What Is Local SEO – Local Search Engine Optimisation

what is local seo
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Table of Contents

What Is Local Search?

When it comes to local SEO, there’s a lot of different pieces of the puzzle to know. And often when businesses first start learning about local Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), they have a lot of questions.

To help those SEO DIYers that are just getting started with local SEO, I’ve put together a list of the most often asked questions. Some are those that are frequently asked and some are one that should be asked!

Local search is the foundation of local SEO or local search engine optimisation, sometimes it’s called Local Search Engine Marketing (SEM)

Local search is when a searcher adds a location to their search or when they search for something that Google believes is a local search, like pizza delivery. So instead of a user searching for “buy trainers,” they might search for “buy trainers Northampton.” This local search allows the Google, Bing, and other search engines to deliver the most relevant local results in the search engines results pages (SERPs) by showing them the closest businesses that sell trainers in Northampton.

Local search did begin with users simply trying to narrow their search. Today, however, local search is an actual part of Google’s wide range of algorithms, and Google will give websites that have been optimised for location higher rankings in the SERPs.

What is local SEO marketing?

Local SEO marketing and local search go hand in hand, with local SEO marketing being a result of the recent focus on local search.  As Google has got better at discovering the location of the searcher, especially on mobile devices, its proximity to a product or service product has become more accurate.

Just like with all other aspects of a business, there are best practice marketing techniques needed for good visibility in local search. Business owners should now focus on optimising their website for the local search queries they want to be visible for, and this is local SEO marketing.

When websites are tuned for local search, it’s simply another form of marketing. And just like print ads and radio commercials have specific guidelines, so does local SEO. And when a business owner understands what is needed to see their website showing up for local searches, they can begin making changes to their website to benefit from the local search algorithm.

Why Bother With Local SEO?

Business owners serving a local community have a lot to gain from implementing local SEO best practice. It will help them generate more local calls, more customers and ultimately more cash. Being able to have their business website show up in front of those looking for the service or product they offer is invaluable.

The benefits of local SEO can best be seen when directly compared with other types of advertising. For example, radio ads and flyer, these are ‘spray and hope’, you spread the word widely and hope someone wanting you is listening or gets to see the flyer.  It is an expensive and inefficient form of advertising, not least because it makes reliable tracking very difficult.

Whereas the opposite is true with local SEO. When a website is tuned to show up for certain local queries you get your ‘ad’ in the form of your website in front of the potential customer the very minute they are looking for you.

In addition to being highly targeted marketing that advertises only to interested users, using local SEO best practice and making changes to websites and costs very little.  Even when business owners choose to hire a local SEO consultant, the cost can be much less than other forms of marketing.

How Does Google Rank Pages?

PageRank, often simply called page rank or page ranking is the basis of all SEO efforts. As mentioned, business owners work on local SEO in order to appear above their competitors in the search results. Before the search engine can display the results it needs to decide what order to list them in.

[images style=”1″ image=”https%3A%2F%2Fsimonkensington.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F07%2Fbest-SEO-company-in-Kettering.png” width=”1177″ align=”center” top_margin=”0″ alt_text=”Example%20of%20Google%20SERP%20″ full_width=”Y”]

Google uses complex computer programs, known as algorithms,  to decide what order the results appear in.  Google says they look at over 200 ‘things’, known as factors when deciding which are the most relevant results.

One part of that algorithm is PageRank and Google has very specific requirements for the page ranking of any given webpage. Whilst Google doesn’t publically reveal PageRank any more, webpages that have a higher page rank will likely appear higher in the results, while those with a lower or no page rank will appear lower in the results.

Google works out the page rank of a webpage by determining how many links are pointing to that specific page. Each link for any web page is counted as a vote for that web page and the more links or votes a site has, the higher a page ranking Google will give to it.

Why Do Search Engine Rankings Change So Often?

Once you start to understand how Google decides which order to place web pages it can become frustrating when your own web page rankings fluctuate.

It’s frustrating, but it’s not uncommon. There are a few reasons why your search positions can change. One is the fact that new websites and webpages are being put up every day, and the search engines are always finding new content.  This new content may well be better than yours and Google decides it deserves to be ranked above you.  This means that everyone below gets moved down.

Another reason is that Google is always releasing updates to its search algorithm.  These changes can mean your website is no longer optimally tuned and needs to be updated. When older websites get updated so that they comply with the latest changes to the algorithm, they can be placed higher up in the rankings, once again knocking down the site that was there originally.

