The internet has evolved at a staggering rate in the past few years. People can purchase products or services from businesses all over the world regardless of where they live or where the business is located.
However, despite this there are some businesses which simply can’t offer their services to a worldwide audience. For example, builders, plumbers and hairdressers all need to rely on local trade to survive and this is where local SEO comes in.
What is Local SEO?
Local SEO is the process of improving your website’s ranking in localized search engine results pages.
For example, if a person lives in Chicago and searches for Turkish restaurants on their mobile device then they want the results that appear to show Turkish restaurants in Chicago. The best Turkish restaurant in the U.S.A could be 500 miles away but that’s irrelevant to the user as they are looking for somewhere close by.
This is where local SEO is an absolutely essential marketing strategy for your business, particularly if you own a business where you are reliant on customers visiting you or using your services in person.
How can I improve my local SEO efforts?
There are a few steps that you can take to help but the best thing to do is undoubtedly to hire an internet marketing agency who specialize in local SEO as they will have the experience and expertise to boost your website immediately.
In the meantime, it is wise to have your physical location listed prominently on your website and to ensure that all of your contact details are correct and up to date with the major search engines such as Google.
When people search for a type of business then search engines such as Google will automatically list those which are within a reasonable distance to the user before they bring up other results. Therefore, it is absolutely vital to keep your details updated or potential customers could literally be walking right past your business in order to get to a competitor’s.
Is Local SEO really so important to my business?
Absolutely, 100% yes! If you operate an online only business with no physical presence, then it’s not so essential. However, for any business that provides a physical service or which has a physical sale place, then local SEO is one of the most important marketing strategies that your business should have.
Your business may be performing well and revenues could be significant but you need to have a plan in place to attract new customers. Word of mouth will only get your business so far and even if you have a strong reputation in your local area, there is always room for improvement.
Let’s say for example that you own a Thai restaurant in a small town and you’re well known among the locals so you feel that there’s no need to focus on local SEO. However, what if a coach full of visitors to the area were parking up and looking for a local restaurant?
By not having any local SEO marketing strategy you could potentially be turning away a lot of extra revenue for your business so make sure that you hire an internet marketing company which specializes in local SEO. Contact Proceed Innovative or call us at 800-933-2402!
