How to Improve Local Search Engine Rankings For Your Website
There are almost 28 million small businesses in the U.S. So as a small business owner, you need to find ways to differentiate yourself.
If you serve a specific area, you'll want to show up in local search results on Google. To make this happen, there are specific things you need to do both on and off your site. Example: we want to show up for San Antonio SEO for our local Bexar County area.
But this can be easier said than done! That's why we put this post together to help you improve your local search engine rankings for your website. Check out our tips below.
Work on Your Google My Business Profile
One core piece of local search has to do with your Google My Business profile. This is where every local business should start their SEO efforts.
That's because this is where you provide Google with your business' information. This is where you provide your address, hours, and contact information. You can also include images, your business category, and videos.
Have you ever searched for something and had a box appear on the right-hand side of the Google results page filled with information about a certain business? That information all comes from that company's Google My Business profile.
Doing this is a great idea because it provides Google with the right information. And Google's goal is to give their users the most accurate information possible, so when you do this, you're making their job much easier.
This will also improve your presence in Google Maps when people search for things related to your company.
Optimize Your Keywords for Local Search
Another key part of local SEO is optimizing your keywords. This means you should include your geographic area in all of your page's title tags, meta descriptions, and H1s.
If possible, this is also great information to include in some of your pages' URLs. This will show Google's bots the exact geographic location you serve.
Also, look through all of your pages and include your geographic area throughout the copy. Don't overdo it by including it 10 times per page, but have it at least once or twice in your copy on each webpage.
This is because when people are searching for certain industries, they only want to see results that are nearby. For example, someone searching "Mexican Restaurant" probably isn't looking for one four hours away. They want one close by.
By including your geographic area, Google knows exactly which area you are targeting.
Another Way to Improve Local Search Engine Rankings: Embed a Google Map
Do you have a Contact Us page with information about your phone number, email, and physical address? If so, you should include an embedded Google Map.
This is super helpful for your site visitors because they can see your exact location without having to type in your address on another site. But this is also helpful for SEO.
That's because Google can see the exact area you serve, which will, in turn, improve your search ranking.
Make Your NAP Consistent
No, we're not talking about sleeping! When it comes to local SEO, NAP refers to name, address, and phone number.
If Google sees inconsistencies in these areas, that's a red flag. Their goal, once again, is to provide people with accurate information.
If your phone number is different in various parts of the internet, this is going to frustrate people! This results in a drop in your SEO rankings.
To avoid this, make sure things are consistent. If you move, make sure to update your address throughout the internet on your website and in any directories.
Host a Virtual Tour
When it comes to ranking on Google, one rule of thumb to follow is to take advantage of all of Google's tools.
One of these that's a little less known is a Google Virtual Tour. Creating one can boost your rankings.
A Google Virtual Tour is a 3D tour of your business that can appear on your Google profile and is displayed in Google Maps.
This allows your potential visitors to take a virtual look around your building or store without having to take a step inside. This can help convince people to come to see you in real life.
Encourage Social Proof
In today's online world, social proof is a huge deal in helping people make decisions. But it's also a factor in your SEO rankings as well.
Basically, social proof is having anyone else besides yourself talk positively about your business. It includes testimonials from past clients, case studies outlining success with previous customers, and reviews from industry influencers.
When you have positive reviews, especially positive Google reviews, this can really increase your search rankings. But it can be tough to get reviews organically.
The good news, however, is that there are things you can to do encourage more reviews.
Often, the first step is to ask. Ask people in store to leave reviews online. Include a link to a review site in emails or social media posts.
You could also include an invitation on printed materials like business cards or flyers. Get in the habit of always asking, and soon you'll have a wide variety of positive social proof online.
Closing Thoughts
Now that you've read about improving local search engine rankings, what's next? It's time to implement these ideas on your website! Soon, you'll be reaping the rewards and improving your bottom line.
If you'd like some professional help with your local SEO, take advantage of our free SEO analysis.
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