Are you someone who wants more local customers to know about your brand so that when they are in search of products you offer, they just come right to your storefront?
Well, every small business owner dreams so. But that dream isn’t at all hard to fulfil.
You can bring those local customers to your doorstep with some strategies and effort.
for that, you just have to be there in the results when they search for your services online.
You can dominate the local online search market with strategies, time, patience, and effort.
Here in this guide, let us see what strategies you can embrace to make that possible.
Let us start!
Strategies to Dominate Local Search Market
Claim A Google Business Profile
Claiming a Google business listing usually remains the first step in appearing in local online searches.
This is (previously Google My Business) a free business listing that Google offers. You can claim it anytime. Registering for GMB is easy; you must fill in basic business details.
For example, name, address, contact number, website link, etc.
However, you must do that carefully.
The benefit of GMB is that it makes your business visible in local search packs on Google.
So, if anyone in your vicinity searches for your kind of service, chances are your listing will become visible to them; however, some local SEO factors, like proximity, relevance, prominence, etc., may likely influence it.
Even if you are not opting for many Local SEO strategies, GMB is one you must not neglect; instead, claim it as a priority if you are serious about the local search market.
Read also: Google shuts down websites created with Google Business Profile. Now what?
Local keyword research
When you wish to appear in local searches, it is imperative to know local key terms or phrases people use for services similar to yours.
In other words, if your business deals in multiple products/services, the probability is that one or two among them comparatively have high demand and, eventually, a high volume of searches.
The key is to target such keywords. You must pick the ones that you think are worthy and place the most relevant ones at the top of the hierarchical list to use in your website content (via headings, meta titles, descriptions) and even your Google business profile.
Keyword research tools like Ahref, Google Keyword Planner, and SEMrush can help you in that process.
Do Citations
Listing on GMB alone won’t be enough. You must go beyond the bare minimum to win the local search market. Doing citations will help with that. Citations mean leaving your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) on different websites or, to be more precise, directories.
This aims to inform search engines about your credibility, positively influencing rankings.
These citations act as mentions, like social mentions. The more citations you have, the more trustworthy your business appears.
However, you must ensure that the directories on which you cite your business details are credible and reputable. If otherwise, they seem spammy— the result may not only be fruitless but also disastrous for overall rankings.
Some notable directories at least you must cite your business are Yelp, Yellow Pages, Yahoo, etc. You can also search for local directories in your area or niche-specific using Google.
Pro tip: it doesn’t matter how many directories you are listing on; ensure the spelling, punctuation, commas, and spaces don’t have even a minor difference. Instead, copy and paste them as it is for consistency.
Ask for reviews
Sure. You have listed your business for local packs.
But let us tell you that Google favours those who have positive reviews. In this scenario, asking your customers who find your service impeccable to drop reviews on local listings can gradually but significantly strengthen your place in the local search market.
So, asking each of your customers for reviews becomes imperative.
Focus on Technical SEO
Technical SEO looks into whether your website is performing well in terms of technicalities, such as going well on parameters like speed, UX, response, or screen adaptability.
These areas are important to work on so that when people land on your website via GMB or directories, they don’t have to face buffering or interruptions.
If this is the scenario, it frustrates users, and eventually, they bounce back from the website.
In this way, your local SEO efforts become incompatible with the overall SEO intent.
Here, while working towards all parameters is crucial, mobile optimisation is unnegotiable because most users access the web via mobile devices.
So, asking your SEO agency to work on technicalities during optimisation is imperative.
That’s it
We hope the article was helpful, and we wish you the best in making your business stand out in the local market. In case you want experts to help with Google local listing, optimisation or other local strategies, we can help. You can call us on +91 901 276 4000
A team of digital marketing professionals who know the Art of making customers fall in LOVE with your brand!