Introduction
Local SEO is a biggie for any small business that wants to grab the attention of nearby customers. Whether it’s your neighbourhood café, boutique, or plumbing service, the right local SEO helps you stand out in search results, making it easier for customers to find you without scrolling. Here’s a guide to some essential local SEO tips to get your business seen by the right crowd.
Essential Tips for a Solid Local SEO Strategy
1. Amp Up Your Google My Business Profile
Think of your Google My Business (GMB) profile as the online shopfront of your business. It’s often the first thing people see when they search for businesses like yours on Google Maps or Search.
- Claim and Verify: Claim your business on GMB and verify it. Google’s more likely to push your profile up if you’re verified.
- Fill in Every Detail: Make sure your business name, hours, contact details, and address are spot-on. Don’t forget categories and photos too—these help people understand what you’re all about.
- Keep It Fresh: Post updates to keep your profile active. Whether it’s a new special, upcoming event, or a seasonal change in hours, updates show your business is alive and kicking.
A polished, updated GMB profile builds trust and makes you look way more professional.
2. Encourage and Engage With Reviews
Good reviews build credibility and show potential customers you’re the real deal.
- Ask for Reviews: Ask happy customers to leave a review, and make it easy by sharing a link to your Google review page.
- Engage With Feedback: Respond to all reviews, positive or negative. A simple “Thanks for the feedback!” or “We’ll fix that right up” goes a long way.
- Share the Love: Don’t be shy about showing off your top reviews on social media. This not only builds trust but encourages more customers to leave feedback.
Solid reviews can give your SEO a boost and make your business more appealing.
3. Use Local SEO Keywords on Your Site
Local keywords help Google know where you’re based, so make sure they’re in your website’s key spots.
- Localise Your Keywords: Use your city, suburb, or region naturally in titles, descriptions, headers, and even your content. It makes your site relevant to local searches, like “Christchurch café” instead of just “café.”
- Add a Local Touch: Blog posts about local events or news can help tie your business to your community and boost your SEO.
- Consistent Contact Info: Make sure your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across your site and everywhere online.
Adding local keywords builds trust with Google, and it’ll put you in front of the people closest to you.
4. Stay Consistent Across Local Listings
Every time your business is mentioned online (like in directories), it’s called a local citation. Keeping these citations consistent is key for good local SEO.
- List Your Business: Make sure your business is on key directories like Yelp, Yellow Pages, and even smaller local directories.
- Update Regularly: Any time there’s a change to your hours, location, or contact info, update every directory.
- Be Consistent with NAP: Even small variations (like “St” vs. “Street”) can mess with your rankings, so keep it consistent.
Keeping local listings consistent not only helps SEO but also builds trust with customers.
5. Get Local SEO Backlinks
Backlinks from other local sites tell Google you’re a trusted part of your community.
- Work with Local Businesses: Build relationships with other businesses in your area. Mention each other on your websites—it’s great for mutual promotion.
- Sponsor Local Events: Events often have sponsors listed on their sites, so sponsoring something local can get you a quality backlink.
- Local Influencers: Connect with local bloggers or influencers. A mention on their site or social can boost your reach and bring credibility.
Backlinks from trusted, local sites help Google recognise your business as a community go-to.
Using schema markup helps you stand out in search results with extra info, making your business that much more attractive.
Best Practices to Keep Your Local SEO Fresh
Make Sure You’re Mobile-Optimised for Your Local SEO
Loads of local searches happen on mobile, so your site should be mobile optimised. Keep your site loading quickly, text easy to read, and navigation simple so visitors have a smooth experience.
Keep an Eye on Your SEO Performance
Use Google My Business Insights and Google Analytics to track what’s working in your local SEO game. It’ll give you insights into who’s visiting your site, what pages they’re loving, and how they’re finding you. Checking these metrics regularly helps you adapt and improve.
Wrap-Up
Honestly though, nailing local SEO goes beyond optimising your GMB or building links. It comes down to connecting with your community and showing search engines why you’re the local favourite. From customer reviews to schema markup, these tips will help your business stand out to local customers and keep them coming back.
Want to boost your local and e-commerce SEO? Kickstart Digital’s experts are here to provide SEO tailored solutions to get you seen. Contact SEO experts today for a strategy that fits your biz!
