Optimization for Local Search
What is Local SEO?
Local SEO is a type of search engine optimization that improves the visibility of your website in local searches. This optimization involves optimizing your site’s content and links to boost its rankings in local search results. You can also enhance your visibility by creating and optimizing a local landing page for your business. Increasing your rank in local search can lead to more conversions and customers, so optimizing your online presence is essential to any successful local SEO strategy.
Local SEO aims to optimize your website’s digital footprint, including your name, address, and phone number (NAP), as well as your social media accounts. In addition to improving your website’s search visibility, it can help you engage with the local community and create a recognizable brand image. Keeping your NAP consistent across your website, social networks, and other marketing materials is essential to Google.
It’s no secret that mobile internet access has skyrocketed in recent years, and it’s also become an increasingly important part of any local SEO strategy. Over 30% of all mobile searches are related to location, and more than half of all searches for local information result in a visit to a local store within a day.
One of the most common questions businesses ask is, “What is local SEO?” Local SEO is increasing your business’s visibility through online and offline tactics. The result is that more people will see your website and learn more about your services and products.
Local SEO uses many techniques, including keyword research, link building, local directory submissions, and content optimization. Each can positively or negatively affect your local search results. Combining all these factors is critical to successfully implementing a local SEO strategy.
The main goal of local SEO is to ensure that the business’s information is accurate and up-to-date on all relevant websites. Keeping this information updated is essential to gain more local customers.
In addition to local business directories, several other sites can be valuable sources of information for local businesses. These include industry-related and local authority sites. Adding your NAP to your local authority site and linking to your website can boost your profile’s authority and significance. Another great way to get quality backlinks is to collaborate with local business owners and trade associations.
Despite all the efforts involved in a local SEO campaign, it’s crucial to remember that it is still a two-way street. If you don’t provide users with the information they are looking for, you won’t be able to reach them in the first place. Therefore, you must be receptive to customer inquiries and respond to reviews professionally and promptly.
While it isn’t always possible to rank at the top of the local pack, your efforts can help your business attract new customers. A local landing page is a good option for a multi-location business. Numerous tools, such as the Google Keyword Planner, also help you monitor your website’s performance.
The internet is fantastic; it takes the World Wide Web and makes it as accessible as the store down the street. But there is great value and power in shopping local and supporting your home community. Likewise, a business must have a dynamic presence within its zip code and on the internet. Regarding local SEO, you must optimize your on-site and off-site SEO strategies for clients and customers searching for your local business. Regional competition is fierce, and if you’re not on top of your rankings, you can bet your competitors will be.
You will first want to establish that you are who you say you are and that you are located where you are. Include the name of the city your business is in and the area your business serves. Opt for a local phone number. List your company’s local phone number instead of a toll-free number. Google prefers to see a local number that is consistent with your location. Avoiding errors or accidental eliminations like misspellings, abbreviations, lack of suite numbers,s and wrong phone numbers can cause Google to have problems determining which information about your business is correct. They may display incorrect information or not show your company in the search results. Be sure that any local directory listings include the same local knowledge you provide on your website. If the information is not uniform, you jeopardize your local web presence. Continuity is key!
Keywords are vital. Who are you and what are you doing? Focus on using one targeted keyword and carefully place that keyword as close to the beginning of your listing/tag as possible. Remember, if your business shows up in the search results, you have one shot to get that person to click on your link. Don’t blow it by wasting characters that won’t help convince a searcher you’re worth looking at.
Local businesses need to claim their place on the Google My Business page. It’s free and can garner excellent exposure if you’re optimized enough to show up in Google’s local listings. Google wants to confirm that your business is legitimate and that you are the business owner. Please note that according to Google’s terms of service, only the business owner can claim a Google My Business page.
If you have a presence on Facebook or other social media, don’t forget to give these your attention. Many people turn to social media, relying on friends and family for referrals and opinions on a business. A good review on your business’s Facebook page can help draw prospective customers. Positive reviews on your Google My Business page are fundamental, as these reviews show up on Google when someone searches for your business.
