Are you a local businesslooking to enhance your online visibility and connect with the customers who matter most to your success? If so, delving into the realm of local SEOis a crucial step toward boosting your local rankings and ensuring that your business stands out in the digital landscape.
In this guide on "how to boost your local rankings," we will explore the significance of local search engine optimization, shedding light on why it's indispensable for businesses operating on a regional scale. Whether you run a brick-and-mortar store or provide home improvement services across different cities, understanding the intricacies of local SEO can significantly impact your business's online presence.
Join us as we unravel the key concepts, demystify the Google algorithm, and provide actionable tips to improve your local ranking, ultimately driving more relevant traffic and potential customers to your doorstep.
What Is Local SEO?
The letters "local SEO" stand for "local search engine optimization." It means making changes to a website so that it ranks better in localized Google searches. You'll notice that "The Flying Goat," a pizza place in Spokane, WA, doesn't show up in the local search results when you put "Best Pizza Sacramento" into Google.
What Google will do instead is send you to a place in Sacramento, CA called "Roma 2 Pizzeria." The website for Roma 2 Pizzeria is set up to show up well in Google searches in Sacramento. This is called a "local search result." On the other hand, The Flying Goat's website is set up to work best with Google results in Spokane.
Your business that does work for people at home is the same way. Does your site come up when people use Google to look for plumbers or HVAC techs in your area? If you need more money, you should spend money on local SEO. When you do that, your website will get a steady flow of people who might buy from you.
Why Is Local Search Ranking Important?
You may be wondering if you should also spend time and money on improving your local search ranking if you already have an ongoing SEO plan. Since 46% of Google searches are for local companies, it makes sense to start your local SEO work right away to get ahead of your rivals.
People are willing to pay 22% more for a local business if it has a good online image. This makes reputation management very important, like asking customers for reviews and responding to feedback.
- Increased Visibility- Local search ranking makes sure that your business shows up in relevant local search results when people in your area are looking for goods or services. This extra exposure could bring more people into your store or make more people visit your website.
- Targeted Audience- Local search optimization helps you reach a specific group of people in your area. People who look for businesses "near me" or in a particular place are usually ready to buy, which makes them valuable leads.
- Mobile Searches - With so many smartphones out there, people often use them to look for companies nearby. Local search optimization makes it easy for people to find your business when they do these mobile searches, which can lead to more involvement and possible sales.
Local SEO Ranking Factors
Local Pack
Google Business Profile (32%)
This refers to how well and thoroughly your Google My Business (GMB) page is optimized. A fully optimized GMB page has correct information about your business, like the name, address, phone number (NAP), business hours, categories, and other important information.
On-Page (19%)
On-page factors have to do with the information and layout of the pages on your website. This includes using local keywords in the text, meta tags, and other parts of your website that people see.
Reviews (16%)
For local search results, reviews and ratings on the web are critical. Google can tell from good reviews that your business is trustworthy and gives people a good experience. Your local search visibility can be affected by how many and what kind of reviews you have, as well as how you reply to them.
Links (11%)
This is because links to your site from other trustworthy and related sites boost its general authority. When it comes to local SEO, having good backlinks from local websites or groups can help your rankings in local search results.
Behavioral (8%)
Some examples of behavioral factors are the click-through rate (CTR) from search results, the time people spend on your website, and other activities with your site.
Citations (7%)
Citations are places where the name, address, and phone number (NAP) of your business are mentioned on other websites, online platforms, or local listings. Citations that are consistent and correct can help your business's credibility and can have a positive effect on its local search results.
Personalization (7%)
To make search results more relevant, personalization factors look at the user's location, search history, and other information that is unique to them. Personalization makes sure that users get results for local searches that are relevant to their location and interests.
Local Organic
On-Page (36%)
On-page factors are the things on your website that search engines use to decide where to rank it. This includes making meta tags, headings, content, and other HTML parts work better. It is essential to have high-quality, relevant material that fits with what people are looking for in a local search.
Links (26%)
Both internal and exterior links are essential for ranking. External links from trustworthy websites help people believe in your site's trustworthiness. Locally relevant links, like those in local directories, industry partnerships, and collaborations, can be good for local companies.
Behavioral (9%)
The way people use your website is an example of a behavioral factor. This covers things like the time people spend on the site, the click-through rate, and the bounce rate. Higher results can come from giving users a good experience and getting them involved.
Gbp (9%)
An essential part of local SEO is Google My Business. It means making sure that your Google business profile has correct information like your hours, address, and how to contact you.
Personalization (7%)
Personalization factors take into account the likes, dislikes, and actions of each person. Search engines may show different results to different users based on their location, past searches, and other information that is unique to that user.
Citations (7%)
Citations are places where the name, address, and phone number (NAP) of your business are mentioned on other websites. Citations that are consistent and correct help search engines confirm that your business is accurate and relevant, which can help your local search ranking.
Reviews (6%)
Reviews and scores on the Internet are very important for local SEO. A lot of reviews show how popular and influential your business is, and positive reviews help build trust and trustworthiness. Managing and encouraging customer reviews is very important.
Which Local SEO Ranking Factors Does Google Care About?
The three local SEO ranking factors you should be focused on can be found on Google's support page. How relevant a result is to the search question is how close it is to being relevant. So, for "steak restaurants in Winnipeg" as an example, we'd expect restaurants that say they are "steak" restaurants to rank higher than restaurants that serve steak in general.
This number tells you how close a nearby result is to the user. This is a big deal for small businesses in local search engine rankings because it lets them compete with more prominent companies that have more reviews (and the resources to get more reviews).
