Local SEO is essential for any business that is looking to increase their footfall, for example, shops, restaurants, hairdressers etc. SEO is the Search Engine Optimisation of your website and the process of improving your website’s presence to rank higher on search engines and bring in more organic traffic to your site. Local SEO is a small part of this process and focuses on improving your online presence and targeting a specific local area.

Is local SEO important for my business?

There are many reasons why Local SEO could be important for your business:

Stand out from your local competition.

Growing your business online is a standard process for any business in this day and age, therefore, by not optimising your website presence and local SEO, you are disadvantaging your business and reducing the competition for your competitors.

‘76% of people who search on their smartphone for something nearby visit the business within a day.’ – Google.

Make your business easier to find online.

If a customer is searching for your business, increasing your local SEO makes it easier for them to find you. For example, if a customer sees or hears about your business and wants to find out more before they visit, the information is right there for them to find it.

Naturally, by increasing local traffic to your site, you’re also increasing the overall traffic to your site, which will, in turn, boost your SEO.

Help more people find your business.

Did you know that 30% of all mobile searches are related to location?

Your website can offer valuable information such as how to find your business. This is essential as the more obstacles between your business and customer, the less likely they are going to visit you.

How to get started on improving your local SEO.

When starting with local SEO, ensure you have provided all information about your business and website so potential customers can access them easily and quickly. Setting your business up on Google Business is a great way to offer all your essential information straight from the Google search engine. Signing up to social media and other directories too, such as Yell, is another great way to communicate with your local community and start growing a relationship with the local area.

Another thing to consider when starting to improve your local SEO is keywords and phrases.

Ask yourself: What are my customers searching for when they’re trying to find my business?

Consider all the services or products your offer and ensure you’re including these.

For example, a hairdresser would include hairdresser in their keywords but also haircut, hair colour, highlights, trim, layers, etc. Keyword explorers/search apps are a great tool to ensure you’re fully optimising the keywords you’re including on your site.

You could also consider writing a blog on your website about your business, your local area or the products/services you offer. Although this may seem time-consuming, it’s an effective way to improve your website’s SEO and help it rank higher.

And finally, make sure your website is mobile-friendly. With mobile phones now accounting for over 50% of all web traffic globally, and the number of mobile users rapidly increasing each year, ensuring your website is optimised for handheld devices is more crucial than ever.

If you have any questions about optimising your local SEO, get in touch with a member of our team right now.