One of the biggest reasons websites start to slip in their rankings is because Google is constantly AB testing the websites it places in the top ten.  AB testing or split testing is where Google will swap the results around and measure what sort of engagement the higher ranked site gets when compared to the previous one.

One of those ranking signals is likely to be User Engagement. Google is able to monitor how a user interacts with a page using its Chrome browser.  From studying the behaviour of millions and millions of page views Google now has a pretty good idea of what a satisfied searcher does when it clicks on a site.  It will know what constitutes a conversion even if there isn’t any conversion tracking.  It can deduce this from mouse tracking and scrolling and clicking.

You should have a goal in mind for each page so you can move your visitors through your sales funnel. It is vital to make sure your website is as user-friendly as possible and the conversion goal as obvious as possible.  Remember multiple conversion points can confuse visitors, so keep your page simple.  The more satisfied visitors Google believes you have the more likely your web page will be rewarded with higher rankings.

What Sort Of Businesses Can Take Advantage Of Local SEO?

Like any forms of advertising, just about most businesses can add local SEO strategies into their digital marketing. However, because the very nature of local search is meant to help users find businesses that are close to them, local SEO is most beneficial to businesses that serve customers in a locale, whether that is a service area like a plumber or those with business premises where customers visit like a cafe or plumbing supplies shop.

Do Businesses Need To Use Local SEO When All Of Their Customers Are Nearby?

Even businesses that serve a small local area can increase their calls, customers and cash by implementing a local SEO strategy.  Google My Business and a website that ranks well locally will attract new customers and help existing customers find details like your phone number.

It’s important to remember that local SEO isn’t only used to advertise to current customers, the point of local SEO is to keep front of mind and advertise the business to those that aren’t aware that it’s there.

It is often quicker to do a quick Google search than try and remember where they hid the phone number of their favourite electrician!

The biggest risk associated with not using local SEO, of course, is that the competitors might be. And if those new customers aren’t finding a particular business because they can’t be found within the search, the competitor that does have a page rank will get the business instead.

Even when the competition isn’t currently using local SEO, getting a jump on it before they do will give business owners the edge.

Does Local SEO Work With Businesses That Have Multiple Locations?

There are many instances in which businesses have another location, either within the same city or in another county; and this can easily be managed on one website with local SEO.

Important note – use a separate local phone number for each location you have.  If it is OK for those local numbers to be redirected to a central number but don’t use a central number on each of the pages and directory listings.

While it may take a bit more time, the business owner simply has to create landing pages for each location they are present in. In some instances, this may be able to be done through the same listing, Google My Business (GMB) allows you to create and verify multiple locations within a business account. For instance, some online directories will include all locations within the same listing. Other directories will require a different profile to be created for each location.

Remember though to make sure that each of those listings points (or links) to the equivalent location page on the website.  Eg the Kettering directory listing points to the Kettering location page on the website and the Thrapston page points to the Thrapston location page and so on for each location you have.

Can A Business Rank In A Town They’re Not Located In?

No, and Yes! The whole purpose of using local SEO is to get more local traffic. But where this might be applicable is for businesses like Tree Surgeons that may cover a wide area that incorporates several towns.  Showing for searches in different towns where you might not have an address or phone number can be tricky but may be possible if you can verify a GMB location and your website is properly optimised to be relevant for those locations.

How Long Does It Take To See Improvements From A Local SEO Campaign?

It will depend on the type of business, the competition, the area, the amount of listings the business owner wants to create, and how much the business owner wants to get out of it. When more effort is put in at the start of a local SEO campaign, improvements in visibility are likely to be seen sooner.

Generally speaking, it is common for worthwhile improvements to be seen within 3 – 6 months.

How Can A Business Implement A Local SEO Strategy When They Have No Time?

Business owners are often too busy running their business or lack the specialised knowledge to be involved with things like local SEO marketing. This is where local SEO consultants come in handy.  They do this every day and make a living off of keeping up to date with Google’s ever-changing algorithm updates and have the tools needed to make tuning decisions.

A local SEO consultant can help business owners to see great successes, both in their online presence visibility and in their profit margins.

Why Should I Pay A Local SEO Expert?

It is completely possible for business owners to DIY their own local SEO efforts, just, in the same way, they could repair the photocopier when it breaks but…do they have the required knowledge and tools to the task properly and efficiently?

