If you have a small business, especially a brick and mortar, and spend anytime at all dedicated to SEO, you should be focused on climbing the rankings for local search. When Google’s algorithm detects that a user is looking for local options (like Googling “delivery in Minneapolis), webpages that have put the time and effort into local search optimization are going to ranked right below the search bar as local results.
Local Search Results Mean More Business
These local results are capable of bringing in major business, especially if you have the reviews to back up Google’s recommendation. Your first step in getting noticed by Google’s algorithm is by setting up your Google My Business account. It’s your chance to take advantage of your business listing by providing your customers with useful information, such as business hours and contact information. There’s nothing more frustrating than searching up your favorite sushi spot’s hours, not finding results, driving out, then discovering that they’re closed. If you wouldn’t want it to happen to you, don’t make your customers deal with it either.
Additionally, you’ll have to start using your location name thoughtfully throughout your posts and content. Make it a priority to post at least one blog a month that includes the name of the city where your business is located, then sprinkle the location in some more throughout your headings, meta data, even your alt tags on your images. The better you are at doing this correctly, the more likely you are to be picked up by Google’s algorithm as a worthwhile result.
You can also encourage your customers to leave reviews. The more stars you have, the more likely you are to be ranked high in the results. Offer promotions for leaving reviews, and encourage customers to leave feedback using your social media platforms.
Perhaps more importantly, be sure that you have a mobile version of your site ready to roll whenever the searches come in. It’s not uncommon for customers and clients to search up local businesses when they’re roaming around town, especially if you offer tourist-y appeal. Having a website that is mobile ready means that those who are browsing on their phones can easily access your page, even when they’re nowhere near a home computer.
Interested in being on Google’s local search rankings? You have to get your content right, first. Check out DS6’s recent posts on content marketing and website overhaul. Then, get in touch with us to start ranking on local search!