Local search ranking authority is built by earning quality links and mentions, avoiding schemes that inflate link counts, and investing in a website redesign that signals credibility. Industry surveys have found that the quality of links you earn directly affects your local search rankings, and better visibility in local results brings more consumers, more web traffic, and more conversions for your business.
Why Local SEO Matters for Small Businesses
Local SEO consists of traditional SEO combined with geography. When people look for local businesses, they use a search engine like Google to find the best options, and businesses that aren’t on page one of the search results are missing out on a lot of business. Eighty percent of local searches result in a sale, so the goal of SEO for local businesses is to provide free inbound leads to your website, which is very beneficial to small local businesses.
Local SEO also helps you appear prominently on Google Maps. By optimizing your website for location-specific searches, you can get higher visibility in Google Maps. For example, if a user is looking for a London hotel, they’ll find many results in the local listings. By using local SEO, you’ll get the top position for that keyword in Google. So, while the concept is similar to traditional SEO, local SEO has some unique challenges and tactics.
How to Build Local Search Ranking Authority
Content marketing helps you build a brand name and drive organic SEO traffic to your website. You can also use social media to generate additional traffic, though social media algorithms limit the reach of links. Facebook, for example, would like you to stay on its platform. Writing articles or blog posts that are relevant to your business builds a strong brand that will last and boost your local rankings.
A positive public image helps your business gain long-term success. The best way to do this is by developing a good public profile with local SEO. Local SEO does not mean creating the best website in the world; rather, you need a website that is optimized for your service area.
Why Mobile Local SEO Is Now Essential
Local SEO lets you target desktop and mobile users, which is advantageous because mobile users are increasingly conducting local searches. Over 80% of mobile phone and tablet owners conduct local searches, making local SEO optimized for mobile searches increasingly valuable. The coronavirus has only accelerated this trend. This makes local SEO more important than ever.
If you’re ready to take the leap to local SEO, get in touch with SEO Design Chicago.
FAQ
What is the main goal of local SEO?
The goal of SEO for local businesses is to provide free inbound leads to your website, since 80% of local searches result in a sale and businesses that aren’t on page one of Google’s results are missing out on a lot of business.
How does content marketing support local SEO?
Content marketing helps you build a brand name and drive organic SEO traffic to your website. Writing articles or blog posts that are relevant to your business builds a strong brand that will last and boost your local rankings.
Why is mobile optimization important for local SEO?
Over 80% of mobile phone and tablet owners conduct local searches, and the coronavirus has only accelerated this trend, making local SEO optimized for mobile searches increasingly valuable.