Once your site has been located, you must provide engaging, educational content with attractive images and videos about your business. Search engines rank websites based on content. Therefore, you must develop strategies to build content that Google loves. The more engaging content you include, the more likely search engines will refer traffic and leads to your business.
You are the best at what you do, right? Give your customers a forum to let the world know it! One of the most important aspects of having a strong identity on Google is the ability for customers and fans to submit reviews about your business. Reviews, particularly those submitted via Google, are a primary factor in Google’s local blended search algorithm.
Lastly, be mindful of your links. Link building continues to be a primary factor Google considers when ranking businesses for local search. Even a few high-quality backlinks can make a huge difference in getting your business ranked in local search, bolstering your reputation within your community, and establishing you as a leading authority in your industry.
Google Business Profile
What is Google Business Profile?
A Google Business Profile is a good way to boost your business’s visibility online and offline. The profile is a combined account that allows you to add photos and information about your company and respond to customer reviews. You can also add a web page to your business’s Google profile, making your most crucial contact information more accessible. This is an excellent way to increase your business’s visibility and get more visitors to your website.
It’s easy to set up a Google Business Profile and it’s free. But to get the most out of your profile, you should optimize it for maximum results. To do this, you’ll need to update the most basic information about your business and add any special attributes that will help it stand out from the rest. For example, if you’re running a window tinting company, you may want to add a photo of your product portfolio.
If you want to improve your chances of being found on Google, you’ll want to pay attention to the site’s other features, like Map Pack and local listings. These may not directly impact your search rankings but help your business stand out. Another great feature is the Google Business Profile Manager, which lets you update your profile without logging into your Google account.
The main point of the Google Business Profile is to help you market your business. The best way to do this is to fill out as much information about your business as possible. By doing so, you’ll be able to provide your potential customers with all the facts about your business, without wasting time sifting through a cluttered list of results.
One of the most interesting aspects of the Google Business Profile is its link to your branded website. While this might seem trivial, it’s an invaluable marketing tool. When someone searches for your company, your listing is instantly displayed in the right-hand sidebar of the search results page. This helps to increase the likelihood that your customers will find your site and become your customers.
Another nice thing about the Google Business Profile is that it’s a reputable source of information about your business. Not only will your potential customers be able to learn about your company, but they can also verify your business. They can verify your phone number or mail you a verification code.
Optimizing your Google Business Profile can help increase your business’s online and offline visibility. While most people use Google to look for products or services, your business can use the profile to inform customers and engage them with your brand.
While a Google Business Profile is not necessary for every type of business, it’s a great way to attract new visitors and keep old ones coming back.
Your business’s online presence must be Search Engine Optimized to generate new leads. However, achieving organic search success is an ongoing battle, and Google’s business listing tools have not made it easy for SMEs.
There have been many confusing name changes (Google Local, Google+ Local, Maps Listing, Google My Business), and new versions come with new information requirements. The latest and greatest is Google My Business (GMB), it is free for any business to claim their listing. It allows you to create a business profile that includes a Google Maps listing and appears in search results when customers use a relevant search term with a location keyword.
Google’s consumer research shows that over 70 percent of those searching for a local store’s business hours, address, and operating hours via smartphone visit the same day.GMB is an efficient way for customers to find all this information. It does take a bit of effort to get it correctly, though. Here are some tips to help you:
Ensuring Your Location Is Correct
When a prospect or customer searches online, Google displays the business listings closest to them. Your sales can be boosted by simply specifying your address. The “near me” function on mobile devices is being used more than ever before, within browsers, map apps, Siri, etc. Ensuring your business is properly set up in Google My Business with the exact location is essential to your company’s survival.