These professionals know everything there is to know about local SEO, and they can get the business’ name in places – and in front of customers – the business owner may have never thought of.  An internet marketing specialist will also likely know how a business can integrate their offline marketing with their online to increase their results even further.

For example, reviews and referrals are often offline activities but when combined with online strategies they become powerful ways of pushing a businesses website higher up the search results page.

How Much Do Local SEO Services Cost?

The cost is dependent on a number of factors. These include the size of the website, the competition within the niche or market, where the website currently ranks in the search engines, which keywords the business owner is targeting and what the current website is like.

Again, it will also broadly depend on the business owner’s goals. Those who want to invest a lot of time and effort into local SEO, making sure that they appear in every niche blog and directory available, may have to pay more than those who want basic listings only.

When it comes to local SEO, it’s not really a question of whether or not businesses can afford to do it, but that they can they afford not to.

What Has Changed In Local SEO?

Google has once again changed its algorithms in a way that changes local search entirely and in fact, makes it more competitive.  Local visibility is divided between two main areas the Map Pack and Organic listings.  Whilst the map pack listing is separate from the businesses website both are inextricably linked both having an impact on the other’s performance.

[images style=”1″ image=”https%3A%2F%2Fsimonkensington.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F07%2FSEO-Round-Table-Algorithm-Updates.png” width=”1009″ caption=”Courtesy%20Of%20SEO%20Roundtable” link_url=”https%3A%2F%2Fwww.seroundtable.com%2Fcategory%2Fgoogle-updates” new_window=”Y” align=”center” top_margin=”0″ alt_text=”Google%20algorithm%20changes” full_width=”Y”]

Google reduced its “7-pack” to a “3-pack.” making ranking in the tops 3 vital as they now drive the majority of calls.  And for example, the difference between being placed 2nd and 5th is usually optimisation.

Google used to display a “7 pack” of local map results. These results included businesses that were local, the closest to the user, and included additional information about the company.

Around 2015 the map pack results section was reduced to just 3 businesses. With fewer than half of the businesses appearing that once appeared, it’s made local search more competitive than ever, as every business fights to be in one of those three top spots.

But that’s just one of the ways in which Google’s algorithm has changed, and it’s only the most recent. Prior to the “3 pack” change, Google had also announced that it was going to start giving higher rankings to websites that were mobile-friendly.  Google is now using the Mobile-First index for ranking websites.

Plenty of studies have shown that searches, particularly local ones, are happening more often on mobile phones. Google is able to tap into the phones location services to accurately determine where the searcher is and return location-dependent search results.

If your local business website is not useable on a mobile phone then you will miss out on this valuable local traffic.  Not only make sure your website is easy to read on a small screen but take advantage of ‘click to call’ buttons to make calling you one-click easy.

What Is An Entity?

Google has a patent on Related Entities and SEO’s believe that Google is using this principle to understand the relationship between things.  So there is likely a database where Google stores this information and the more information Google holds about a particular thing the better it can understand what it is and how it relates to the world around it.

When optimising a business for local search we want to build out the business’ online entity.  This means making sure that websites mentioning the business are using consistent data.

For example, making sure the business name is correct eg Holdens Shoes Ltd instead of Holden Shoes, Google may see those as two separate businesses and this confusion will weaken the authority of the information Google holds on that business.

Another example might be opening hours if one site has the store open on a Saturday but others have them closed then Google may not display that business to a searcher looking for their type of business on a Saturday.

A business wants to build out their entity by claiming as many of the hundreds of online directories, social media accounts and web 2.0s as they can and populating them with the same business information.

It would be a good idea to vary the business descriptions and photos used but important information such as name, address, phone number and website should be exactly the same.

Google is likely to be ‘clever’ enough to understand the road names like Street and St or business names Holdens Shoes Limited is the same as Holden Shoes Ltd but to be on the safe side be consistent.

What Is NAPW?

NAPW is the acronym commonly used in local SEO and it stands for “Name, Address, Phone Number and Website.” These are some of the most influential bits of information to consider in local SEO, as they’ll be what users are most likely searching for.  They are very important to Google and the other search engines.

[images style=”1″ image=”https%3A%2F%2Fsimonkensington.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F07%2FEample-of-a-business-NAP-on-their-website.png” width=”565″ caption=”Example%20Of%20A%20NAP%20On%20A%20Website” align=”center” top_margin=”0″ alt_text=”Example%20Of%20A%20NAP%20On%20A%20Website” full_width=”Y”]

Google’s algorithm is a computer program and as such, when it’s looking for a local business it is looking for a match with the data it holds.  When matching addresses Google isn’t clever enough yet to know that 1 Main Street, Northamptonshire, NN16 1HT is the same as 1 Main St, Kettering, NN16 1HT.

