Currently, 46 percent of all the searches done on Google are local-based. If the business is not optimized for Local SEO, then that is a chunk of critical missed opportunities. The majority of the businesses nowadays wake up to achieving top rankings at local search sites, but that comes along with extremely tight competition.
The problem: Local SEO is No Longer a Choice End
Whether it’s a restaurant, a dental clinic, or a retail store, one needs to appear in the first three of local search results-the often-called Google Local Pack. According to BrightLocal, 78% of mobile local searches have turned into an offline sale. However, many can’t rank locally because they’re missing these critical factors: optimization for Google My Business, content, and reviews.
The Agitation: Missed local traffic translates to lost revenue
You have a customer searching in town for “best pizza near me.” Your competitor, who just so happens to be one block down, appears top of the SERP. Most times, that click equals a conversion. A case study of Moz reported the following: For those listed within Local Pack, they get clicks 44 percent bigger than companies located below it. In simple words, it means giving your business to your competitors by not having Local SEO.
Solution: Proven and Effective Local SEO Strategies that Actually Work
Google My Business Optimize:
Business Name, Address and Phone Number should be the same. Use high-quality images and make sure to post correct business hours. Request excellent reviews from your satisfied customers.
Why Local Keywords Matter:
Google Keyword Planner is an excellent tool for discovering geo-specific keywords You should use such words naturally in the content of your website, in meta title, and in meta description.
Use online reviews:
For each good or bad review, respond to that. A Harvard Business School study states that one negative rating generates 5-9% revenues on Yelp.
Hyper-Local Content
Blog on local events or news or community stories concerning your locality.
Case Study: An Austin-based HVAC company saw a 60% rise in organic traffic due to seasonal Texas weather HVAC maintenance tips through their blog. 61% of mobile searchers are likely to call a local business if the website is on a mobile-friendly website. Your site needs to load in less than three seconds.
Local Backlinks Creation:
Get your backlinks from bloggers, news outlets, and chambers of commerce in your area. Quality backlinks from local authoritative sources build more authority and more rankings.
Case Study
Above, a Chicago-based dental practice takes on the above approach for six months. The GMB profile is optimized and reviews are left and local content published. It then results in seeing 70% more local organic traffic and 45% more appointment bookings.
Conclusion
It is not a one-time process but a continuous one. Only those companies that continually refine such tactics, with analytics and user behavior in mind, achieve domination in a local search market. The tried tactics do not only guarantee a better ranking position but also more customers ready to make a purchase.
You optimize a Google My Business profile, and you begin with hyperlocal content targeting the actual audience you are trying to reach out to. That is going to supercharge your local SEO, and the rest speaks for itself.
