Local SEO and search engine optimization (SEO) overall, as people are learning thanks to this quarantine period, is very important to the success of a business online. While there are a load of other factors including social networks and signals, websites, and paid advertising, SEO is one of the most lasting strategies. Local SEO refers to ranking on locality based keywords and utilizng things like Google My Business to show higher in the search results pages.
Google My Business
GMB (Google My Business) profiles are a must have for EVERY business, especially those with a brick and mortar location. The first thing to know about GMB is that this is how you are found on Google Maps. Being listed on Google Maps gives you a chance to possibly, organically, show above those who rank first in the actual search results. This is because when a local keyword is searched, Google will display the Paid Search Ads, then the GMB results, and then the organic search results. Google My Business displays 3 people before offering a “see more” option. These results are based on a large variety of factors just like the SERPs, however the key that I’ve found is the number of REVIEWS on the listing. As a major feature of GMB, the reviews are amazing in several ways:
- They showcase your quality of services/product for potential customers to see.
- They serve as their own SEO technique with keywords
- They boost your listing higher within Google Maps.
To give your business the best chance to be the first spot on Google My Business, you should treat it as a social media profile. It should be completely filled out, updated regularly, and every review should be responded to (good and bad). Keeping your profile fully optimized and filled out is a great way to make it easy for your customers to find information that they were looking for without hunting too hard for it. As for the SEO technique for the reviews, you should guide your happy clients on how to best help you. What I do is that I request that they mention the service(s) that they got, the location that their business is in, and what they thought was the best part. This has definitely help my rankings. You should encourage all of your happy clients to leave you a review, either through a follow up email or on your receipts. You can also offer a reward in exchange.
Local-based Keywords
Local based keywords are the best way to rank locally for your services and products. Local based keywords can be your city (Melbourne, FL Web Design), or county/providence (Brevard County SEO). The best way to find which keywords to optimize for is to use a tool such as Google Keyword Planner to determine the search frequency and the search quantity. Once you’ve determined your keywords, you want to use the keywords through your website but also have dedicated pages for them as well. The keywords should be throughout headings, titles, page descriptions, and more.
SEO takes time
The downside to SEO is that it takes time. It’s a long-haul game to get and stay at the top of the search results. Because of this, it’s important to get started as soon as possible.
If you don’t have the time to dedicate to your Local SEO and overall SEO strategy, let us do it for you. Our SEO packages are here to take the hassle of maintaining your online presence and leave you reaping the rewards. Call now or email to get started!
