If there’s one hot topic in the digital marketing world these days, it’s search engine optimization (SEO). Believe it or not, 27% of businesses don’t even have a website, let alone an SEO strategy. That’s right, more than 1 in 4!
Fortunately, that means that there’s less competition standing in your way, which is perfect for building a local SEO strategy. Still not convinced? Let’s talk about the benefits of local SEO and what it can do for your digital marketing strategy!
There are different types of SEO that businesses can use, but local SEO is the best strategy for local businesses. If your business relies on local traffic and you don’t foresee any expansions in the immediate future, then it’s the only strategy you will need.
Local SEO works similarly to other types of SEO, but there are a few distinctions. Most importantly, you will use location-specific keywords in your website content. For example, keywords that end in “near me” or “in Ann Arbor, MI.”
From there, you will need to demonstrate your location to Google elsewhere. This includes local directories, Google Business Profile, social media, and all applicable locations online. Your information must remain consistent across the entire web for this to work.
Finally, you will need to be on the map (literally). Local SEO is sometimes called “map SEO” because the goal is to be the first business users see when they search for your product, services, or industry on Google. For location-specific businesses, this is typically on Google Maps.
Now that you know the fundamentals of local SEO let’s talk about why it’s important. Here are some of the key benefits of local SEO.
If your audience is location-specific, then your marketing strategies need to be location-specific. Whether you’re targeting Facebook ads or writing SEO content, this is easier to do than you may think.
By using location-specific keywords, you can easily match your content with users near your location. Location is one of the most important factors search engines use to determine search intent. That’s why when you search for the term “pizza shop” on Google, you don’t see pizza shops hundreds of miles away.
Without using location-specific SEO tactics, you’re trying to compete with industry giants across the country. For example, if you’re trying to attract local businesses to your IT firm, do you expect to rank at the top for the keyword “cybersecurity” as a small firm? It’s possible in the long term with enough investment, but not in the short term.
This is a great way to climb the rankings as quickly as possible. With less competition, you’ll see much faster progress in your SEO journey without sacrificing relevant traffic. SEO takes time to build, but local SEO is a lot faster when performed correctly.
Building organic traffic through SEO is a great way to reduce your dependence on paid ads and save money in the long run. Targeted ads can cost $2 or more per click, and if your conversion rates aren’t high enough, you could easily lose money. However, that’s not the only way local SEO can drive free traffic to your website.
With the right local SEO strategy, you can easily drive traffic to your website through your off-page tactics. For example, using Google Maps, Google Business Profile, local business listings, social media, and more, you can drive free traffic to your site. These are all important factors in a local SEO strategy, and they can directly impact your bottom line.
For this to work, you will need to improve and maintain your business’s online reputation. With enough time, you’ll see results!
Paid ads can yield impressive results in the short term, but they are quite costly. Also, the costs never ease up but rather increase over time. The opposite is true with SEO.
Any investment you make now into your local SEO strategy will pay dividends in the future if you follow through. Once you start ranking at the top for higher-traffic keywords, it’s a lot easier to stay there. While it may take time to get there, the results can last for years.
Over time, this will dramatically reduce your marketing costs. Ranking at the top of one high-traffic search is enough to keep some businesses afloat for years. If you’re tired of expensive ads, then SEO is the way to go!
Finally, let’s talk about how to get started with your SEO strategy. There’s a lot you can do on your own for free. For example, consider spending a day on your own or with your marketing team to claim and optimize your Google Business Profile.
From there, reach out to local affiliates and ask for a link exchange, list your business on Google Maps, and more. However, if you really want to see your strategy excel, you will need a strong website with a killer content strategy. For that, you may need the help of professional web developers!
Now that you know some of the most important benefits of local SEO, you can see why it’s so important to add to your strategy. SEO takes time to build, so put these local SEO tips to use today and start ranking as soon as possible!
Stay up to date with our latest marketing tips, and don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions or for help with your strategy!
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