Local search engine optimization (LSEO) is a type of SEO that focuses on increasing the visibility of a local business in local seo search. The results that appear in local search results usually answer a “near me” intended question, implying that the searcher is looking for something “in [CITY]”—or that the search engine has recognised that the search is limited by geographic limits.
Businesses can increase their presence in these local search results for phrases related to their business and their products or services by employing local search optimization tactics.
What Is the Importance of Local SEO for Small Businesses?
Local searches now account for nearly half of all Google searches. Even when conducting a standard daily search, the chances of Google displaying local companies in the area remain high.
What is the significance of this for small businesses? In fact, Google reported a 900 percent spike in searches for the keyword “near me today/tonight” from 2017 to 2019. In an effort to better serve its users, Google began giving additional results for geographically related searches based on:
Proximity \sRelevance \sProminence
That is, if your business is close to where someone is searching, offers services or items they might be looking for, and has well-optimized local business listings, you’re more likely to be found online by potential clients.
What Makes Local SEO So Beneficial?
Small businesses might benefit from investing in local SEO in addition to improving their exposure in Google’s search engine results pages (SERPS).
A Marketing Solution That Is Both Cost-Effective and Time-Effective
While managing your business information in online directories takes time and effort, technologies like Google My Business and Facebook allow you to put up local business listings throughout the web for free, making local SEO a more cost-effective alternative for online promotion.
Makes it easier for local customers to find you
Consumers who seek for a local business visit a store within five miles in 72 percent of cases. If your small business can be seen in local search results or on Google Maps, you’ll have a better chance of collecting new leads.
Reaches out to customers who are ready to make a purchase.
Local searches made on mobile devices translate to sales in a stunning 80 percent of cases. This is due to the fact that local SEO puts you in front of the client at the exact moment they’re looking for a product or service, increasing the likelihood that they’ll buy or at least enquire for more information.
More Qualified Search Traffic is Delivered
Local search can assist you filter out people who are unlikely to contact your company. This isn’t because search engines are trying to keep companies out of customers’ hands; it’s because they want to give relevant local results based on proximity and purpose. Someone searching from 50 miles away is unlikely to find your HVAC company, while someone searching from five miles away will.
How Can Local SEO Help Small Businesses?
The steps your small business may take to improve its presence in local search engine results pages are easier than you would imagine. Here are a few simple techniques to boost your local SEO efforts.
Make sure your local citations are accurate and consistent.
Local citations are internet mentions of your company’s name, address, and phone number, such as a local business listing. Make sure that your material is correct and formatted consistently wherever you add local citations on the internet. This increases the trustworthiness of your data in the eyes of search engines.
List your company in local online directories.
Setting up local business listings in major search engines and online business directories like Google My Business, Yelp, Yext, Bing Places, and Facebook helps search engines verify that your business is authentic and that your data is correct. (Again, double-check that your data is correct and consistent!)
Create a Google My Business profile and keep it up to date.
You can input your small business information directly into Google Search and Google Maps by creating a Google My Business page for it. Not to mention, having a Google My Business account helps you to keep track of client feedback, make rapid changes to your hours, and even communicate with them via Google Posts.
Respond to reviews on a regular basis (Both Good & Bad)
Taking the time to react to online reviews tells clients that you care, and it can help your local search ranking. While obtaining more company reviews may take some time and work, once you do, you should be prepared to respond—whether the evaluations are positive or negative.
Enhance Your Website with Hyperlocal Content
Including local keywords in the material of your website might have a significant influence. Having business identifiers in your website text, such as “dentist in [CITY, ST],” might assist search engines better comprehend not just what you do, but also what local locations you service. This implies that if someone in your region searches for “dentist near me,” you’re more likely to appear.
Do you need assistance getting started with local SEO? Hurrdat can assist you with claiming, managing, and optimising your local search visibility. Sign up for our Local Search Fuel solution to learn more about local search optimization.
