25 Local SEO Strategies
- Claiming Google Business Profile: Formerly known as Google My Business, this free and straightforward process is a fundamental step to boost local SEO. Two methods are available: entering business details or claiming through Google Search/Maps.
- Google Business Profile Categories: Optimize your business categorization for better customer connection. Choose a primary category that precisely defines your business, enhancing relevance.
- Enhancing Profile with Photos: Adding visuals to your Google My Business Page, showcasing location, products, and staff, not only adds interest and credibility but serves as a local ranking signal.
- Bing Places for Business: While Google dominates, Bing’s 7% market share justifies setting up your business on Bing Places for Business to cover all search bases.
- Online Directories/Citations: Expand your online presence by claiming your business on popular directories such as Apple Maps, Yellowpages, Foursquare, and Yahoo’s Localworks.
- Listings on Review Sites: Leverage the power of reviews, especially on Google, Yelp, Glassdoor, and Angie’s List, as they significantly impact revenue and visibility.
- Positive Reviews: Actively seek positive reviews and respond to them, as they enhance visibility and trust, crucial for attracting customers.
- Reviews with Keywords and Locations: Reviews incorporating city names or keywords signal trustworthiness to Google, contributing to local SEO.
- Reviews with Responses: Engage with customers through responses, showcasing active management and building trust.
- Negative Reviews Handling: Develop a strategy for responding to all reviews, particularly negative ones, as both positive responses and addressing negatives contribute to credibility.
- Creating a Facebook Business Page: Establish a Facebook presence, updating it with essential information, as social signals impact social SEO.
- Social Listings: Claim your business on major social sites (Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram), responding promptly to maintain a positive online image.
- Consistent NAP: Ensure consistency in business name, address, and phone number across all platforms for accurate Google searches and easy customer connections.
- Mobile Responsiveness: Prioritize mobile site optimization, given Google’s emphasis on mobile sites, using tools to achieve responsiveness.
- Structured Data Markup: Implement structured data markups for multiple aspects like departments, hours, address, menu, website, and phone number, recommended by Google.
- Click-Through Rates: Focus on compelling meta titles and descriptions to improve click-through rates, a factor vital for local SEO success.
- Localized Content: Consistently publish content relevant to the local community, integrating key terms and location-specific information.
- On-Page Location + Keyword Optimization: Optimize content for specific locations, not just generic terms, ensuring local relevance.
- Title + Meta Description Optimization: Include key terms and locations in titles and meta descriptions, aligning with on-page location plus keyword optimization.
- High-Quality Inbound Links: Secure links from reputable sites trusted by Google, emphasizing the importance of a well-considered link-building strategy.
- Diversity of Inbound Links: Diversify your inbound link portfolio for relevance and authority, similar to managing an investment portfolio.
- Inbound Links from Local Relevant Sites: Gain credibility through links from local news sites and community blogs, showcasing trust within the community.
- Inbound Links Using Local + Keyword in Anchor Text: Strive for high-quality inbound links featuring both your city/neighborhood and primary key terms for optimal impact.
- Proximity to the Searcher: Beyond optimization control, claiming your Google Business Profile and maintaining consistency in business details influence this strong ranking signal.
- Domain Authority Development: Work on increasing your website’s domain authority over time, a substantial investment likely to pay off in search ranking authority.