Ranking well locally on search engines like Google is essential for driving in-store traffic, calls, and sales. But with increasing competition for local keywords, getting found isn’t always easy.
This guide will walk you through 5 proven local SEO tips to employ right now to help your business improve its local authority, rankings, and visibility.
1. Optimize Your Google My Business Listing
Your Google My Business profile has major influence over local pack rankings and visibility. Strengthen your GMB listing:
- Complete all profile fields fully with your NAP, photos, website, hours, etc.
- Add FAQs and services to provide helpful details to searchers.
- Reply to reviews and messages to demonstrate responsiveness.
- Create Google Posts to share offers, events, and news.
- Verify the listing via mailed code or postcard confirmation steps.
Completing and verifying your GMB profile confirms your business legitimacy on Google.
2. Get Customer Reviews
Positive local customer reviews build trust and social proof. Earning more tells Google people enjoy your business.
- Email customers asking for reviews. Many are happy to leave feedback if asked.
- Respond to all reviews publicly – thanking happy customers and addressing constructive critiques demonstrates you care.
- Enable review collection widgets on your website to make leaving reviews easy.
- Incentivize reviews through offers like discounts to motivate customers.
Customer satisfaction and transparent reputation management are key local ranking factors.
3. Build Local Links and Citations
Citations and links help establish local relevance. Citations are directory, listing, and review mentions using your accurate business NAP details.
- Create core citations on directories like Yelp, TripAdvisor, Yellowpages, Mapquest.
- Expand to industry citations on niche directories related to your business type.
- Earn local links/mentions from outreach to relevant neighborhood sites or publications.
- List on citation building platforms like Moz Local for automated assistance.
More citations and links signaling community ties improve local authority.
4. Refresh Website Content for Local Keywords
Updating your site content with relevant local keywords shows engines you cater to nearby customers. Useful tactics include:
- Add your city name organically in page titles and content where it fits.
- Create dedicated location or FAQ pages optimized for your region.
- Feature local area attractions or partners through blog posts or guides.
- Optimize service pages for localized customer buying keywords like “pizza delivery near me”.
- Update content seasonally with locally popular search terms.
Fresh, keyword-focused local content keeps you visible as searches evolve.
5. Run GMB and Local PPC Ads
Local PPC ads complement SEO by assessing keyword viability and driving additional store visits. Useful ad options:
- Google My Business ads – Advertise directly atop local pack results.
- Local ad campaigns through Google Ads or Microsoft Ads, tightly geotargeted.
- Assess search terms driving calls or location visits from ads for new SEO opportunities.
- Design location extension ads that showcase your address, phone, or directions.
PPC provides lead generation while informing keyword targeting. Bid on high-potential terms.
By optimizing your online local visibility through these tactics, your business can start improving local SEO rankings and becoming the go-to local search result.
Be patient and execute local SEO best practices diligently over the long-term. The rewards of higher local authority and visibility will steadily grow over time.
Let me know if you need help executing your local SEO strategy. I offer professional services to get your website ranking higher locally.
Let me know if you would like me to expand this local SEO guide with more tips or recommendations. Feel free to share any other feedback!