What is the correct NAP?  I would use the one that Google has in its database and that is usually the one the Google My Business (GMB) address.  If you already have a verified GMB then use that address, if you don’t then verify one and use that one going forward.

This is why is it easier to start with your GMB then you’ll know what address to use.  If Google has got your address wrong then you can correct it via your Google My Business dashboard.  Bear in mind you may need to reverify your address with a Google Post Card.

The more places your business name, address, phone number and website appear on other trusted websites the trust Google will give the business.  Remember Google is looking for matches, this is why it is vital that the NAPW is consistent all over the web.

Not only should it appear on the company’s website, but the same NAP should appear consistently across all directories, social media profiles, and any other part of a company’s online presence.

This is especially true with online directories such as Google My Business, Yelp, Yell and other online directories, as many directories are linked in some way with other directories to ensure that the NAP of any one company is consistent across all the listings.

What Is A Local Listing?

Google My Business, Yelp, Yell, and more, are all online directories that list thousands of local businesses. Those business listings include a business’ name, address, phone number, website and other such as its opening hours.

These listings are often called Citations.  Citations are where another website, like a directory, cites a business.

These local directory sites help to make businesses visible on the Internet, and they are the backbone of local SEO.  In return, these directories sell enhanced advertising to the local businesses.  Enhanced ads or premium listings might offer extra visibility or offer extras such as displaying more photos or videos.

Each new listing created by a business increases that business’ chances of getting more calls, more customers and earning more cash. But there are other reasons to create more than just one or two listings across online directories.

These online directories will share and exchange information with each other. And the more consistent information that appears about a business, the higher more authority that online business entity will have and they will likely rank higher in the SERPs.

What Are Keywords?

Keywords and keyword phrases are essential to any SEO campaign and they’re just as important in local SEO.

Keywords are the words a searcher types into the search engines when they re looking for answers, a product or service. When the content on a webpage matches the words a searcher has typed into the search engine, that page will be shown in the search engine results page. The better a page is optimised for that search query, the more relevant the search engine will decide it is and the more likely it is that the page will appear higher in the SERPs.

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When starting out on any local SEO campaign keywords are important; even local directories will ask for basic keywords when listings are being set up.

Many business owners are familiar with the term ‘keywords’ when it comes to their SEO efforts, but few understand how important they are and how important it is to use the right keywords.

When choosing keywords think about the words and phrases your potential customers are going to use – not what you’d use.  Remember not to use jargon as this is likely to be gobbledygook to most people.

There are tools you can use to check whether people are actually searching for a keyword you have thought.  These keyword research tools will give other data such the estimated number of times a keyword is searched for each month.

It makes sense to optimise your webpages for keywords that people are actually using and with enough monthly volume for your webpage to get visits.

Remember that the search volume will be shared between the web pages shown on the first page of the search and the majority of clicks go to the top 3 websites with the first website getting nearly 35% of the clicks and reduces dramatically as you get down the list with numbers 9 and 10 getting around just 2%

What’s The Best Thing A Business Can Do To Improve Their Local SEO?

All local SEO strategies should begin with Google My Business. Google My Business is a free platform for businesses to promote their business online. The GMB listings show up in the map pack above the organic listings and do get the majority of clicks.

[images style=”1″ image=”https%3A%2F%2Fsimonkensington.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F07%2FClaim-Your-GMB.png” width=”576″ caption=”Claim%20Your%20Google%20My%20Business%20Listing” align=”center” top_margin=”0″ alt_text=”Claim%20Your%20Google%20My%20Business%20Listing” full_width=”Y”]

Once a business has claimed their Google My Business listing, they can use it as an online hub to help boost all their other online properties. Google is constantly looking at ways of improving it’s Google My Business platform to make it better for searchers and more useful to businesses.  A business’ GMB should always be the foundation of any local SEO campaign.

It’s important to claim a Google My Business listing (and all the other online profiles) so that someone else doesn’t claim it and use it to damage the business’ reputation and hurt their local SEO efforts.

What Other Tactics Should A Local Business Use To Rank Higher In Search?