This refers to how well-known your business is. Some examples are the number of mentions and backlinks from reputable local websites, online reviews, and the content and layout of the business's website and blog.
Local SEO Tips
Optimize For Google My Business
Google My Business is now the best neighborhood search engine out there. Google My Business is a great way to help your business meet Google's needs because Google supports, checks, and shares its material freely.
Engage On Social Media And Add Posts To Google My Business
It's more important than ever for Google to see information shared on social media. Have you made a beautiful Google My Business page? Please share it on social media to connect search and social even more.
Ensure Your Name, Address, And Phone Number Are Consistent Online
Setting up your NAP is the best way to make it easy for people and search engines to find you.
Perform A Local SEO Audit
It might be tempting to slow down once you have the basics down. But SEO is an ongoing process that is easy to understand. It's not enough to make changes and see what works. It would help if you did a full audit of your website to see where it stands and what you need to work on to reach your goals.
Improve Your Internal Linking Structure.
I'll talk more about why external links to your site are good soon, but changing the way your site's internal links are set up will also help your SEO.
Optimize URL, Title Tags, Headers, Meta Description, And Content
Every time you write a blog post, it's like adding a new page to your site that search engines will scan. This is a page where you can target a geographic search phrase and have a chance to be found in the SERPs.
Add Location Pages To Your Website
Make location pages for each of your physical stores if you have more than one. People can find your name, address, phone number, store hours, unique store details, information on parking and public transportation, special offers, and reviews from satisfied customers on your location pages.
Create Local Content
Google keeps getting better, which means that people who write content can now focus on writing for people rather than search engines. There are a lot of people who will be interested in general topics, but sometimes it's better to focus on local or business news to get people in your area interested.
Ensure Your Website Is Mobile-Friendly
Most of the time, people will use your site on their phones to read reviews, get directions to your address, and find ways to get in touch with you.
Get Inbound Links With Relevance And Authority
There are many great ways to improve your local SEO with inbound links. Each one tells Google that your business is accurate, and they can also raise your domain reputation.
Participate In Your Local Community
Digital PR will come your way if you make more connections in your area. To get press, brand recognition, and inbound links, you can work with a charity on a campaign, hold a volunteer day at your organization, sponsor an event (even an online one!), or go on the local news as an expert in your field.
Benefits Of Local SEO
Better Online Visibility
Local SEO makes sure that your business shows up in local search results, which helps it get seen by people who might buy from you in your area. This higher exposure is significant for getting local customers who are looking for goods or services.
More In-Store Foot Traffic
You're more likely to get customers who are looking for businesses near them if you make your website better for local searches. This could mean more people going to your store or spot in person, which would increase foot traffic inside the store.
Tap Into Local Shopping Boom
Local SEO lets you take advantage of the fact that more and more people want to shop locally. A lot of people are constantly looking for local businesses. If you optimize your business for local search, you can take advantage of this growing interest in supporting local economies.
Targeted Web Traffic
Local SEO helps get people who are interested in local goods or services to visit your website. This targeted traffic is more likely to become customers because it fits the wants of the audience right now.
More Calls
Improving your business's contact details is often part of local search optimization. This could make more people call your business right from the search results, which increases the chances that these leads will become buyers.
Thought Leadership
By building a solid local online footprint, you can make your business known as an expert in its field in the area. Sharing helpful information about your business or local events regularly can help you become a thought leader and get people involved in your community.
Enhanced Trust Levels
Managing internet reviews and ratings is often a part of local SEO. Potential buyers will likely trust your business if you have good reviews and a well-optimized local online presence.
More Sales
In the end, local SEO is meant to bring in more sales. You have a better chance of turning these leads into paying customers if you connect with local people who are actively looking for goods or services.
Improved Conversion Rate
A higher conversion rate can be reached by focusing on people who are interested in local goods or services. People who find your site through a local search are usually closer to where they want to buy, which makes them more likely to become buyers.
More Competitive
Companies that spend money on local SEO can fight better in their local market. Businesses that don't optimize for local searches will not be able to compete with you if you have a solid online presence, good reviews, and a high level of exposure. Statista says that Google has more than 85% of the market for search engines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Local Rankings?
Local rankings refer to a business's position in search engine results for location-specific queries, influencing visibility to nearby customers.
What Are Local Ranking Factors?
Local ranking factors include on-page optimization, links, Google My Business data, reviews, and other criteria that impact a business's placement in local search results.
What Is Local Search Ranking?
Local search ranking is the position a business holds in search engine results for queries with local intent, often determined by relevance, proximity, and prominence.
What Is The Local Ranking On Google Maps?
The local ranking on Google Maps is the order in which businesses appear in the map section of search results, influenced by factors like proximity, reviews, and completeness of Google My Business profiles.
Conclusion
Local SEO plays a pivotal role in enhancing a business's online presence and connecting with its local audience. From optimizing Google My Business profiles to managing online reviews and incorporating local keywords, the article highlights the various factors that contribute to local search ranking.
The importance of local SEO is underscored by the significant percentage of Google searches dedicated to local queries. Businesses that invest in local SEO stand to gain increased visibility, targeted web traffic, and improved trust levels, ultimately translating into more in-store foot traffic and sales.
To succeed in the competitive landscape, businesses must embrace local SEO strategies and continually adapt to the evolving digital environment. For a comprehensive guide on enhancing local rankings, explore "how to boost your local rankings" to ensure your business thrives in local search results.