Maximizing a company’s performance in terms of organic web searches is best left to companies specializing in local SEO services. But not every business can afford to pay professionals. SEO services are not cheap, and sometimes the money is just not there. Does that mean a company should abandon local SEO? Absolutely not.
Businesses that rely almost exclusively on a local audience cannot afford to ignore local SEO. So what about your business? If you are locally oriented and you cannot afford paid SEO services, do you at least have someone on staff who can manage a few tasks in-house?
Webtek Digital Marketing offers local SEO services in Salt Lake City and Austin, TX. Here are the most important things they say any small business can do to improve organic search results:
1. Manage Local Citations
Google and its competitors rely heavily on local citations to determine a business’s physical location. And of course, search engines need accurate locations to produce accurate search results. The single most important thing any small business can do to improve local SEO performance is to manage those citations.
A local citation is any mention of a small business on a third-party website. Business directories, review sites, trade group sites, etc. all offer citations. Businesses should be contacting the publishers of those websites to verify and update name, address, and phone (NAP) information. Fortunately, most business directory and review sites allow businesses to claim their profiles and update NAP online.
2. Localize Website Content
Next, companies should assign at least one staff member to localize website content. What does that mean? It means making local references on the ‘About’ and ‘Services’ pages. It means making local references in blog posts and informational articles. Most importantly, it means making sure that NAP is accurate and easily found on the site.
As far as blog posts are concerned, making references that local residents would understand is a winner. It is important to talk about things that everyone in the region knows about. It’s important to utilize local terminology as well.
3. Set Up a Google Business Profile
Google encourages companies to set up business profiles on their site. Any small business owner can do so simply by running a search on Google Business Profile. The owner creates an account, submits the information for a profile, and then waits for Google to approve it. Maintaining an approved profile informs the search engine about information that contributes to better organic search results.
4. Search Local Keywords
One of the most important factors in all organic searches is keyword selection. Ideally, business owners want their website content to utilize the same keywords internet users would rely on to search for their websites. That is why companies like Webtek make extensive use of keyword research as part of their local SEO services.
Google offers a free tool for research and keywords. There is a learning curve involved here, but it is not too steep. Once a business owner knows how to use it, researching keywords that would be attractive to local customers is pretty easy.
5. Reach Out on Social Media
Believe it or not, social media plays a big role in both SEO and driving traffic. It is in the best interests of every small business to establish a presence on the most popular social platforms and then follow up with regular posts.
Ideally, it’s best to pay for professional local SEO services if there is money in the budget. If not, businesses can employ the tips described in this post to improve organic search performance.
