You’ve probably heard about many methods of Search Engine Optimization (SEO). According to the research, local information accounted for 46 percent of Google searches in 2021, with “near me” queries increasing 900 percent in two years. Local SEO is brought to the forefront by the necessity to boost local visibility.
What does Local SEO mean?
Local SEO is a type of SEO that helps local businesses rank higher in Google and other search engines for local queries. A search engine for Local SEO is any tool that is relevant to local searches, such as Google Maps.
Local SEO matters
Many businesses’ Google results are based on the user’s location (where they are) or the area they are looking for. As a result, if you search for “shoe store” on Google, you’ll see local results (Local SERPs) from stores near you first. If you search for something in a specific location, such as “shoe store in Chalandri,” similar results will appear.
That is why, in today’s world, local SEO is crucial for every local firm. Each locale, search term, and business has a unique opportunity.
Local SEO & Google MyBusiness
Google My Business is your Google account’s business profile. It is now one of the most important criteria for a local business. Google Maps and Google Search both display the profile you establish on Google My Business.
Fill out all of the choices in your profile to help your business develop locally. Take great note to the following:
- Verify your Business Profile
- Keep your profile up-to-date
- Fill in all the necessary fields
- Upload logo, opening hours, payment methods, services, and many photos
- Fill in the category that best describes your business
- Reply to all customer reviews (positive and negative)
- Motivate your customers to evaluate your business
- Share posts related to updates, products, offers, events on your profile
How to achieve better local rankings
Mention your area
Make sure your website highlights the location and services your company provides. On their results pages, search engines crawl the website and display the most relevant matches.
Search engines will be able to identify your listing and display the proper location if you create a distinct landing page for each of your business locations. If you simply serve a local area, it’s ideal to utilize “company name + service+ area” in conjunction, not just in the title, but throughout the page as well.
Ratings / Reviews
Google will use the evaluations you receive, among other things, to impact the presentation of your Business profile in maps and search results. Google tries to deliver the best result when searching for a store. The higher your category’s score, the more views you’ll get. This isn’t just about Google, though.
Go to where the Local Content is
With your presence, you can use local directories, blogs, Facebook groups, and anything else relevant to local content. Consider how you may reach closer to your audience by using the existing network in your area to build backlinks for both Local SEO and Local Branding.
Create Local Content
Local content is popular among your customers. To develop an audience and expand your business locally, create relevant material for your blog or others’ local networks.
Mobile Users & Local SEO
The necessity of the mobile site is crucial since 80-90 percent of searches are conducted on mobile devices in Nepal, especially in the case of local search.
Make sure your company’s website is mobile-friendly, loads quickly, and provides all of the information your potential customer requires. Allow him to phone you, contact you, and look you up on the maps.
Be the one in your category for your area
This is perhaps the most straightforward approach to discuss Local SEO. The most difficult challenge is to make your company name and the category for your area synonymous in the public imagination.
Use the Google My Business Insights
The Insights tab will help you better understand how others find your business on Google. It gives you information such as:
- Were you searched or discovered? (Direct vs Discovery)
- When do they visit your store the most?
- How many photo views do you have?
- Where did they see your business? (Google Search, Maps, etc.)
- What did they type to find you?
- Which days do they make more clicks for a call?
- How many asked for navigation instructions to visit you, and from where?
- Which were their actions? (contact, call, site visit, etc.)
Insights is a quick and easy method to learn more about your customers. To strengthen your Local SEO approach, combine this knowledge with data from Social Media Insights and Google Analytics.
