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Our smartphones are pretty smart today. They know where we are, and in some cases, they know what we want. Increasingly, local shoppers and customers rely on their phones to find them things. Say you run a garden center, for example. A customer looking for an azalea might search “garden centers near me” on the phone. In that case, it’s in your best interest to show up in that search.
The Importance of Local Search Engine Optimization: Local Searches Lead to Purchases
Research by Google has found that 50 percent of consumers who conducted a local search on their smartphone visited a store within a day. The same study found that local searches lead to more purchases than non-local searches. Eighteen percent of local searches on smartphone lead to a purchase within a day. In contrast, only seven percent of non-local searches do.
How Do I Improve My Local SEO?
One of the easiest ways to improve local SEO search results is to keep your business’ Google My Business Profile accurate. For example, update its photos and contact information. Also keep your information up-to-date and fresh in local business directories. In addition, making friends with local publications is a great way to become prominent in local search.
“Fostering relationships with high-profile local publications, planning public relations events and refining internal links will dramatically improve SEO results,” , advised Customer Think’s Rick Delgado. “By focusing on obtaining local coverage from respected local publications who will cover your events and news updates, an immediate SEO boost is likely.”
Ensure Your Content is Relevant to a Local Audience
Localized content has a tendency to get old fast. (“Look! A 20 percent coupon for this pizza restaurant! Never mind, it expired in 2014.”) Some companies don’t keep their content fresh and up-to-date. As a result, they tend to look incompetent compared to companies that do tend to and cultivate their content.
Adapt to the Way Local Searchers Use their Phones
Experts call them, “localized micro-moments.” They’re a moviegoer using his phone to check the movie time. They’re also a driver asking Siri where the nearest coffee shop is. In some cases, shoppers may use local landmarks, such as “Coffee shop near the Ninth Street Bridge.” For this reason, you need to be sure you’re using local keywords. A person looking for a pizza restaurant in a large city isn’t going to search by the city name. Instead, he’ll make references to the specific neighborhood.
Ask for Professional Help
Maybe you run a local retail or service business with a significant amount of competition for search traffic. If so, you also need to consider the importance of shoppers’ “micro-moments.” Then build your hyperlocal SEO efforts accordingly.
At Keyword Performance, we can help you optimize your website for local business. So you can show up at the top of shoppers’ local searches.
Fill out the form on our Web site to set up a consultation today!
The benefits of SEO reach beyond rankings to calls, visits and customers.
Our SEO checklist covers this and the rest of the basics.
