Do you have a local business or one that targets audiences in a particular location? If you do, then you need to go a bit deeper with your search engine optimisation strategy. There are several things you can do to help your customers find you online and here are five crucial tips on how to make sure you're attracting as many clicks as possible.
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1 - Keyword Research for Local Search
To optimise your site you first need to figure out which keywords to use. Keep in mind to optimise for local search you need to focus on phrases which are relevant to both your industry and location.
For example, say you own a local air conditioning business which operates across the UK. When you're putting together your optimisation strategy, look at geo-specific keywords + air conditioning using the Google AdWords Keyword Tool.
The numbers may not be 100% accurate but from the above data you can see that London air conditioning is searched for more than the other locations. You can also use the additional keyword ideas provided below the search terms table in AdWords.
Another good way to get keyword ideas is to simply type in your main keyword in Google search and then check out the related searches at the bottom of the page.
Of course, there are plenty of other keyword researching tools that you can use to develop the right keywords for your local search engine optimisation and the more you make use of the better.
2 - On-Site Optimisation for Local Search
Once you've put together a list with the right keywords, the next thing you need to do is optimise your site for local search. To let search engines know the location you're targeting, start by adding geo-specific information and keywords in your title and meta descriptions.
Your SEO title tag and meta description will be displayed in search engine results, so make sure these two areas are optimised for local search. This means that your locally optimised title tag should include your main keywords and your location in 70 characters while your locally optimised meta description should also include your address and phone number in a maximum of 165 characters.
Include your phone number and address on your site
When you add local address and phone number on your site it's important not add them in an image, but to have it as actual text. That's because search engine cannot index images, so they won't know it's there. This kind of location information is a strong ranking factor in local SEO, plus people using mobile phones to access your site can actually dial your number by just clicking on it directly from the page if it is in text form.
Embed a Map
Simply enter your business address on Google Maps and you'll get an HTML embed code that allows you to add a map on your site.
This is not only a great way to have Google know where you are but also to help your site visitors find your location easier.
Create a Geo Sitemap
You can also create a geo sitemap if you want to make sure Google knows where your business is located. You can use the Geo Sitemap Generator to generate this. After you've filled in your business details, simply download the two files and upload them to your site's root folder.
Then you need to go to Google Webmaster Tools, add your site and verify it using your Google Analytics code. Under Site Configuration-> Sitemaps add the geo sitemap's URL. This is the fastest way to inform Google of your location.
3 - Get on Google Places
Getting your firm to show up in Google Places listing is the best thing that can happen for your business. Why? Because it's increasing the chances of your local business showing up on the first page of search results, even above some of the organic ones.
The first thing you need to do is add or claim your business on Google Places. Add as much information as you can to your profile and be sure to upload photos as well. After you've added all the necessary information about your business, you will need to verify your business. You have two options – either verify immediately by phone or wait for two to three weeks for a postcard by mail.
Once your Google Place profile is live, there is another important thing you should do and that is to encourage your customers to write reviews about your business and the products or services you provide. If you happen to also get some bad reviews, don't just leave them there. Reply and try to come up with a solution for these unhappy customers. This way you can help your former customers and, at the same time, prove to potential customers that you provide fantastic support.
Google Places is the most important place on which to have your business listed but don't ignore options like Bing Local, Yahoo Local, Yelp, Yellow Page and others. The more listings you have on local directories, the better.
4 - Local Marketing on Foursquare
With so many people checking in at places using Foursquare, you need to add or claim your business on this major social network for local firms. Add all the necessary information about your company and don't forget to also add a link to your website. Then ask people to check in at your business, whether it's a clothing shop, a hotel, a creative agency or an electronics store.
At first, you can give special discounts or coupons to people who check in often at your business or to those who check in for the first time. This is an amazing word-of-mouth marketing technique as people tend to go to places their friends have been to and recommend.
5 - Mobile search and local search, the new SEO power couple
Was the last search you conducted made from a mobile phone? If the answer is yes, then you are part of the 61% mobile users who ran local searches from their mobile device, according to a 2012 study by Localeze and 15miles. This number will only increase as more and more people are using mobile devices to access the web.
That's why you should make sure you site performs well on mobile. A mobile-specific site is better than a traditional site in these circumstances as it's optimised specifically for smaller screens, giving users a better navigation experience. Responsive design, an emerging field in web development, offers a way to provide mobile customers a great experience without having to have two separate sites.
By ensuring your mobile site is optimised in the ways described above, you can attract customers who are searching for a business like yours even while they're walking down the street.
If you make sure you follow the five tips above, you should see an increase in people visiting your site, which in turn will lead to an increase in customers.
What strategies do you use to boost local SEO?
on
It’s amazing ffor me to have a web page, which is valuable in favor of
my know-how. thhanks admin
on
Great post. More people are taking notice of local SEO this year. One reason is that more and more local businesses are now recognizing the usefulness of having a website and being accessible over the Internet.
on
Depending on the type of business you are dealing with or the niche that your site is dealing with, I believe optimizing your site for local searches can be a great idea. Wonderfully written document I must say. Thank you for sharing.
on
Definitely there are businesses that may benefit from local SEO optimization more than targeting to all-public audience regardless their geo-location.
However I know many of them ignore how to do an efficient job getting their companies localized, and this post truly comprises the basic steps to attain such goal.