Did you know that 46% of the searches on Google are local searches? This means that nearly half of Google searches are looking for products, services, or other information about a specific area.
When you think about it, that makes a lot of sense. If you were looking to hire a lawyer or a plumber in your area, there’s a good chance you would head to Google and look for services “near me.”
As a business with a local target audience, you can use this to your advantage. By implementing local SEO strategies, you can help increase traffic, boost sales, and build relationships with repeat customers.
Are you wondering how to improve your local SEO? Let’s take a look at what you need to know.
What Are the Benefits of Local SEO?
Most small businesses rely on local customers in order to thrive and grow. However, when you start a website for your company, you are ultimately competing with the rest of the internet for attention and traffic. When you focus your SEO on local markets, it makes you a big fish in a small pond rather than vice versa.
There are a lot of compelling benefits when you employ local SEO for small businesses, including:
- Improving online visibility
- Helping to build a local community
- Obtaining more relevant traffic
- Gaining local repeat customers
- Building authority and trust
- Increasing sales
- Reducing ad costs
When you improve your local SEO, it helps to build your brand and helps you gain new loyal customers in your local market.
What Types of Business Need Local SEO?
Now that we’ve looked at the benefits of having a local SEO strategy, you might be wondering whether this tactic is really necessary for your business. In short, any business that has a local target audience can gain from local SEO.
Some examples of businesses for whom local SEO can be beneficial include:
- Law offices
- Medical services
- Bars and restaurants
- Plumbing services
- Automotive
- Realtors
- Landscapers
- Brick and mortar retail shops
- Real Estate
Utilizing local SEO strategies can help you connect with your target audience. Any business that has a local customer base can benefit from implementing these tactics.
How to Improve Your Local SEO
Improving your local SEO results from implementing a number of different SEO strategies. Let’s dive into the specific tactics you can use to boost your position in local search results.
Optimize for Google My Business
Setting up and optimizing your Google My Business page is the first step to local SEO optimization. Not only will you want to create and verify your page, but you’ll also want to encourage customer engagement in the form of reviews. Responding to reviews authentically can also help boost your local SEO.
Optimize Online Directories
Getting your business listed on online directories can help drive traffic to your site. To help boost your local SEO, you’ll want to make sure that there aren’t any discrepancies in the information listed on these directories.
Ensure Consistency in Your Contact Info
Both search engines and people can find you easier when your contact information is correct and consistent. Make sure that your name, address, and phone number are included as crawlable HTML text.
Create Local Content
Having a blog is now a standard SEO tactic that garners real results. When you are appealing to a local audience, creating location-specific content can help you climb in local search results.
Have a Mobile-Friendly Website
61% of Google searches are performed on mobile phones these days. This means that having a mobile-friendly website is essential for any business. This is particularly true for local businesses, as your customers might be searching for your info when they’re already out of the house.
These are some of the simplest and most accessible ways to boost your local SEO. Other considerations include getting authoritative inbound links and improving your internal linking structure.
Is It Time for You to Improve Your Local SEO?
Are you searching for the best SEO services in Jacksonville, FL? If so, you’ve come to the right place. At Split Reef, our team of experts will help your site rank higher in relevant local search results. This means that when potential customers are searching for a solution to a problem you can solve, they will find you rather than your competitors.
If it’s time for you to increase your visibility to your local market and boost your sales, get a free quote from us today.
Split Reef is a modern, results-driven digital organization always ready to support clients in their search for digital supremacy. With Split Reef, your budget isn’t going to hold you back from partnering with us to make your project successful. Our offices are located in Columbus, Ohio and Jacksonville, Florida.
