Small and Medium enterprises typically tend to ignore digital marketing and get comfortable. But the truth is if you want to get noticed in search engines and generate more customers, you have to understand local SEO. This variation of SEO is closely tied to location-based marketing. Without a local SEO plan, your business will not be able to take advantage of and maximize the local online demand for your products or services.
What is local SEO?
By definition, Local SEO is SEO that specifically deals with search engine optimization and location-based marketing for local businesses. Undertaking an effective Local SEO campaign will allow your business to appear on the first page of Google’s search engine results pages. This is both in the “Map Pack” and the “Organic Listings. While SEO the 1990s used to be simple, there wasn’t much difference between SEO and Local SEO. However, today there are numerous differences that specifically and exclusively affect Local SEO.
Location Based Marketing
With the explosive growth of smartphones and GPS, location-based services are gaining traction. Nowadays people use location-based services with their smartphones just like they would a map. It’s a takeover! They use their smartphone to find the products and services they need. Smartphones also can be used to notify friends on social networks of your current location. In the case businesses, location-based services are used to post reviews and opinions about different businesses and locations visited. Smartphones and location-based services help people find your business all as a part of local SEO.
So what are the benefits Of Location-Based Marketing?
– Proximity advantage: In location-based marketing, a nearby customer is more likely to visit your business than a competitor that is a 15-minute drive away.
– Impulse Buying: By receiving information and discounts in real-time from their smartphone buyers have better decision support. They are more likely to buy from your business on impulse, which will lead to more impulse buying.
– Higher Search Ranking: Google is starting to give top billing to more of its products and services in its search results. A Google+ Local listing ensures that people searching nearby for the products and services you sell will find your business.
– Hassle Free and convenience: Customers don’t have to go through the hassle of printing online coupons or clipping coupons from direct mail advertisements. It’s also a lot harder to lose a discount on your smartphone.
– Return On Investment: Using mobile location-based services costs next to nothing. The ROI on location-based service is much higher than other marketing channels such as direct mail, TV, and radio.
-Spreads Word Faster: Location-based services are tied to larger social networks such as Facebook and Twitter. This leads to more people learning about the products and services you sell.
Competitive Edge
Imagine the amount of traffic and potential customers you might be losing daily because of ignoring local SEO when nearby customers search for your product or service? Generally, SEO aims to increase a business’ visibility to a targeted audience. Local SEO targets by focusing on customers and prospects in a specific area. Local SEO can drive traffic to websites and physical establishments. This can enable your business gain an edge against your local competitors is made possible through local SEO.
Mobile Marketing
The expected continued rise in mobile device usage is only going to make things better. Mobile users tend to search for nearby for their basic needs. All because most probably, they are looking to get an instant solution to their consumer desires. If search engines display your business information and website, you will benefit from all that local buying intent. Those local listings will not only get a higher click-through rate but they are also likely to get more customers for your business.
Low Cost
By reputation, local SEO is almost always cheaper and more effective than traditional marketing. It also allows you to track everything. All from exactly how much traffic, leads, and customers you are getting via Local SEO and organic search traffic. Local SEO uses the same elements as conventional SEO does, but it requires a few specifically targeted elements as well.
It’s not only GOOGLE though.
Ironically, when we talk about SEO, most businesses limit it to Google. Yes without any doubt, it is the largest search engine in the world with more than 50% of your web traffic. However, it does not mean that you should completely ignore the rest of the other search engines. Local SEO has to be fully complementary and wholesome, so including other search engines like Bing is key too. Optimization across all search engines will give your clients online reviews, prices, site links, testimonials which can help you be found easier. The Power to be found!
Keywords are still king
When people search for anything online, they use keywords. These basically represent the potential buyer’s intent. Hence when we are optimizing a local business website we use “local keywords”. For local businesses, going after these long-tail keywords that get you not only traffic but also paying customers. Keyword research is crucial because it gives an insight of what potential customers and target audience are searching. This is key, especially in your specific geographical region. Keywords and phrases containing the business’ location need to appear in title tags, meta descriptions, and content.
Conclusion
Your small business website must be mobile-friendly, there no other way to go about it. If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, search engines will not rank you highly in their search engine results pages. Another consideration is citations. A local citation is anywhere where the business name, address, and phone number are listed together. This helps with building credibility and gives testimony. Testimonials and social proofing are important because search engines pay a lot of attention to these online reviews. All these moving parts are key to local SEO, so why not trust T3 Direct with your local SEO.