Local businesses are the backbone of any community, providing essential goods and services to the people who live there. However, with the rise of online shopping and big box stores, it can be difficult for small businesses to compete. That’s where search engine optimisation (SEO) comes in.
By optimising your website for local search, you can increase your visibility and attract more customers to your business. In this article, we’ll cover the basics of SEO for local businesses and provide tips on how to optimise your website for local search.
Claim and Optimise Your Google Business Profile Listing
Google Business Profile – formerly Google My Business – is a free online tool offered, as the name suggests, by Google. More to the point, it is crucial in allowing businesses to manage the online presence of their business across Google, including Search and Maps.
To get started with Google Business Profile, you need to claim your listing and verify your business information. This includes your business name, address, phone number, website URL, and hours of operation. Once you’ve claimed your listing, make sure to optimise it by adding photos, responding to reviews, and updating your business information regularly.
Get The Details Correct
This may seem obvious, but a key element of perfecting SEO for local businesses involves making sure that the tiniest details of your business are 100% accurate. This includes ensuring that your business name, address, opening hours and contact details are totally correct – a small mistake could result in potential customers being unable to find or contact your business, and they may choose to go elsewhere.
Double-check all information across your website, Google Business Profile listing, and other online directories to ensure consistency and accuracy.
Use Local Keywords in Your Website Content
When creating content for your website, make sure to use local keywords that include the name of your city or town. This will help your website show up in local search results when people search for products or services in your area. For example, if you run a bakery in Camden, use keywords like “Camden bakery” or “best bakery in Camden” throughout your website content.
Build Local Citations
A citation is any online mention of your business name, address, and phone number. Building local citations is an important part of SEO for local businesses, as it can help improve a business’s visibility in local search results. You can build citations by getting listed in online directories, such as Yelp or Yell, and by reaching out to local blogs and newspapers to get mentioned.
Get Reviews from Happy Customers
Online reviews are a powerful tool for local businesses, as they can help build trust and establish a positive reputation with new potential customers. Encourage your happy customers to leave reviews on your Google Business Profile listing, as well as other relevant review sites like Yelp or TripAdvisor. Respond to both positive and negative reviews in a professional manner to show that you value customer feedback.
Use Local Schema Markup
Schema markup refers to a type of code that assists search engines in better understanding the content featured on your website.
Making the most of local schema markup can play a key role in improving the visibility of your business in local search results. This includes adding information such as your business name, address, phone number, and hours of operation to your website’s code.
Create Local Content
Creating content that is specific to your local area can help attract potential customers who are searching for products or services in your area. This could include creating blog posts or videos about local events, landmarks, or businesses; by highlighting what makes your community unique, you can establish yourself as a trusted local resource.
Optimise for Mobile
With more and more people using their mobile devices to search for businesses, it’s important to ensure that your website is optimised for mobile devices. This means having a responsive design that adjusts to different screen sizes, as well as ensuring that your website loads quickly on mobile. You can use tools like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check if your website is optimised for mobile.
Final Thoughts
Optimising for local search is crucial for local businesses looking to increase their online visibility and attract more customers. By following these tips, you can improve your chances of showing up in local search results and ultimately grow your business.
With a little bit of effort and attention to detail, you can take your local SEO game to the next level and reach more customers than ever before.
This is important stuff. So, why not reach out to experts in SEO consultancy, Essex, or wherever you happen to be in the UK, so that you can have the right professionals by your side, supporting your business’s growth?
