Local SEO Tips to Consider
Make sure you have a physical, brick and mortar address in your targeted town.
It is important to make sure you include a physical address in the location you wish to optimize for. In addition, this particular address where your property is situated has to be in the location or area you aim to target, or very close to it.
Make proper use of Google My Business.
Google has placed more importance on GMB; this means that any business information you include here is reflected on Google Maps and
Search. The customers’ job to find you becomes much easier this way, no matter what if they use a tablet, PC or smartphone.
In building or developing your Google my Business location for local SEO even further, make sure:
– To use complete, accurate, consistent and relevant information when filling out the Google My Business account;
– To list a GMB location which you can verify;
– To use the town and city that you want to rank for in the title of the landing page;
– That your product or products are in accordance with the main categories of GMB, and that they suit a wider search group.
See to it that the Name, Address and Phone Number (or NAP) on your site matches the NAP on GMB.
Besides your physical address, the NAP should be identical with your actual business name should be consistent wherever they appear online.
Actually, it is best to make use of an exact template for your NAP anywhere you use these details, whether on your site, GMB, other websites or directory listings.
Ensure that you have a map to your location included on your website.
Aside from adding contact info to your website, it is essential to include an actual map on your website, so that viewers can see your exact position. The code to include a map to your premises can be added on your website’s contact page.
Moreover, having some of the following information on your website, specifically in your contacts page, will be very useful:
Opening and closing hours of your store;
Directions to your premises from prominent landmarks;
Phone call links to call directly on mobile phones;
Social media links, but sharing options as well.
Starting from the next step, you should be knowledgeable about SEO. Otherwise, get some SEO training.
Make sure you create a new web page for every business location
If your business has several branches, see to it that each of them has a distinct web page, which is properly optimized for its specific location.
Use citations properly
It is very important for local SEO to get citations in major international, regional and local directories. Citations can help in building authority and integrity for your site, and above all, direct useful traffic to your page(s).
Additionally, if you do not have a website (which is a must nowadays), local listings give more visibility.
If you are taking citations into consideration, make sure that:
You have consistent citations;
You are using citations from trusted, respected websites;
You find ways to let your business get mentioned in various articles or blog posts in local newspapers;
You have lots of location-relevant and industry-relevant domains that cite your company in a positive way.
Karina Popa