If you run a local business, you know how important it is to attract customers in your store. But here’s the thing: just having a great product or service isn’t enough anymore. These days, people turn to Google (and other search engines) before making purchasing decisions. That’s where local SEO comes in. With a few tweaks to your online presence, you can drive more customers through your doors. This guide will help you for the upcoming holiday local shopping season!
Optimize Your Google Business Profile (GBP)
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) is like the digital front door of your business. It’s often the first thing people see when searching for local services or products. If it’s not optimized, you’re leaving money on the table.
Research Local Keywords
Keyword research is the backbone of any good SEO strategy, and local SEO is no different. But instead of broad, generic terms, you’ll focus on keywords specific to your area.
Tools to Help:
- Google Keyword Planner: Free and reliable for discovering what locals are searching for. Note* The free version only offers ranges of keyword search volume.
- SEMrush or Ubersuggest: These tools provide keyword suggestions along with search volume data.
For example, if you’re a florist in Hamilton, terms like “Hamilton flower delivery” or “wedding bouquets near me” might be gold. Sprinkle these keywords into your website content, blog posts, and even social media captions.
Create Locally Relevant Content
There is a saying in the marketing world “content is king”, but locally relevant content? That’s the crown jewel for local SEO.
What to Write About:
- Local Events: If your area hosts an annual festival, write a blog post like, “Your Guide to [Festival Name]: Top Tips and Must-See Attractions.”
- Community Involvement: Share stories about how your business participates in or supports local initiatives. For example, I once helped a gym owner write about their charity fitness challenge. Not only did it rank well, but it also brought in new members who wanted to support a business that gives back.
Collaborations: Mentioning other businesses within your website can showcase your local expertise and build strong relationships for future backlink opportunities. If you’re a local coffee shop and bring in your baked goods from the bakery across the street, giving them a shout out on your website can do wonders for both!
Leverage Local Citations
Local citations are mentions of your business’s NAP on online directories and websites. They help search engines confirm your business’s legitimacy and improve your local rankings.
Where to List Your Business:
- Bing Places for Business
- Yellow Pages
- Industry-specific platforms (e.g., Houzz for home services or TripAdvisor for tourism).
Make sure your details are consistent across all platforms. I’ve seen businesses lose rankings simply because their phone number varied slightly from one directory to another.
If you need help with your local citations, we offer an affordable solution to get you ready to crush this holiday shopping season! Contact our team today.
Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly
According to Google over 60% of local searches happen on mobile devices, so a mobile-optimized website is a must. Imagine someone searching for a “pizza place near me” on their phone. If your site doesn’t load quickly or is hard to navigate, they’ll bounce—and you’ve just lost a hungry customer.
Tips for Mobile Optimization:
- Use a responsive design that adjusts to different screen sizes.
- Ensure your site loads in under 3 seconds.
- Add click-to-call buttons so customers can reach you easily.
Website coding not your thing? Don’t worry it’s ours! Book a call with us today and see how we can help!
Build Location-Specific Landing Pages
If your business serves multiple areas, create dedicated landing pages for each location. These pages should include:
- Local keywords (e.g., “plumber in Burlington”).
- Maps and driving directions.
- Testimonials or case studies from customers in that specific area.
A landscaping company we worked with did this and saw a significant boost in leads because customers felt like the service was tailored to their community.
Earn Local Backlinks
Backlinks—links from other websites to yours—are like votes of confidence in the eyes of search engines. The more relevant and local the backlink, the better.
How to Get Them:
- Partner with Local Businesses: Cross-promote each other’s services on your websites.
- Sponsor Community Events: Often, event organizers will list sponsors on their websites.
- Collaborate with Local Bloggers: Offer to write a guest post or invite them to review your business.
Monitor and Improve Your Results
SEO isn’t a “set it and forget it” strategy. You need to track your efforts and adjust as needed.
Tools to Use:
- Google Analytics: Track where your website traffic is coming from.
- Google Business Profile Insights: See how people find and interact with your GBP listing.
- SEMrush or Moz: Monitor your local keyword rankings and competitors.
Remember, SEO takes time. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results. Consistency is your best friend.
Conclusion
Local SEO isn’t as complicated as it might seem, and it’s one of the most effective ways to boost local sales. By optimizing your Google Business Profile, researching local keywords, creating relevant content, and building a strong online presence, you’ll be well on your way to attracting more customers in your community.
Our team of local SEO experts are here to help you along the way, book a consultation call with us today!
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