The internet gives you a global platform, but what if you are a local business?
What if you seek only a local footprint?
As an SEO expert, we cannot understate the value of local SEO and its benefits to your business.
If, for example, you are a local plumber, electrician, hairdresser, or small café owner, there is little point working on and investing in generating a national online presence when your client base is going to be local. Instead, you will be better served by focusing your marketing efforts locally – within your city, suburb, town, or local area. Targeting your SEO efforts specifically to your local area will save you time and money – and you quite possibly will reap greater rewards overall.
SEO Provider Tips to Optimise and Target your Website
1/ Identify the Right Keywords
You need to determine the right, relevant keyword targets to ensure there is an audience for what you are targeting with your SEO strategy.
For example, suppose you are an electrician based in Castle Hill, which is a suburb in Sydney’s northwest. Your first thought would be to target keywords such as “electrician” or “emergency electrician Sydney”, as the search levels would be high for these keywords. The downside is that the competition level would also be very high for these targets, and visitors which they generate will not be targeted in your area.
There is no point attracting the wrong visitors to your website (e.g. homeowners in Manly or even in Melbourne) – those who are unlikely to use your services or for whom you are unable to feasibly provide your services.
Looking at location-specific terms as keyword targets lessens the competition for ranking your keywords, and it also boosts the relevance of the traffic it generates. You will thereby rank faster and generate traffic which will elicit higher conversion rates for your business. You will see a greater return on investment.
2/ Optimise Your Content
Google predominantly ranks and determines your service area based on your onsite content. This is your textual content on your site, and it must reflect your location targets. You must focus on the area you are targeting. This is achievable by creating landing pages for each location or suburb you service. The content of each of these must be unique (not copy-pasted). This delivers local focus and a bigger website footprint.
Your contact page must also include a local street address and phone number.
3/ Obtain a Google Local Listing
Use Google’s free business listing. This places you in the free directory, and with proper promotion by your chosen SEO provider, enables you to appear on the front page. It also benefits your website’s organic ranking, localising your site to that area you wish to target.
To be included in this listing:
- Search “Google places for business”
- Click on the link
- Create an account
- Follow the instructions.
4/ Harness Review Sites and Local Directories
Make sure your listings in the Yellow Pages, True Local, or equivalent lists both your location and website. This allows Google to confirm your location.
Most of these sites (as well as Google Local Listing) have review functions. Request that your customers or clients provide reviews. These give your listings more authority and authenticity – which will pass onto your website.
Follow these tips for local SEO, or enlist the services of a top SEO expert provider to undertake a superior, professional campaign on your behalf.
SEOcycle delivers exactly what you need in terms of economical SEO, including content creation and web design as required to get you seen online by the right audience at the right time. Give us a call today.
