately, this is where Growth By Design, a local SEO agency, can help you!
2. Local SEO – Ranking for local search
Depending on the size of your business, it is vital if you are an SME that you ensure that you are ranking locally; one of the free ways to assist with this is using Google My Business to make sure you not only come up in local search results but also that you have links to your website, images, reviews and information about your company.
Local listings will appear on the first page of Google; if a location is included within the search, this is then shown within maps too.
Local search is powerful for small to medium businesses: 46% of all Google searches are looking for nearby, local businesses.
3. Local SEO – Recent and relevant content
An easy way to improve your ranking is by ensuring that your website has recent and relevant content; this can be in the form of FAQs, blogs, case studies and news articles.
Content will include the keywords as mentioned above and location; if relevant, the better quality content you produce, the better your chance of ranking higher.
4. Local SEO – Social media
Social media is a great way to promote your business, with regular updates, posts and advertising, on each of these. In addition, creating a link to relevant pages within your website and link building from trusted sources will also assist with ranking on Google.
Joining forums linked to your business industry within the social media platform is a quick and effective method to drive people to your website.
5. Local SEO – Customer reviews
Customer reviews constitute one of Google’s most significant ranking elements.
Your Google ranking will rise the more favourable reviews you receive. Customer reviews can be obtained in various methods, including
• Requesting reviews from clients and customers.
• Including a link to your Google My Business profile in your email signature.
• Offering customers an incentive for writing reviews.
• Addressing all of your reviews, both positive and negative. This demonstrates to potential clients that you are actively involved and easy to get in touch with.
There are now laws addressing the problem of fake reviews; therefore, this is now not an area that should be ignored when creating an SEO plan.
6. Local SEO – Link building, both internal and external
External links pointing to your site, as discussed, are ideal; your internal linking structure will also boost your SEO rankings, pointing to relevant pages.
It assists with website navigation, gives clear authority and ranking among the pages and helps to structure the website hierarchy.
7. Local SEO – Website optimisation
You need to ensure that you make the most of your website and optimise the content, URL, headers, tags and meta descriptions to assist with the crawlability of your website.
When it concerns content, each blog, case study, or news article you upload is a chance to have your website be crawled, focused on a search term, and thus appear higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).
In conclusion, implementing these suggestions can raise your website’s Google rating and increase website traffic. Improving SEO will make it easier for local clients to find your company. Additionally, you can demonstrate to potential clients that you are an expert in your field by providing pertinent information.
How can Growth By Design help?
Our expert local SEO services team offers a full marketing package with our own team of SEO professionals.
Our methods as a local SEO company have seen countless businesses going from ranking on page 4 or 5 of google to page one.
Our 5-point service promise we make to you is to be:
Focused
We target meaningful business results for you, not vanity metrics.
Structured
We will help you to set clear plans, deliver on activities and track results.
Clear
We will speak in your language, without jargon or technobabble!
Strategic
Our advice to you will be considered, evidenced, and goal-focused
Trustworthy
We will be a reliable, professional extension to your in-house team.
Contact us today, to see how we can elevate your website to ranking where it should be!
