Local Search Engine Optimization Tips for Businesses in 2024
In today’s digital world, a business must ensure that it stands out online, driving traffic and boosting sales. As we move through 2024, local search engine optimization (SEO) continues to evolve, presenting new opportunities and challenges for business owners.
Whether you run a cozy café, a bustling retail store, or are a niche service provider, optimizing your online presence can significantly increase opportunities to attract local customers.
What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the practice of enhancing both the quality and quantity of website traffic by improving a site’s visibility to users of web search engines. SEO focuses on optimizing unpaid search results, aiming to boost organic traffic without relying on paid advertising.
SEO Statistics to Keep in Mind:
- 4 in 5 consumers conduct searches with local intent on search engines (Google)
- 76% of consumers who search for “near me” visit a business within a day (Google)
- 88% of individuals who use a smartphone for a local search visit related stores within a week (Google)
- Local mobile searches with a variant of “can I buy” or “to buy” have increased by 500% over the past 2 years (Google)
- 46% of Google searches have local intent (Search Engine Roundtable)
- Around 2 in 10 local searches on a smartphone led to a purchase within a day (Google)
5 SEO Tips for Your Local Business
Here are five actionable SEO tips that can be implemented right now to enhance your local visibility, attract more clients, and stay ahead of the competition in your community. Let’s dive into these strategies and set your business up for local SEO success!
SEO TIP #1: Optimize Your Website
Website optimization is usually the first place to start when working to get better search engine results for your business. SEO experts agree that the number one contributing factor to how Google ranks your website is based on content. Creating quality content is paramount. Use clear concise text, quality images, good spelling and grammar, and an easy-to-navigate experience for the user.
A website with optimized page titles, headings and meta tags formulated to include your target keywords will see greater search engine success than those without an effective SEO strategy.
PROtip: Ensure your images have titles and ALT tags that make use of relevant keywords.
Lastly, when crafting content consider the accessible feature of VOICE SEARCH. With more people using accessible features on their devices, such as voice search, we recommend the creation of headlines that reflect search terms. Craft these headlines in the same manner that you might search for the information. For example; What is digital marketing? Or, How to create the best blog headings?
SEO TIP #2: Optimize Your Social Media Profiles
#DYK search engines crawl and index social media profiles? Optimizing social media profiles across platforms can assist your business with better SEO results. Social media profiles index best with the use of targeted keywords.
What search term do you want your business to rank for? Identify the keywords you want to be found for, and use those words in your social media bios. Furthermore, there is a benefit to using your target keywords within your social media posts, and hashtags.
PROtip: Pinterest profiles and boards are highly indexed by Google. If there is a keyword you want more traction with add it to your Pinterest profile and boards.
SEO TIP #3: Use Local Directories
Local online business directories are an amazing option! Directories such as Google Business Profile and Yelp help to spread awareness and are highly recognized by search engines.
Local directories have a larger benefit – if they include a backlink to your website. Local online directories such as the Yellow Pages, and the Better Business Bureau offer free and paid options to create backlinks.
PROtip: Yelp has great SEO visibility. Setting up a profile on Yelp can really help with your business’ ranking and discoverability.
What is a Backlink?
A backlink is a hyperlink from one website to another. Backlinks are valuable in SEO because they act as an online “vote of confidence” and quality backlinks are highly favoured by Google.
RELATED ARTICLE: Using Backlinks To Skyrocket Your Business’s Growth
SEO TIP #4: Add a Blog to your Website
Incorporating a blog into your website adds fresh content for your audience. Newly added content is also highly favoured by search engines. A strategic blog post that uses your target keywords benefits your website’s searchability.
When creating blogs optimized for SEO, use your target keywords in the blog’s title, graphic ALT tags, meta tags and within the body of the blog itself.
SEO TIP #5: Claim and Optimize Google My Business
Google My Business (GMB) is a platform that helps entrepreneurs manage their business on Google and, is likely, the most important part of your local SEO strategy.
GMB delivers powerful insights which show how many people have found your business online and what actions they have taken while visiting your website. For example, business owners can see how many people using mobile devices searched for and found your business. These insights also include visitor action taken, such as asking for directions to your location!
All in all, businesses must claim, verify and optimize their profile and update it as necessary. This is especially important when communicating business operation hours and boasting business reviews to the public.
PROtip: Add high-quality photos to your GMB Profile. Original photos (not stock photos) garner enormous search results.
How Does Your Business Appear on Search Results?
To ensure your business gains a competitive advantage, it must be positioned on page one of relevant local search terms. Being found on page one of Google will improve website traffic, sales, and ultimately your bottom line.
That said, SEO is an ongoing effort that continually strives to improve and maintain the visibility of your business in search engine results.
FREE PINTEREST RESOURCES – SEO TIPS & RESOURCES
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At Wild Mango Marketing, we develop custom digital marketing strategies to ensure your brand gains visibility, connects with your target audience, attracts quality leads, and boosts conversion rates.
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