No matter if you are a big established brand or a start-up business, striving to gain maximum visibility on searches related to your field is always going to represent a challenge as you are competing with many other businesses. Local businesses can increase their local search visibility by being location-specific with their SEO methods. SEO aids local companies in several ways; one of them is increasing their visibility. Continue reading to find out how to use SEO to enhance your business’ visibility on search results. If you require assistance in search engine optimisation, you can contact Blue Whale Media which operates as a professional SEO agency and website design company in Manchester.
Google My Business
Proper SEO strategies are a must for more increased visibility. Listing your business on Google My Business is as important as having your website. It affects your visibility more than merely being on Google. If you wish for more exposure, set up your Google My Business profile. It provides information about your business, like contact, location, reviews, average cost, and so on.
This information makes it easy for customers to find and visit your business. Nevertheless, to have the best Google My Business profile, you must ensure to optimize it.
Mobile-Friendly
Today, internet usage is more on mobile than on desktop, especially when it comes to local searches. Mobile searches have increased by 125% over the last two years. And Google gives mobile-friendly sites more preference. At the same time, you should also ensure that your website has a good user experience to get high ranking. Google favours sites that are user-friendly in local search results, which can improve your sales from SEO.
Ensure that your visitors continue to view your content once they land on your website. Having engaged users might be a challenge, but it’s not impossible. Focus on factors like site speed, content optimization, and user experience to enhance user engagement.
Directory Listings
One of the local SEO’s key components for an increase in search visibility is the directory listings. These are the details of your business, such as the name, contact number, website, address, and other relevant information. You would want to ensure that you provide all the necessary information relating to your business. Users go to Google because they find information in the easiest way there.
It means they won’t want to search around other places to know your opening hours, menu, and additional info. Make your business’ information and contact number accessible to your potential customers by providing ample information.
Location Keywords
To enhance your visibility on local searches, include location-based keywords when you are offering products and services. You should attach keywords that relate to your industry, but adding a particular location is even better. Place location-based keywords in the headers, titles, image tags, meta descriptions, or body of your website to increase local visibility.
Other ways to improve visibility for local businesses are including a location in your business’ social media profile and using location hashtags on Instagram. It might amplify your website’s local visibility even though social media doesn’t directly impact local SEO.
Consistent Business Information
Setting your business up in social media and online directories is a good step toward improving local visibility. However, it’s also necessary to take the time to check and see that there is uniformity in all online entries. For instance, don’t give the title, “Sweet Baker” on Google My Business and “The Sweet Baker” on Yelp. It can not only hamper your SEO but also confuse customers. The more consistent you are across online listings, the more trustworthy you will appear, resulting in more visibility.
Unique Brand Name
You might already have a business name that is unique and stands apart from the others. But for those who are not on the same page, or are yet to name, it’s best to choose one that doesn’t seem similar to the other businesses locally around you. For example, if your bakery’s name is “Sweet Bakery,” you might see yourself in competition with other “Sweet Bakery’s” out there.
You can list your bakery in as “Sweet Bakery Chicago” or something more distinct. Not only will this make your business stand out, but it will also increase your visibility in searches.
Locally-Relevant Content
It is foundational to publish content that is authentic and related to your field. However, for local businesses, producing locally relevant content is also crucial. For example, if you are a fitness instructor in San Francisco, you can write a post with the title, “10 Ways to Eat Healthy in San Francisco.” Including content that is relevant to the locality is important for local businesses to gain more visibility.
Reviews
In order to be useful to people (users), Google tries to give them information that is accurate so that they can rely on it while choosing which website or brand to go in for. Your visibility in search results becomes a direct impact of how much customer reviews you have. According to research, 75% of people who shop online trust reviews as much as listening to reviews from a friend.
To get great reviews, you have to offer great service. You have to give customers reasons to want to make them give you a review and share about your local business with others. Also, they should be able to review your services easily. For that, you can provide them with links or a URL where they can give a review.
Eye-Catching Headlines
Do you want your website to be at the top of search rankings? Start writing attractive headlines! Thinking about a title might seem elementary, but having a catchy headline can make all the difference your blog needs. 36% of SEO specialists believe that a title tag/headline is the most crucial element of SEO. So it is vital to create a headline strategically. For your headlines to project on the SERPs, it should look enticing.
Content Review And Updates
Did you know? Updating and adding new content to your old posts can increase traffic up to 106%. Many people put more effort into writing new content and tend to forget to check the existing content, which is a big mistake. Checking existing content is critical because it helps determine which content is working for your website, see whether your content’s information is still correct or outdated, and assess if it is gaining ROI. Auditing your existing content is crucial; it can aid in your SEO strategy, and so, it should be regularly done.