Staying in check with latest search engine optimization techniques lets you experience the most constant thing about SEO as a whole because it is always changing. Even white hat SEO, which is a user-focused SEO techniques, can fluctuate in efficacy as search platforms change and less ethical sites are trying to game the system. In local SEO, it’s crucially important that you optimize your on-site and off-site SEO tactics. Customers and clients are looking for you online and there is a wide scope for better lead generation and improved conversions locally.
But before we delve straight into explaining how you can dominate local SEO in your industry, let me quick share some amazing info with you.
12 Local SEO Stats Every Business Owners Should Know About Before They Begin
Here are some amazing and interesting statistics collected to help you see how important local SEO is for your local business:
- About 92% of people prefers to interact and do business with company that appears on the first page of local search results.
- Google's sign of acceptance; the popular three-pack always appears in the top spot in 93% of searches with local intent.
- Around 72% of searchers who did a local search prefers to visit a store within five miles.
- Over 32% of searches conducted on mobile smartphones are location based.
- Google recorded that about 86% of users look up the location of a business on Google Maps before they interact with it.
- 18% of local mobile searches reportedly lead to a product or service sale in less than 24 hours.
- About 60% of adults in the US make use of smart devices to search for a local product or service.
- The popular Google “near me” feature searches have doubled over the past few year.
- Local businesses domination in Africa is on the rise as of late.
- 89 percent of users disclosed that they search for a local content on their smartphone at least once a week.
- 58% of survey participants admitted they conduct local content searches on daily basis.
- Worldwide, about 46% of all searches conducted on Google are local and affirmatively 76% local searches are as a result of a phone call.
5 Strong Local SEO Strategies That Works Like Magic
Ever wanted to master the art of coming first in local Google pages for your business? This article will detail how you can dominate local seo searches without spending much on advertising.
Here are list of five strong local SEO strategies that will enable your business to rank better locally.
Let’s get an insider look:
Title and Meta description tags
Title and meta-description tags can be customized to reflect the topic and content of a webpage. They are HTML elements and show up in the search results, thus are huge factor for Local SEO. Meta Description and Title are like mini-advertisements that should be carefully designed to attract more people. However, don’t go for too long description as it will make your post titles and meta descriptions truncated and misrepresented in the SERPs.
In 2017, Google did surprised webmasters by increasing the width of the main search results area from around 200 to 600 pixels. By this new developments, the generally accepted length for title tags is now increased from 50-60 characters (approximately) and in 2018 for description tags, it is somewhere between 160 to 280 characters.
So, keeping them short, simple, accurate, unique, compelling and crisp will help you rank. Write descriptions that inspire the viewer/reader to click on the result. Use trigger words and check the quality of your content with different tools.
Using attractive title and good meta description is one of the best and friendly local search engine ranking optimization techniques in the world. Use it to your advantage because it will increase your click through rates.
Online directories and citations rocks
According to a study conducted by Google recently, three out of five consumers (approximately) use search engines to perform local searches. Having said that, if your small, local business is not showing up online on Local Business Listings, you are losing serious business opportunity.
It is absolutely reciprocal that your business shows up on major local business directories like Yelp, Citysearch, Merchant Circle, Bing, Foursquare, Facebook etc and gets result.
Mention your business name, address, phone number, website, working hours etc and other information on the citations and keep the information consistent. Before hitting the publish button, recheck everything as discrepancies such as spelling mistakes, irrelevant abbreviations, incorrect phone number will make it difficult for Google to determine your presence.
Claim Your Google My Business Spot
Google My Business (GMB) is another directory but it’s an incredibly useful tool for small and midsize businesses (SMBs). Google My Business is absolutely important and the best part is that; it’s free!
Businesses with physical addresses can gain huge exposure through this tool also you can only claim the GMB Page for your business if you are a business owner.
After the claiming part, you need to focus on its optimization.
You need a rock-solid description, appropriate categories, right business hours etc and more relational information on the business page. Be sure that you upload your business logo and concerned pictures for more prominence.
Google My Business creates a win-win situation by hiding your physical location for service businesses.
When we did a local business query for professional barbers in London, below are list of registered and claimed Google My Business pages to tell you about this free local business marketing tool. Any business appearing here got listed for free, thanks to Structured Data Markup!
Online reviews
Reviews are additional driving force behind your local SEO performance. Getting positive, high-quality, and frequent reviews from your customers improve your business visibility and give your local SEO a massive boost.
Note:- As per the snapshot, when you search Studio Bookings, You can find a lot of online review websites.
A recent survey revealed that 84 percent people believe in online reviews as much as a personal recommendation. And almost 7 out of 10 customers will write a review when asked for one by the business.
You can scrutinize through reputation marketing software tools like Vendasta, Reputation Loop, Get Five Stars etc.
Always responding to customer reviews helps building relationship and it engages them more into your services which reciprocates your visitor count and ranking.
Focusing more on Facebook page and Google My Business page reviews will help you influence, rank better and become more visible online.
One of the most crucial factor for ranking top of local SEO pages is customer feedback. Online review can make or break your business and you have to be very deliberate about dealing with what customers/clients says about your business. It is part of your long-term strategies for ranking higher.
Use local structured data markup to get free voice on Google
Structured data markup is actually schema markup and you can add it to your website’s code to give search engines more information about your business and helps increasing the CTR (Click through Rate).
According to recent survey, only 27 percent of total websites have applied the markup strategy and most still rely on the basics. Schema Markup is a great technique of making your local business different from competitors and rank high.
Google features the structured data markup to help its spiders crawl the web pages and contents better.
Conclusion
Local SEO centers around being accessible, applicable and high caliber for searches that are done on a "near me" premise. As per George Konidis, references and Google my Business can liberally enable your business to push ahead and show up in more places with applicable content. Despite the fact that these tips are only the start of Local SEO, they should give you the soft landing you require to position yourself in the industry as a go to source.