Whether you have been in business for years or just starting out, local search engine optimization (SEO) for your business is a staple of any modern business marketing strategy.
Local SEO has tons of items and metrics to manage, but a select set of key components consistently rise to the top of the list. Here are Boot Digital’s 15 top considerations for optimizing your local business’s online presence:
1. Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) Optimization:
Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile, ensuring accurate and up-to-date information about your business, such as address, phone number, website, and business hours. You can also send business updates, offer coupons and discount codes, and request reviews.
2. NAP Consistency:
Ensure consistency in your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) across all online platforms, including your website, directories, social media profiles, and citations. An easy way to quickly do this across the board is a paid service called YEXT, who Boot Digital partners with for access and discounts.
3. Local Keyword Research:
Conduct keyword research to identify relevant local keywords that potential customers might use when searching for your products or services in your target city or region. This is a great way to find out what people are searching for and how they view your business online, and should be checked and updated on a regular basis.
Simple Definitions: Keyword Research
Keyword research for SEO is like detective work for your website. It’s the process of finding the words and phrases people use when searching online, so you can optimize your website with those keywords and show up in search results when people are looking for what you offer.
4. On-Page Optimization:
Optimize your website’s meta tags, headings, content, and URLs with local keywords to improve visibility in local search results. Not everything in SEO is about keywords and content. These “under the hood” optimizations are key to a truly successful SEO strategy.
5. Local Content Creation:
Create informative and engaging content that caters to your local audience. Include location-specific keywords and address local topics and interests. This truly is one of the primary backbones of local SEO. To be a leader in your business you must have the content to back it up.
6. Online Reviews and Ratings:
Encourage customers to leave reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, and industry-specific review sites. Respond to reviews promptly, both positive and negative, to show your engagement. This is something that major search engines like Google scrutinize heavily. A couple of reviews without replies – even with 5 stars – won’t deliver the lift that lots of reviews with varying scores and replies can garner.
7. Local Link Building:
Connect with other local businesses to acquire high-quality backlinks from their websites and authoritative directories. This can boost your local search rankings and increase your website’s authority. It’s not easy to get someone from another site to link to yours, but if you’re creating quality content with your local area in mind, you can greatly improve your chances.
8. Mobile Optimization:
Optimize your website for mobile devices, as a large portion of local searches are conducted on smartphones. Ensure your website loads quickly and provides a seamless user experience on mobile. Most websites today are mobile-friendly, but this is something every business should check on. Your website may be viewable on mobile but loads slowly. This should be corrected with other website optimizations.
10. Location Pages:
If your business has multiple locations, create separate location pages on your website to provide specific information for each location, including addresses, contact details, business hours, and unique content.
11. Schema Markup:
Implement schema markup on your website to provide search engines with structured data about your business, such as address, phone number, opening hours, reviews, and more. This can enhance your visibility in search results. Another “under the hood” optimization, this key website markup can pay SEO dividends when implemented correctly.
12. Local Social Media Presence:
Maintain an active presence on social media platforms that are popular in your target local area. Engage with your audience, share local content, and promote your business through social media posts. While posting on many different platforms is ideal, YouTube and TikTok posts provide high visibility and local search engine optimization on result pages.
13. Online Reputation Management:
Monitor and manage your online reputation by responding to customer reviews and comments promptly. Address any negative feedback in a professional and customer-centric manner. Keeping tabs on your business’s online reputation is more important than ever, and clients of Boot Digital receive seamless reputation management services each and every month.
14. Local Events and Community Involvement:
Participate in local events, sponsor community initiatives, and engage in local charities or organizations. This not only helps build goodwill but can also generate local publicity and backlinks.
Online Maps and Navigation:
Ensure your business is listed accurately on popular online maps and navigation services, such as Google Maps, Apple Maps, and Waze. Verify your business location and provide accurate directions.
15. Analytics and Tracking:
Implement website analytics tools, such as Google Analytics, to track and measure the effectiveness of your local SEO efforts. Monitor key metrics like organic search traffic, conversion rates, and user engagement.
Remember that local search engine optimization is an ongoing process, and it’s important to continuously monitor and adjust your strategies based on performance and changes in the local search landscape.
If you care about your local business being seen online, be sure to take time to learn and implement these top tips for staying relevant in your home market. And if you want the results but don’t have the time or desire to do these necessary things yourself, connect with us at Boot Digital to be your trusted partner for local SEO services. Our partnerships and resources make it easy so you can focus on doing what you love.