There are a number of things that a business should do to increase their local SEO presence. Here are some of them:

  • Creating profiles and pages on all other directory sites including Bing, Apple Maps, Yell, Thompson Local, Cylex, The Sun Directory, The Independent Directory – you can find the top 50 UK citations here
  • Add a SSL so the website is secure, most browsers now show a warning on web pages without an SSL.  These warnings can scare visitors away.  SSLs for non-ecom store are usually free.  See Let’s Encrypt or Cloudflare for details
  • Keyword research to learn the best keywords to optimise for.  Analyse what your competitors are ranking for and choose the ones that suit your business.  Use keyword research tools to find any ones your competitors are missing.
  • Geotag keywords for all images, headings, and text throughout the company’s website and blog.  Make sure you have a page for each main keyword.  Eg, if you’re a plumber, don’t just have one service page, create a page for each one.  For example, boiler repairs, boiler servicing, burst pipes, leaking taps, blocked toilet, power flushing etc.
  • Get backlinks – a great starting point is to analyse your competitors and copy their backlinks where you can
  • Make sure your website loads fast – check with this tool
  • Optimising your URL structures by short unique keyword rich URLs eg mysite.co.uk/boiler-repairs
  • Structured Data is code that can be added to a web page so that the search engines can understand the content easier.  Add complete JSON Schema Markup to all parts of your website.  eg Home page should be Local Business markup, contact page should have contact page markup, service and products should be correctly marked up.  Use this tool to create the schema and this tool to check it.
  • Get citations and website mentions
  • Get reviews, Google reviews are best but Facebook and Yell can be a good second choice.  Implement a reputation management strategy that helps your business collect reviews on auto-pilot.
  • Build your business entity by creating social media profiles across all major social networks, as well as niche social networks.  There are over 500 social networks, you can use this tool to see what networks you can sign up for.

The list of things that can be done to improve a business’ local SEO is large and some of the tasks require knowledge of HTML so it might a good idea to engage the services of SEO expert who can tune your business web presence for higher rankings.

What Can Hurt A Business’ Local SEO Efforts?

Just like there are things a business can do to increase their brand’s online presence and visibility through local SEO, there are also things they can do to damage it. Failing to claim their Google My Business listing is one of them.

Here are a few other common mistakes made with local SEO:

  • Improper categorisation. Pick the correct primary and secondary GMB categories.
  • Not fully completing the Google My Business listing.  If Google allows you to add some information, do it, they are asking for a reason!
  • Missing NAP on the website.
  • Not having an SSL.
  • Too few pages targeting too many keywords.
  • Not having location landing pages on the website
  • Not enough content on the home page.
  • Not mentioning the main keyword on the page.
  • Not linking back to the correct website URL.  https://www.mysite.co.uk is different from https://mysite.co.uk which is different again to http://www.mysite.co.uk etc.  To Google, these may as well be different websites.
  • Incorrect contact information on the website. Google wants to make sure they’re displaying the most accurate results to the user as possible. In order to do this when it comes to business listings, Google will cross-reference the contact information within the online directory with the contact information on a business’ website. If the two don’t match up, the business may miss out.
  • Inconsistent NAPW information. Just like Google cross-references contact information with a business’ website, the online directories also cross-reference a business’ NAPW, name, address, phone number and website address, with each other. When inconsistencies occur, businesses can suffer.

This list isn’t exhaustive but things above need to be avoided.

Do I Need To Keep On With Local SEO?

Usually. Like most other projects any business takes on, they can be as ongoing or intermittent as the business owner wants. However, the best local SEO campaigns and the most successful ones will be an ongoing effort.

Google regularly changes the ‘rules’, introduces new products and competitors may start optimising their web presence so there is always some SEO task that would be beneficial.  So that a business can keep up to date on all of this it’s important that businesses continue with their local SEO efforts.

‘I Deserve To Be Top?’

Most business owners want to top of the search engine results page after all that is where the riches are to be had.  But Google’s local search algorithm favours those sites that tune for top rankings, not those that just want it.

[images style=”1″ image=”https%3A%2F%2Fsimonkensington.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F07%2FGoogle-Ranks-The-Best-Optimised-Pages.png” width=”1305″ caption=”Google%20Ranks%20The%20Best%20Optimised%20Web%20Pages” align=”center” top_margin=”0″ alt_text=”Google%20Ranks%20The%20Best%20Optimised%20Web%20Pages” full_width=”Y”]

You have to put the work in, researching your competitors and analysing what it takes to get to the top.  A page ranks well on merit and if your page isn’t considerably better it is unlikely to rank better.

