Benefits of Local SEO

Search Engine Optimization (SEO)…What is it?  Should small, local business look into a SEO strategy?  In short SEO is the process of increasing the quality and quantity of website traffic through unpaid or organic search results.  The implementation can be a bit technical and complex but this should not cause the small business owners to ignore this very powerful digital marketing strategy.

Local SEO specifically focuses on appearing in the organic search results for products and services in your geographic region and is used to create a better local online presence.  Almost every business will find that local SEO is beneficial, especially those businesses that rely on a local customer base. 

Higher Rankings – Optimizing for local keywords will result in higher rankings because you have less competition for those keywords. For example, if you are a roofer in Millstone, NJ terms like “roofer” or “roofer in NJ” would be much more competitive and not as targeted as “roof repair in Millstone” or “roofer Millstone”.   The objective of a well planned, local SEO strategy is to get your business in front of those local prospects searching for your services. 

Pay Less for Digital Advertisements – Search Engines or certain websites may charge a lot for targeted traffic.  Although paid advertising can be very beneficial many small business owners are unable to compete with companies with very large paid ad budgets.  

Connect with Customers – If you want to build relationships with your customers – which of course you do! – taking a local focus is highly effective. Use social media to your advantage and post things related to your community. People take a lot of pride in their communities, and they are more likely to buy a product from those they feel loyalty and trust to.

There are numerous factors that go into a successful SEO plan.  However here are a few tips for getting your local SEO strategy started:

• Google MyBusiness Profile –  Create or claim your Google MyBusiness profile. It’s pretty straight forward and does not cost anything to claim and edit.
• Local Citations – A local citation is any online mention of the name, address, and phone number, or NAP, for a local business. Citations can occur on local business directories, websites or on social platforms. Be sure that the NAP is exactly the same across all digital properties.
• Reviews – A few honest reviews from real customers go a long way. Review quality and quantity has been said to be one of Google’s most important local ranking factors.

Do you need help getting your local SEO on the right track? Contact 4Site Media to schedule a free consultation and start generating local business.