Tips and Tricks to Do Local SEO for Small Business

Local SEO is the process of improving search engine visibility for local businesses. Local SEO is useful for businesses with a physical presence in a locality. Any local business can improve its standings in local listings by following local SEO best practices and gaining organic traffic. 

The Difference Between SEO and Local SEO

The difference between SEO and local SEO might not seem evident to you immediately as optimizing for search engines ranges from broad to specific terms. Understand both these SEO terms in a way that SEO encompasses more general keywords and search queries that cater to a wider range of audiences. On the other hand, local SEO targets audience and traffic from a specific location and gains visibility only in that region. 

Do Small Businesses Need Local SEO?

Yes, both small businesses and large corporations need an online presence to attract customers. As a local business, your potential customers are already in the neighborhood you need to engage with accordingly. 

Such customers appreciate the ease of shopping within the community and the experience they receive by going local. 

Some Simple Tips to Perform Local SEO

• Optimize Google My Business

Google My Business is the most effective tool for local searches and SEO. Since Google understands and shares the information it can verify, Google My Business is the tool that helps meet Google standards. 

To ensure you optimize for Google My Business, you need to create an account first. After you have created your account, use posts within your account and encourage your customers to share their reviews. When Google verifies your information as authentic, the search engine rewards your business with a space in local search results. 

• Share Relevant Links

Sharing links, also called ‘link building,’ is a way to keep yourself and your audience connected with related industries and product lines. Link building using industry-relevant and authority websites endorses you as an expert in the industry and more likely to show in SERP. 

• Take Advantage of Local Citations

You can take advantage of local citations to promote and reference your business. Ensure that your business name, address, and other contact information are correct whenever you reference your business website. Your business information is an easy and controllable ranking factor, whether it is business directories or any review sites. 

• Link Social Media with Local SEO

Google considers content shared on social media as essential and helps to gain visibility in local SEO. Once you have your Google My Business page designed, share that page on social media to align the search results with your local SEO prospects. 

Social media is a powerful tool for marketing that can help you narrow down your targeted audience to a local presence. 

• Perform Local SEO Audits

Regular local audits are necessary to ensure that the information you share remains updated and according to the standards. Perform audits for website on-page factors, citations, Google My Business page, link-building, and perform competitor analysis to keep your business fresh in local listings.