Creating better-optimised content can be time-consuming and expensive but unlike PPC (pay per click) advertising SEO is a long term marketing investment.  The higher rankings will pay you in ‘free’ traffic for as long as you maintain your page rankings.

Once you have your web page ranking where you want it you will want to make sure you are tracking your visitor’s behaviour and conversions.  Remember to create a Google Analytics account and add the tracking code to your website.  You can use Google Tag Manager for this if you wish.

Verify your website with Google Search Console and choose the correct version of the site to track.  Add heat mapping software like Hotjar to track how your users engage with your content. Add a call tracking phone number so you can tell where the phone calls come from and set up goal tracking in Google Analytics to count the number of calls and successful form submissions.

This tracking data will help to refine the experience your website visitors get which in turn helps convert their visit into an enquiry.

Conclusion

There are thousands of websites being created every day, and Google’s algorithm is always changing, so local SEO is something that is constantly changing.  Even the professionals need to spend hours each week keeping up to date and testing to make sure their skills are still useful.

But by starting with these basics, and giving themselves a good basic online presence by implementing basic local SEO techniques, businesses can give themselves a head start on their competition.

Local SEO Next Steps

Thank you for reading this article.  I hope that you found it useful and that it has given you the information you need to help you better understand the importance of tuning your website for better visibility and managing your online reputation and the strategies to use to help you do that.

If you want help implementing local SEO strategies then contact us: 01536 441425

Local SEO FAQs

How do I find local SEO?

  1. Get your Google My Business page set up.
  2. Optimize all of your landing pages with local keyword data.
  3. Ensure your NAP listings remain consistently across the web.
  4. Generate genuine reviews from your customers on Google and Yelp.
  5. Optimize your search engine snippets.
  6. Focus on localized link building.
22 Apr 2015

 


What is a Local SEO citation?

A citation is an online reference to your business’s name, address and phone number (NAP). Like links to your website, Google uses them when evaluating the online authority of your business. Unlike links though, citations don’t need to be linked to your business’s website in order for you to be credited for them.29 Oct 2018

 


What is Yoast Local SEO?

Yoast SEO Premium contributes to improving your ranking in search engines. … Yoast Local SEO helps you insert Google maps, opening hours, contact information and a store locator on your contact page. This way you’ll improve the usability of your contact page.

 


What is the difference between SEO and local SEO?

Local SEO has a geographical component which organic SEO does not necessarily have. It is the practice of building signals of relevance around a specific location; a brick-and-mortar business. Organic SEO is a marketing practice that revolves, more or less, around a website.6 Jan 2014

 


How can I improve my local SEO results?

How can I improve my local SEO results?

Top 10 Ways to Improve Your Local SEO Right Now
  1. Create and Optimize Your Google My Business Account. …
  2. Get Regular Reviews from Happy Customers. …
  3. Optimize for Voice Search. …
  4. Create Content Based on Local News Stories or Events. …
  5. Optimize Your Website for Mobile. …
  6. Home in on Local Keywords. …
  7. Use Location Pages or a Location-Specific “About Us” Page.
12 Oct 2018

 


How do local businesses do SEO?

10 Ways to Optimise Your Website for Local SEO
  1. Optimize Your Homepage. …
  2. Optimize Your Meta Data. …
  3. Create a Page for Every Product, Service and Location. …
  4. Use Local Business, Organization, Product & Service Schema. …
  5. Claim Your Google My Business Page. …
  6. Update NAP Citations on Your Website. …
  7. Add Your Business To Local Directories. …
  8. Setup Social Media Signals.

 


What is nap SEO?

NAP stands for Name, Address, Phone Number. NAP is critical for businesses wishing to rank well in the local organic search results because search engines like Google take the data into account when determining which companies to show for geo-targeted searches.

 


What are Google Local Citations?

Simply put, a Google citation is a mention on another website that lists your name, address, and phone number. (NAP) Google is constantly searching the internet looking for local information that matches the business listing on that appears on Google’s local results.

 


What is a local citation?

A local citation is any mention of your business on the web; it is any combination of your company name, phone number, address, zip or postal code, and website address. Citations in SEO are a key factor in improving your local search results. Local citations come in various forms, for example Company name.24 May 2017

 


Does Yoast local SEO work?

Yoast SEO Premium is the #1 plugin to improve your overall ranking in search engines. It sets up redirects for every page you delete, improves your site structure through internal links and optimizes everything you write. The Local SEO plugin and Yoast Premium work fine on their own, but they work even better together.

