Why Use Local SEO for Your Small Business – What to Know
Even as a small entrepreneur, you should still consider search engine optimization (SEO) for your business. SEO is the process of improving your website or content to get more web traffic from the search engine results pages (SERPs). Investing in SEO can improve your business’s online presence. While it’s an effective and cost-efficient way to market your business, competing for ranking alongside big brands can be tough. That’s where local SEO comes in.
Local SEO is aimed at a more targeted audience. It makes your internet presence more visible and accessible to the local market where you are operating. It’s an SEO marketing strategy that helps you reach more local customers by identifying your location and increasing your business citation or the listing and mention you have from other websites.
If you focus your strategy on local SEO, here are the benefits you’ll enjoy:
1. Improved ranking on search results
If you stick to targeting generic keywords, you’ll be competing with bigger brands around the world. If you strategize and localize your keywords and add your location in all your online efforts, you have a higher chance of appearing in the top results of local searches. The higher you rank, the more web traffic you get. Local searches also have more targeted visitors, so there’s a better possibility of converting them to actual sales.
2. Capture ready local buyers
No matter how well you advertise or package your business, your name won’t appear in the local search results if your business isn’t running a local SEO. If someone from the neighbourhood starts to look up products similar to the one you sell, you’ll miss the opportunity to capture ready buyers because your page won’t rank in their local search results. Using local SEO is a good way to step up your game in your neighbourhood competition.
3. Get more reviews
Because you’re dealing with a smaller community, asking and receiving reviews are easier. Remember that for local shops, reviews are important. They are often the deciding factor before a new customer tries your product or service. Employing local SEO for your business increases your online visibility and chances to get reviewed.
4. More appearances on Local Business Directories
The more you rank in local searches, the more you appear in local business directories. Getting listed in these directories gives your business credibility and exposure. This exposure can help your business increase its local ranking.
5. Become a trusted brand
Besides getting more web visits, getting the searcher’s trust is one of the benefits of ranking on the search engine’s top results.
When looking for a product or service to purchase, people tend to stick to the first few pages of the search results. Sometimes, they would limit their options to the top five links on the first page. It is how SEO ranking affects the trustworthiness of any business. The higher you rank, the more people trust your brand.
Conclusion
If your business is targeting a certain community or location, we highly encourage you to optimize your local SEO. If you strategize and optimize right, it can give your business better ranking and conversion results, and overall improve your business’s performance in the digital world.
If you’re looking for a local business digital marketing company in North America, you’re on the right page. We’re your local business superpower, committed to helping local businesses, startups, and agencies improve their digital presence!