Local Search Engine Optimization for Small Businesses
The term search engine optimization (SEO) can be intimidating, especially when you’re trying to optimize your small business website. But it doesn’t have to be scary; SEO really boils down to just one simple principle, and with the right resources, you can master local SEO for small businesses in no time at all.
1) Why is local SEO so important?
A business website, no matter how big or small, is one of your most powerful tools to generate revenue. Therefore, it’s important to invest time and effort into making sure it ranks highly on local search results. People looking for a product or service near them are more likely to make a purchase than those outside their area. According to Neil Patel, who wrote an eBook about local SEO , local leads convert 3x better than national leads. However, with mobile searches on the rise and people using GPS more frequently when they’re on-the-go (77% use their phones to look up information offline), there has never been a better time for optimizing your business website’s presence online. Here are some tips that will ensure you receive relevant traffic from a variety of sources.
2) What Should I Do Before Creating My Website?
Before you dive in, here are a few things to consider:
- What type of business will your website focus on?
- Who is your audience?
- How much time do you have available to dedicate to content creation and maintenance?
- Are you looking to earn revenue from your website, or is it more of a brand-building exercise? After answering these questions, you’ll know whether it makes sense to create a new domain name or if a sub-domain would suffice.
3) Keyword Research
Keyword research is perhaps one of most important parts of search engine optimization. If you don’t know what terms to target, your business might as well not exist on Google or any other search engine. You want to choose keywords that are relevant to your business and that people are actually searching for. Researching keywords isn’t just about finding words people use when they’re trying to find a service like yours; it can also uncover new markets you didn’t even realize existed.
4) On-page SEO
On-page SEO is just what it sounds like – search engine optimization done on your website itself. It’s a great place to start if you want to make sure that your business website has all of its fundamentals in order. The best way to get started with on-page SEO is by figuring out exactly how you want people to find your business and then by using specific keywords, phrases, and titles/headers that allow Google and other search engines to crawl and read through your pages easily.
5) Proximity to Major Cities
For Local SEO it is recommended to get your business listed on search engines in cities where your target customers are likely to be located. If you sell toys, therefore, you’ll want to make sure your product is represented in search results when someone searches for toys. You can do that by providing local content, such as news and event information if it pertains to where your audience is located. Furthermore, optimizing a website with content targeted toward location will help online searches bring up your business at or near the top of their results pages. Location-based keywords should be incorporated into relevant web pages because it gives consumers what they want: quick access to businesses nearby them. Doing so will give visibility and enable prospective customers to see who your organization is as well as what you offer. Keep in mind not all cities have high volumes of traffic but also ensure competitors are not utilizing those city terms within their website copy either.
… Finally, if you’re looking to jumpstart your business and try local SEO first, here are a few things you can do.
First, make sure your business is registered with Google My Business; it will help get you found in searches. Next, sign up for some free tools that can optimize your presence on search engines like Google ; you’ll want to see how many people are searching for your product or service, which keywords they use most often and what companies rank highest among these results.This information helps you tailor your online content so potential customers know right away that you offer exactly what they need—and it helps ensure your small business shows up higher than all those big guys.