 


Why do I need local SEO?

Local SEO provides potential customers with the information that they want when they want it. … Even if your business does not have a website, local SEO helps your business stand out in local searches and helps drive more traffic through online leads.24 Apr 2018

 


What is organic SEO?

Organic SEO (search engine optimization) is the phrase used to describe processes to obtain a natural placement on organic search engine results pages (SERPs).

 


What is national SEO?

National SEO is a long-term investment that can separate your business from the competitors. Although similar to local SEO, National SEO focuses primarily on ranking for broad keyword terms rather than ranking for specific geographical terms.

 


What is the difference between business listing and local listing?

I think you are referring to the same thing. However, a business listing could be something you would find in a business directory such as Yelp, whereas local listing is targeting a geographical location. Pinging is often a term used to confirm a site is there and responding.28 Nov 2015

 


How can I improve my SEO search?

Follow these suggestions to improve your search engine optimization (SEO) and watch your website rise the ranks to the top of search engine results.

Five Ways to Improve your Site’s Ranking (SEO)
  1. Publish Relevant Content. …
  2. Update Your Content Regularly. …
  3. Metadata. …
  4. Have a link-worthy site. …
  5. Use alt tags.

 


Who is the best local SEO company?

Best Local SEO Companies: May 2019
Rank Company Name Overall Score
1 HigherVisibility 888-598-4449 99
2 G/O Digital 888-925-4336 95
3 ReachLocal 855-973-4118 94
4 Yodle 877-276-5104 92

46 more rows

 


How do I get my business to come up on a Google search?

Adding or Claiming Your Business on Google My Business
  1. Go to Google My Business. Click “Get on Google”
  2. Enter Your Business Name and Address in the Search Box.
  3. Select or Add Your Business. Click on your business listing if it appears among the suggested matches. …
  4. Verify Your Business. …
  5. Confirm your Business.
17 Dec 2014

 


How do I rank higher in local search?

Here are our top seven ways to rank higher in Google local search.
  1. Claim and Optimize Your Google My Business.
  2. Manage Online Reviews.
  3. List Your Business in Online Directories.
  4. Use Schema.
  5. SEO Basics with a Local Twist.
  6. Utilize Google My Business Posts.
  7. Utilize Social Media.
  8. Conclusion.
3 Oct 2018

 


How do I make my local business rank higher on Google?

How to make your local business rank higher on Google
  1. Claim your Google Places listing. …
  2. Expand your Google Places listing. …
  3. Sign up for Google Webmasters. …
  4. Request that Google photograph the inside of your business. …
  5. Solicit positive reviews from your customers. …
  6. Build your own website.
23 Nov 2010

 


How do I do a local SEO audit?

How to Conduct a Local SEO Audit in 45 Minutes
  1. Before You Begin Your Local SEO Audit.
  2. Step #1: Conduct an extensive keyword analysis.
  3. Step #2: Search business in Google and other search engines.
  4. Step #3: Scan the Google+ Local Page to access page health.
  5. Step #4: Audit the company website or blog for duplicate content.

 


How do I optimize my business on Google?

Here are the steps you need to optimize it in order to make more money for your business.
  1. Ensure your information is accurate, comprehensive, and up-to-date. …
  2. Ask for reviews (and then respond to them) …
  3. Speak directly to your customers through Google My Business Messages. …
  4. Add posts to share business updates.

 


What is a nap citation?

NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone Number. It’s a critical factor in local SEO and influences which companies Google and other search engines show for local intent searches. People often refer to occurrences of NAP data around the web as citations.25 Sep 2016

 


What is Google Scholar Citations?

What is Google Scholar Citations?

Google Scholar Citations. Google Scholar Citations provide a simple way for authors to keep track of citations to their articles. You can check who is citing your publications, graph citations over time, and compute several citation metrics.

 


What is BrightLocal?

BrightLocal is an integrated SEO and local citation platform loaded with all the features and tools to help increase the visibility of your business on the web and attract more local consumers. … The platform is used by thousands of professional digital marketers, agencies, freelancers, and businesses all over the globe.7 Apr 2019

 


What is a local directory?

A directory is a location for storing files on your computer. Directories are found in a hierarchical file system, such as Linux, MS-DOS, OS/2, and Unix. In the picture to the right is an example of the tree command output that shows all the local and subdirectories (e.g., the “big” directory in the cdn directory).21 May 2018

 


Are citations important?

