If you’re a business owner, then you know that it’s important to make sure your business is listed online. And if you’re looking to target customers in your local area, then you need to focus on local SEO. Local SEO is the process of optimizing your website and online presence to rank higher in local search results. This includes things like NAP citations (including your business name, address, and phone number) aka business listings, and Google map listings. An example of a local search result would be if you searched for “best digital marketing agency near me.” This would trigger results based on your specific geographic area.
Online SERP Rankings vs. Physical Location
At one time business gurus touted “location, location, location” as the most important thing for your business. This still holds true, however, the location your website shows up when someone searches online is more important than your physical location in today’s world. The great thing about local SEO is that it can help you reach more potential customers in your area. In fact, recent studies have shown that 50% of all searches are now local. So if you want to tap into that market, then local SEO is the way to go.
NAP Citations and Business Listings
“NAP” stands for “Name, Address, Phone number. You will often hear NAP citations referred to as simply “citations.” This breaks down even further to structured and unstructured citations. A structured citation is a business listing on a site dedicated to business listings. An unstructured citation is the mention of your business name, address, and phone number on any page of a site that is not devoted to business listings. It is imperative that all your NAP citations consistently have the same name, address, and phone number.
There are a number of free business listing aggregators on the internet. Some of these services require you to list your business information only once, and then the aggregator will syndicate your information to a variety of other directories. This can be a time-saving way to make sure your business is listed accurately and consistently across the web.
Another benefit of using a free business listing aggregator is that it can help improve your website’s search engine ranking. By including links to your website from high-quality directories, you may see an increase in traffic from people who are looking for businesses like yours.
When choosing a business listing aggregator, be sure to check out the quality of the directories that they syndicate to. The best services partner with reputable, well-established directories that have high search engine rankings themselves.
Google Map Listings and Google My Business for Local Business
Ever wondered how to get your business listed if someone searches for your product/service in their area? If you are a business, it is important to make sure that your listing is accurate on Google Maps. A recent study found that 82% of people who conduct a local search on their smartphone use Google Maps. If your business is not accurately listed, you could be losing out on potential customers.
To make sure your business is listed correctly, you will first need to create a Google My Business account. Once you have created an account, you can then claim your business listing. Be sure to include all of the relevant information, such as your address, phone number, and website.
In addition to making sure your information is correct, it is also important to ensure that your listing is up-to-date. Google Maps frequently updates its information, so be sure to keep your listing current. You can do this by logging into your account and making any necessary changes.
Google My Business (GMB) is a free and easy-to-use tool for businesses of all sizes to manage their online presence. GMB lets business owners create and update their business profile, add photos, post updates, and connect with customers directly from Google.com.
GMB is an essential part of your online marketing strategy. Here are some reasons why:
1. GMB helps your business rank higher in local search results.
2. GMB provides a free website of sorts for your business.
3. GMB makes it easy for customers to find your business information, such as hours, contact info, and directions.
4. GMB lets you respond to customer reviews and ratings.
5. GMB gives you the ability to create ads for your business on Google Search and Google Maps.
Why Should Businesses Care About Local SEO?
Small businesses should care about local SEO because it can help them improve their website’s visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs) for queries related to their products and services. Local SEO can also help businesses attract more customers through localized search results. In order to optimize their website for local SEO, businesses should ensure that their NAP (name, address, and phone number) is consistent across all of their online listings, and they should create location-specific pages on their website that include keywords and phrases relevant to their target market.
Local SEO Results for Your Business
Webramp Digital understands that when you boil everything down with any type of marketing, the goal is to make more sales and increase revenue. For businesses that are geographically-based, local SEO services are paramount for growing your business and getting a solid return on your marketing investment. While the tips in this article are a great start, if you want a professional marketing agency to handle your local SEO to ensure maximum results, be sure to contact us today for a free strategy review!
