Let's define Local SEO
Have you heard of Local SEO and are wondering what it is and why everyone is talking about it?
Local SEO focuses on improving the visibility of your business in search results for individuals searching for products or services similar to yours in your local area.
Think About it
When searching for nearby restaurants or stores, it’s likely that you turn to a search engine like Google.
On a vacation in a new town and looking for a great local restaurant for dinner?
While front desk referrals can still be helpful, the most common way is to simply ask your virtual assistant, “Hey Siri” or “Hey Google,” for the best restaurants near you.
Your phone then uses the GPS unit in your phone to provide a list of nearby restaurants based on various ranking factors. From there, you can review the options and choose one based on reviews, type of food, and proximity to your location.
Local SEO at Work
Local SEO focuses on making your business stand out in search results when people in your area are looking for products or services you offer. It’s like shining a light on your business so that it’s easily visible to those in your community.
To achieve this, it’s important to have accurate and up-to-date information about your business across the web and to optimize your online listings for local search engines like Google Business, Apple Maps, and Bing Business. This way, when someone searches for phrases like “pizza delivery near me” or “best hair salon in [city],” your business has a higher chance of appearing at the top of the search results.
The aim of Local SEO is straightforward: to help potential customers in your area discover your business when they’re searching for products or services similar to yours.
5 Steps to Start
Here are 5 steps to start off with today.
- Create and claim your Google Business profile
- Create and claim your Bing Business Profile
- Create and claim your business profile on Apple Maps
- Ensure on all three platforms, your social media accounts and your website your Name | Address | Phone number are exact. This includes how you spell your state. You want consistency here. For example for Bend Oregon — Make it’s the same everywhere. Not Bend OR in one spot, Bend ORE in another and Bend Oregon in a third.
- Complete your profile for each of these platforms.
By putting in a little effort to improve your Local SEO, you can increase your online visibility and reach more people who are looking for what you have to offer.
Do you have questions or want to hire a virtual assistant to help with setting this up? Schedule a FREE 20 minute discovery call
