If you’re running a website, you absolutely need SEO. There’s no way around it. Fail to optimise your website’s content, and you will have no presence during Google searches. It doesn’t take a genius to work out this is bad. Really bad.
After all, a successful website is reliant on Google to draw in new customers. Nobody will come across your site via luck. Instead, they will type in an enquiry relevant to your business, click on one of the first results to pop up on Google, and visit one of your competitors.
Yet even if you jump on board with SEO, this doesn’t guarantee success. In fact, SEO has a notorious reputation for being a difficult beast to control — especially when Google constantly updates its algorithms. However, with a strategy in place, you have a greater chance of success.
Before trying to take on the world, this article focuses on five tips to help with local SEO.
1. Get on Google My Business
There are other local directories to consider, but none come close to the power wielded by Google My Business. If you add your business details to this free tool, local searchers will be able to come across this information with ease.
2. Keep All Information Updated and Consistent
This is another short and simple point, but one you shouldn’t overlook. All of your business information — such as contact details, location, and business name — needs to be up to date. Additionally, this information needs to be consistent across all platforms.
3. Optimise Your Content
The clue is in the name, but SEO is all about optimisation. You might believe that optimising only takes place within the content itself, but think again. The URL, headers, picture file names, meta descriptions, tags — there’s so much that needs optimising alongside the content itself.
4. Track Local Search Trends
With specialist tracking technology, you can take a closer look at what customers are searching for in the local area. This is particularly beneficial for spotting trends and opportunities. If you notice an increase in certain local search trends, you can jump on this, create relevant targeted content, and be a step ahead of the competition.
Of all the tips on this list, this one is the most technical. If you’re struggling to get your head around it, don’t panic. You can always enlist the assistance of a marketing specialist that provides SEO for small businesses expertise.
5. Generate Reviews
Word of mouth and positive feedback are the lifeblood of any small local business. Before parting with their cash, potential customers will always use reviews to judge the quality of business. As a result, generating positive reviews is absolutely paramount for your business.
First of all, a business which displays a collection of glowing reviews will stand out. Reviews that are posted on Google will also give your website a nice little nudge up the search rankings. With these points in mind, politely ask your satisfied customers to leave a review, mentioning how much it could help your business.
