Local search engine optimization (local SEO) is critical for small businesses looking to drive more customers to their website and increase foot traffic. With more and more people using Google and other search engines to find local shops and service providers, having an effective local SEO strategy can help set your small business apart.

This complete guide to local SEO for small businesses will teach you how to improve your local search visibility and attract more customers in your area.

  

What is Local SEO?

Local SEO refers to optimization specifically aimed at helping search engines understand the local nature of a business and improving rankings in local search results. This includes:

• Optimising your Google My Business listing
• Building local citations and directory listings
• Creating location-based content and webpages
• Earning high-quality local backlinks
• Encouraging customer reviews

The goal is to clearly signal relevance to searchers looking for goods and services in your geographic area.

Why Local SEO is Important for Small Businesses

Here’s why focusing on local SEO should be a top priority:

Increased Visibility in Local Search Results

Ranking higher in local search results gives you prime placement in the search results page – right in front of searchers looking for a business like yours in your area. This visibility is invaluable for driving new business.

More Website Traffic from Local Customers

By showing up prominently when potential customers search for local products or services related to your business, you’ll earn more qualified website traffic.

Compete with Larger Companies

No matter how big or resource-rich your competitors are, you can use location-based optimization to go toe-to-toe with them for the attention of local searchers.

Clearly, successful local SEO efforts give small businesses a tremendous competitive edge. Now let’s look at some tips for improving rankings.

14 Actionable Local SEO Tips for Small Businesses

Follow this local search optimization checklist to form a comprehensive strategy:

1. Set Up Google My Business

Google My Business is the foundation of local optimization. Be sure to completely fill out your listing with accurate business information, enticing photos, offerings, and service areas.

2. Optimize Your Website for Local Search

Add schema markup to help search bots better understand your business information. Include your city, state and zip code in titles, headings, and content. Have dedicated location pages.

3. Conduct Keyword Research

Learn the specific terms your potential local customers are using to find businesses like yours. Target these in your content to drive relevant organic traffic.

4. Create Hyperlocal Content

Write blog posts, FAQs, area/neighborhood guides that connect with searchers in your geographic radius. Mention street names, landmarks, and hyperlocal details.

5. Get Recommendations and Reviews

Reviews lend tremendous credibility in local search. Prioritize earning genuine customer reviews on high authority sites like Google, Facebook, and Yelp.

6. List Your Business Accurately on Directories

Consistency across key listing sites reinforces where you’re located and the services you offer. Maintain the same business name, phone number, and address across 50+ citations.

7. Link to Your Website from Other Local Sites

Build locally-optimized links from relevant sites focusing on your metro area. Guest blog on regional publisher sites or get mentioned in local media outlets.

8. Encourage Check-Ins and Engagement

The more people engage with your listings, the more authoritative they appear. Offer check-in deals and share posts to prompt engagement.

9. Analyze the Local SERP Competition

Study what other local businesses rank well and for what keywords. This competitive insight will fuel your targeting and content strategies.

10. Fix Technical SEO Issues

Squashing crawl errors, broken links, site speed problems, and mobile optimization issues lays the technical groundwork for great local search visibility.

11. Advertise in Local Publications

Consider taking out ads in local newspapers, magazines, events calendars, trade publications. Ask for a backlink on their website as part of the ad agreement.

12. Network Locally and Sponsor Events

Getting out into your community, meeting business owners and residents, sponsoring local events – these build awareness and relationships that boost word-of-mouth.

13. Measure and Refine Based on Insights

Dive into Google Analytics and Google Search Console to see how your vital metrics like ranks and traffic are trending. Continually test and optimize based on learnings.

14. Consider Working with a Local SEO Agency

An experienced local SEO company can help develop and execute a comprehensive strategy tailored to your market and goals. Their expertise and bandwidth can accelerate results.

Local SEO Tools to Utilize

In addition to analytics platforms, here are some handy tools for executing local search optimization:

• Whitespark – identifies missing/incomplete listings and citations
• Moz Local – manages local listings and analyzes ranking factors
• BrightLocal – generates reporting on local ranks, reviews
• Synup – submits data to key listing sites
• Screaming Frog- crawl site for SEO/technical issues
• Google Trends – analyze local search volumes

These solutions streamline launching and maintaining an effective local SEO campaign.

FAQs Around SEO for Small Businesses

Some frequent questions small business owners have about improving local search visibility:

What is the best way to start with local SEO?

Begin by fleshing out and optimizing your Google My Business listing with complete details, great images, and calls-to-action. This helps establish your digital presence.

How much does local SEO cost?

Depending on if you handle strategy internally or work with an agency, budgets can range quite a bit. Expect an average of around $750-$1,500 monthly for professional management.

How long does local SEO take to show results?

Usually it takes 3 to 6 months to start seeing measurable movement in rankings and organic traffic. But some specific optimization efforts like earning online reviews can demonstrate ROI much faster.

Key Takeaways around Local SEO for Small Business

The overarching goal of local search optimization is to reinforce your relevance to searchers’ needs around location and intent. By implementing location-based optimization, small businesses can level the online competitive playing field, reach new local customers, and boost on-site conversions.

Focus on where potential customers are searching and what hyperlocal words they are using so your content directly answers their queries. Getting these optimized search visibility elements right means your business appears right when it matters most – when someone nearby is looking for exactly what you offer!

Local SEO Checklist for Small Businesses

Create optimized Google My Business listing with complete information and great photos

Write hyperlocal content using your city, street names, nearby landmarks

Build links and listings on locally-focused directory and review sites

Fix technical errors affecting site crawlability and speed

Track analytics around keyterms, ranks, traffic to guide optimization

Prioritizing local SEO delivers a high return by directly fueling the discovery and growth of your most qualified customer base – nearby searchers actively looking for your products or services. Use this guide’s small business search optimization tips and tools to help your company stand out in your geographic service areas and surpass larger competitors.

FAQs

What is the best way to start with local SEO?

Begin by fleshing out and optimizing your Google My Business listing with complete details, great images, and calls-to-action. This helps establish your digital presence.

What local SEO aspects can I handle myself?

Most small businesses can tackle factors like creating a Google My Business profile, building local citations, publishing location-based content, and encouraging reviews. Technical work and link building may require outside experts.

How do I track my local SEO results?

Use Google Analytics to monitor key metrics like organic traffic, conversions, and which landing pages perform best. Check Google Search Console to see rankings for target keywords. Review online listings for new customer reviews.

How much does professional local SEO cost for a small business?

Depending on whether you handle strategy internally or work with an agency, budgets can range quite a bit. Expect around $750-$1,500+ monthly for comprehensive management from a qualified local SEO company.

How can I tell if my local SEO efforts are working?

It takes 3 to 6 months to see measurable local SEO results in rankings and traffic. But quick wins like earning Google My Business or Facebook reviews means your optimizations are kicking in. Ultimately, monitor website analytics for increases in organic visitors, leads and sales from local areas.

Do I need a separate strategy for mobile local SEO?

Yes, over 60% of local searches happen on smartphones, so having a mobile-friendly site with fast page speeds is key. Ensure your Google My Business listing looks great on mobile screens as well. Mobile optimization factors into local search visibility.

Let me know if you need any other local SEO FAQs answered! Providing this Q&A helps small business owners understand best practices.