If
you have followed SEO strategies for any length of time, you know one thing:
SEO changes all the time. When it comes to local SEO, it’s more important than
ever that you optimize your on-site and off-site SEO strategies for clients and
customers who may be searching for your local business. Local competition is
heating up, and if you’re not on top of your rankings, you can bet your
competitors will be.
Now is the time to start focusing on how you’re
going to move the needle for your business with these few local SEO tips.
1. Insert Keywords across Multiple Listings
Insert
your local keywords into unique descriptions across multiple listings, make
sure that your photos are current, and always include your business category.
Once you compile a list, promote it: Reviews are essential not only to boost
rankings but also to encourage viewers to take action.
2. Get Local Coverage
If
you'd like to improve your local SEO, target top local publications for
coverage and create and foster relationships with local journalists who will
cover your news on an on-going business.
3. Get New, High-Quality Links
The
quantity and quality of links directed to your website have an increasingly
impactful effect on its local search engine rankings.
4. Improve Internal Linking Structure
Add
internal links where relevant from within your pages' content, including blog
posts, informational pages and key service pages. We consistently see lifts in
rankings (maps and organic) after improving websites' internal linking
structure.
5. Optimize Title Tags With Local Keyword
To
help specific pages rank locally, optimize your title tags with the local
keyword. For example, your title tag could be "basement renovations
Chicago." This signals to search engines that this page is directly tied
to Chicago, and will thus be more likely to show up in searches from your
geographic area and explicit searches for the local term.
6. Claim And Optimize Your Google My Business
Profile
One
of the simplest things you can do to improve your local SEO is claiming your
Google My Business profile. This is a business listing that shows up for local
searches. You need to have a physical location and street address (not a P.O.
box) to set up or claim a listing.
7. Create Local Business Profiles
Make
it easier for searchers to find you by establishing a presence on popular
review sites for your industry such as Google+, Yelp and Yellow Pages. Each
local profile you create acts like another “platform” for local visitors to
land on. It’s an incredible opportunity to improve local SEO and demonstrate
social proof, which will help drive people back to your website.
8. Multi-Local Brands Should Build
Hyper-Localized Content
For
multi-local brands, focus on developing hyper-local content. Many brands have
the same location page content for all locations. Instead, make every location
page unique. Don't just find and replace the city name. Do some research.
9. Associate Your Business with An Area
Start
with Google Maps and finish with your website, citations and local listings.
Make sure (without being spam-my) to make it clear to search engines the area
that your business wishes to dominate, and the full extent of your service
area.
10. Be As Authentic As Possible
It's
crucial to be as authentic as possible when listing your business on sites like
Google, Bing or Yelp. Fill in and regularly update your business's description
and upload photos that are current and high quality. But remember that images
that appear photo shopped can hurt your SEO ranking.
11. Don't Ignore the Little Details
It
can be easy to overlook small details when posting a blog or uploading a new
image, but crossing your T's and dotting your I's can make all the difference.
HTML elements such as meta description tags and titles are just as critical as
the image or content itself.
12. Offer a Google Virtual Tour
A
new tool for businesses concerned with local SEO is Google Virtual Tour. You
can now add a 3-D photo tour of your business to your Google profile, which
will show up in searches on Google maps.
13. Prioritize Reputation Management
Businesses
must be proactive about their online reputation management to optimize local
SEO. There are several tool options you can use to track, manage and
proactively garner reviews, but the focus should definitely be on reviews on
the Google My Business page.
14. B2B Marketers Need To Address Customer
Needs
Most
B2B buyers don't start by searching for your brand, product or service (and if
they are, they're already finding you). They use search phrases that are
problem- or need-oriented.
15. Manage Citations Effectively
After
you claim your Google My Business, Yelp, Bing Places and other listings, claim
your business with data giants like Infogroup, Acxiom, Neustar Localeze and
Factual. Make sure your name, address and phone number is correct.