Why citing is important. It’s important to cite sources you used in your research for several reasons: To show your reader you’ve done proper research by listing sources you used to get your information. To be a responsible scholar by giving credit to other researchers and acknowledging their ideas.2 Aug 2018

 


How do I increase my Google presence?

If you are looking for ways to increase your online exposure then use these five tips to boost your local SEO effort.
  1. Make sure your business is listed in prominent online directories. …
  2. Don’t forget the Yellow Pages. …
  3. Audit your Google+ listing and make sure it is complete and accurate. …
  4. Encourage customers to leave reviews.
2 Jun 2014

 


What citation style is used for business?

 

APA (American Psychological Association) is used by Education, Psychology, and Sciences. MLA (Modern Language Association) style is used by the Humanities. Chicago/Turabian style is generally used by Business, History, and the Fine Arts.18 Feb 2019

 


Is Yoast SEO Premium worth it?

As a full-time WordPress SEO blogger, it’s my duty to have Yoast SEO Premium. … I respect Yoast since their free SEO plugin has the majority of things you need, but the premium version just isn’t worth it for me. I will show you what each feature actually do so you can make a decision for yourself.14 Nov 2018

 


How do I SEO my WordPress site?

31 Ways to Boost the SEO of Your WordPress Site
  1. Pick a good web host. …
  2. Starting with your WordPress Blog. …
  3. Alter the default permalinks structure. …
  4. Install an .xml sitemap plugin. …
  5. Install an SEO plugin and start using rel=” canonical” …
  6. Nofollow untrusted and useless links. …
  7. Noindex duplicate page types. …
  8. Use a caching plugin to speed up your blog.
30 Aug 2018

 


What is local search marketing?

Local search marketing is a critical aspect of search engine optimization for retail stores, doctors, restaurants, hotels and more. … Plus, bad data is rampant in local search engines and online directories which is a key reason for duplicate local listings that can wreak havoc on your customers’ experience.

 


What are the benefits of local SEO?

The Benefits of Farming Out Local SEO Optimization
  • A superb web presence in your local niche market.
  • Higher search engine rankings.
  • Authority content that grabs visitors to your website.
  • Massive website traffic.
  • More calls from potential customers.
  • More people finding your store and coming buy to make purchases.

 


What is an ineffective use of local SEO?

Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is an incredibly effective way to market your local business online. It helps businesses promote their products and services to local customers at the exact time they’re looking for them online.

 


Why SEO is important for small business?

SEO helps small business owners create fast, robust, and user-friendly websites that rank higher in search engines, which in turn helps bring more qualified potential customers to their sites and eventually increases conversion rates.

 


What are the best SEO techniques?

And this article will list ten modern SEO techniques that are guaranteed to work for you.
  • Optimize your site to be mobile-friendly. …
  • Focus on local SEO optimization. …
  • Improve the user experience. …
  • Maximize on social media. …
  • Do not ignore YouTube SEO. …
  • Rely on the available SEO tools. …
  • Link building. …
  • Ensure to use LSI keywords.

 


How can I improve my SEO organically?

Here are five basic tips to help improve your organic rankings.
  1. Identify Your Target Keywords. …
  2. Get Your On-Page Optimization Perfect. …
  3. Develop Your Content Strategy. …
  4. Attract High-Quality Links. …
  5. Monitor Performance & Continue to Optimize Your SEO Efforts.
16 Jun 2014

 


How do I use Google Local SEO?

  1. Get your Google My Business page set up.
  2. Optimize all of your landing pages with local keyword data.
  3. Ensure your NAP listings remain consistently across the web.
  4. Generate genuine reviews from your customers on Google and Yelp.
  5. Optimize your search engine snippets.
  6. Focus on localized link building.
22 Apr 2015

 


How do you rank in nationally SEO?

Checklist to rank nationally using SEO
  1. Nationwide keyword research. As always, doing keyword research at the beginning of any SEO campaign is highly recommended. …
  2. Set a preferred language. …
  3. Consider city-specific landing pages. …
  4. Consider country-specific based hosting. …
  5. Long-term national SEO strategies.
15 Nov 2018

 


By Simon Kensington-Fellows

Simon Kensington-Fellows is an experienced veteran of search engine optimisation having been successfully ranking websites in Google and Bing for over a decade.  Simon's speciality is local SEO.  He is passionate about helping businesses grow their calls, customers and cash by improving their visibility in the search engines.

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