SEO for Local Business
Why It’s Important to Your Company –
You have probably heard digital marketing experts talk about SEO for local business. We talk about it all the time here at Webtek. This is not without reason. It is not that we need a topic to discuss and cannot think of anything more interesting. No, we talk about SEO for local search because it’s critically important to almost every small business.
Needless to say, you are shortchanging yourself if local SEO is not part of your digital marketing strategy. Without a focus on local, you may be missing out on a whole new set of customers that would otherwise help you beat the competition.
The Top 2 Reasons to Focus on Local
Local SEO is not just a way for companies like Webtek to increase revenues. It actually matters. Why? Check out the following two reasons:
1. Nearly Half of All Searches Are Local
2020 data shows that nearly 46% of all Google searches are local. And even though Google clearly owns the search space, internet users use other search engines too. They search locally on Bing, Yahoo!, and other platforms. If your site isn’t optimized for local, you may be missing half of the traffic that would otherwise be directed to your site.
If you don’t think this is important, consider this: some 88% of internet users who do a local search on their smartphones either visit or call one of the businesses they found within a day. Did you get that? The vast majority of local searches result in quantifiable action within 24 hours.
2. Few Businesses Start Globally
The second reason to focus on local is the simple fact that few businesses start out operating on a global level. Nearly every successful business starts as a local business serving local customers. If you ever want to expand beyond the small footprint you currently operate in, you have to grow from the inside out. That means expanding your local customer base first.
How to Optimize for Local
Now that you know why local SEO is so important for small business, you are probably wondering how to optimize your site accordingly. Well, there isn’t just one method or strategy. There are multiple things you can do to improve your results in local searches.
The first and easiest thing to do is claim your Google My Business listing. Google owns the lion’s share of the search market. That makes the My Business listing the anchor of successful local SEO. If you don’t know how to claim your listing, we can help or you can go right to the Google My Business page.
Other things you can do to optimize for local search include:
- Ensuring your site is mobile friendly
- Taking advantage of Google snack packs
- Utilizing local-friendly keywords, including your location
- Utilizing service in location (SiL) references
- Checking local business listings for accuracy
- Researching competitor keywords
- Using your blog to promote local interests.
Needless to say, a lot goes into successful local searches. You may determine that it’s too much for you and your staff. No worries. That’s why Webtek Digital Marketing exists. This is the stuff we do for a living. It gives us a reason to get up in the morning.
At the end of the day, local SEO is critical to nearly every small business. If you are not succeeding locally, the chances of your company expanding regionally, nationally, and even globally are slim to none. Remember that all business is local at its roots. That’s why local SEO is so important to your company’s success.
