Local SEO is essential for any business that wants to stay competitive. Businesses near the top of local search engine results are not there by chance. They spend time and energy to ensure they are located.
You may be missing key elements if you have already implemented local SEO tactics, but are not yet at the top of search engine results. Here are a few common reasons businesses might be missing out on local SEO.
You ignore the importance of on-page elements
Local search is a subset of SEO that relies heavily on the factors found on your website. The Red Deer SEO experts suggest using the name of your city or the area that your business services in your page title and meta-description if you are looking to reach local customers and prospects.
This will inform Google and your potential customers where you are. Include your location on your website. Content is also very important. Include your name, your address, and your phone number on your home page. This is another place where Google can detect your location.
You didn\'t create local citations
Many consumers use search engines for local searches. However, many businesses do not claim even a single listing on the internet. This is a serious problem.
Google uses hundreds of data compilers and directories to keep track of all local businesses. Your ad must appear correctly in search engines.
Google may not be able to determine which listing of your name, phone number, or address is the correct one if you have changed it or listed it in multiple ways. This can hurt you when you try to find you on the Internet.
Google wants people to go to the right physical address. You can remove inaccurate listings if you discover that some listings are inaccurate, inconsistent, and incomplete.
Make sure that your business is also listed in local directories such as the ones of your chambers of commerce and tourism associations.
You didn\'t optimize GBP
Google Business Profile (GBP), although technically a listing is a large one that has its optimization requirements. Google Business Profile listings must be claimed and optimized.
There is a possibility that you may have to clean. You should confirm that Google only considers one ad as yours.
Take advantage of all the linking options that are available once you have claimed the listing. Your business must appear in the Google-3 Pack when local searches are conducted.
Google Business Profile listings must include the following.
- Solid information, such as a job description, working hours, etc.
- The precise category
- Photos or videos
- 5-star reviews
Take note of how your NAP appears. You will want to use the NAP that appears in the listing on your website, in online directories, and other mentions. Also, you can hide your address if you do not have a physical location where customers can come to you.
You don\'t prioritize online reviews
Google uses reviews as one of the factors that determine which companies are listed in the 3-pack. However, you probably already know it is not always easy to get reviews. Even businesses with satisfied and loyal customers need to work hard for them.
It\'s important to ask customers frequently and to make it easy for them to leave reviews on sites that interest them. This can be done through Google Business Profile or Facebook listings. These reviews can be reused in other places, like in your email newsletters and on your website.
You must make these steps a priority if you are a local business owner. Local leads derived from organic searches can be your most efficient lead generation channel.
You must always respond to any comment, positive or negative. Show those who read your comments that you are interested in what they think and willing to take the time to learn about their unique experiences and needs.
You are not using schema markup properly
It\'s important to familiarize yourself with schema markup if you aren\'t already. The markup is correct if you are conversant and know the subject. You do not need to understand the code.
Fill out the Local Business NAP Generator on Schema.org and the tool will generate the HTML code that you can add to the client\'s website instead of the current address.
Search engines are adopting a standard markup protocol that will allow them to use HTML code for identifying things such as companies, reviews, and addresses. Few businesses use this markup on their website, and those that do aren\'t using it at its fullest potential.
When using schema markup you should be smart. Google encourages you to use schema markup because it allows them to better understand the content of your website.
You are not creating local content
You need to be extra creative when creating content to let your local customers know who you are. Also, you can get spammed if there is a lot of local content on your site.
But you can also talk about the place you work. Consider creating pages that include case studies about the places you are targeting. Use your blog to discuss local events, community news, clients, and employee-related local news. You can mix your content up in an interesting way.
Identify the areas that you should work on, and optimize them. This will help you to improve your local SEO and compete effectively with your competitors.