- 50% of users visit a store within a day of a local search
- 78% of local mobile searches result in an in-store purchase
- 30-40% of customers on average find businesses through maps
Running a successful local business is highly dependent on creating new clientele. Visibility is key, and with 86% of people relying on the internet to find a local business, your website is the real modern storefront. The more people who see you online, the more likely you are to generate new business and, by extension, more revenue. Many companies are utilizing a local SEO services company to boost their online presence. Let’s talk about why that is.
Understanding SEO
What Is SEO?
SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization. This is the practice of boosting a website’s quantity and quality of user traffic through several methods that increase rankings and organic search engine results. SEO is essential because it increases visibility on the web, thereby facilitating traffic to your website and increasing the opportunity to make new clients.
Why is SEO Important for Local Businesses?
There are four numbers you need to keep in mind that help elucidate the importance of SEO for local businesses:
- 92% of people click on the first page of Google Results
- 78% of local mobile searches result in an in-store purchase
- 72% of consumers say they use search engines as their first choice to find information about local merchants
- 50% of users visit a store within a day of a local search
When you put these stats together, it paints a clear picture of the importance of search engine rankings for business generation. The easier it is for a potential customer to come across your business when searching online, the more likely they are to visit.
Basic SEO Strategies to Help Your Business
Map Optimization
A recent Forbes study showed that 30-40% of customers on average are finding businesses through maps. If you want to be seen, you’ll need to enhance the presence of your business on Google Maps. For more nuanced map optimization, you might need to enlist a local SEO services company. Before you get there, here are some basics to get you started:
- Set up your Google My Business and make sure you provide as much information as you can and make sure it’s accurate
- Select the category that applies to your business and add reliable contact information
- Upload current pictures
- Stay engaged with reviewers and commenters
Create Content to Stay Relevant
Google algorithms are regularly updated to adapt to trends and minimize abuse by companies spamming low-quality and repetitive content. In the modern search-engine climate, the best approach is to create high-quality content that is regularly updated, and this serves a few purposes:
- Cements your status as a leader in your industry
- Keeps users engaged and coming back to your site
- Google rewards a robust online presence
- Incorporate keywords to compete with other brands in your industry
Content creation is especially relevant in local markets. If you can outproduce your competitors, then your target audience will come to you for information they find relevant. Being the trusted source in your industry is the fastest way to generate sustainable traffic and raise your local rankings.
Segment Your Website
If you hire a digital marketing or local SEO services company to design or update a website, one of the first things they’ll do is make sure that every service you offer has its own webpage. This is because if your services are spaced out, it creates more opportunities for your products to be found across multiple search parameters.
Make Connections
Creating partnerships with non-competitors provides an excellent opportunity for cross-linking, which is extremely beneficial in increasing traffic, and by extension, SEO. Cross-linking is the process of linking between two different sites. This allows users to see your own website referenced in sites that might not necessarily be related to your industry.
You can explore collaborations through partnerships based on cross-promotions and social media pages that link back to each other. If you know what your target demographic is, look for businesses that might overlap. So, start reaching out to different local stores, exchanging links, cooperating, and you’ll soon be maximizing local SEO.
Time to Put it All Together
There is no one-size-fits-all solution for maximizing local SEO. Each market is as different as target demographics are varied. The one thing that you can be assured of as a business owner is that regardless of your service, visibility is key to increase clientele. Using these tips won’t necessarily guarantee success, but it’ll certainly put you one step ahead of less-savvy competitors.