Correctly Specify Your Opening/Closing Hours
Think about how often you’ve quickly googled a shop to check their last-minute hours while running other errands. The same applies to your potential customers, especially if you run a business with stores in many locations that operate at different hours; this is incredibly important to get right. Google My Business lets you set operating times per location, allowing you to edit for any Holidays or last-minute changes easily.
Imagine how disappointing it is to arrive at a location only to discover it’s closed and that its online listing has misinformation. How reliable is a business that can’t keep its own hours up to date?
Clearly State Your Business
Reaching people already near your business location, specifically searching for your products, is achievable through GMB and local SEO. Start by tagging the correct categories within your GMB profile. The proper type can make or break rankings. Ensuring your category is accurate can help boost a business online for all relevant search terms. This is a balancing act; don’t tag every category to attract new business.
Suppose somebody comes knocking on your door looking for screen printing,g and you sell web services. In that case, this opens an opportunity to leave a less-than-satisfactory review of your business online. That said, don’t just tick one box; associate your company with as many relevant keywords as possible so that all potential customers are targeted. For example, for an Orthodontist, categories might include “Dentistry” and “Oral surgery”.
Gather Reviews
What your customers think of you is essential information. In the online world, it helps your business cut through the competition because reviews, good, bad, or mixed, contribute to your search engine rankings. Knowing the importance of reviews is one thing; soliciting customer feedback is quite another.
The process on GMB is, fortunately, relatively straightforward, essential for any customer engagement. To leave a review, all they have to do is:
Have a Google account (luckily, most people do). A Gmail address is a good start.
Google your store
Click on your GMB listing
Select Write a review
Write the review
Try it out for yourself. Once you know how it works, you’ll be able to integrate the review process with your customer relationship strategy. A well-managed profile on GMB will help create an excellent customer experience, which will, in turn, encourage positive reviews and lead to increased visibility. This could be the simplest and most productive marketing move you’ll ever make.
Why Trust Salterra Digital Services
Salterra Medical Marketing Company is a leading digital marketing agency specializing in a full suite of services designed to elevate your brand and grow your business. With a laser focus on delivering exceptional results, Salterra has cultivated a reputation for excellence in the field.
Some Recent Reviews
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Salterra is an incredible web design company. After building the site, they also helped us rank organically in the Phoenix market!
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Salterra Web Services is top-notch. Terry and Elizabeth Samuels (and their team) have strong SEO skills for every type of business. If you want to take your business to the next level, Terry Samuels and Salterra can help.
Meet the Founders: Terry and Elisabeth Samuels
Terry and Elisabeth Samuels, the founders of Salterra, have over two decades of combined experience in digital marketing. Their passion for helping businesses succeed fuels the constant innovation and top-notch service that Salterra is known for.
Terry Samuels leads Salterra’s Digital Marketing Division, which has sons Skyler and Brandon Samuels and a carefully curated staff of SEO Specialists. Elisabeth Samuels leads the Salterra Design and Development Division with her daughter Moraelin Bundy and her staff of project managers, designers, and full-stack developers.
Salterra’s Core Services:
- Search Engine Optimization: Mastering the art of search engine visibility to put your brand in the spotlight.
- PPC Advertising: Strategically leveraging paid advertising for optimal reach and ROI.
- Email Marketing: Crafting compelling email campaigns that foster engagement and drive conversions.
- Brand Building: Cultivating your brand’s voice, look, and feel for a cohesive and memorable presence.
- Content Strategy: Creating and distributing relevant content to attract a clearly defined audience.
- Social Media Branding: Engaging your community through tailored social media strategies.
- Web Design & Development: Crafting a strong UX/UI website that converts visitors into customers.
- Reputation Management: Safeguarding your brand’s reputation through active monitoring and positive engagement.
- SEO University: Teaching Agencies, Freelancers, and Small Businesses Foundational Search Engine Optimization
- SEO Spring Training Conference: Salterra hosts an annual training conference with multiple masterminds worldwide.
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