The Importance of Local SEO for Location-Based Businesses
The Importance of Local SEO for Location-Based Businesses
Local SEO is crucial for local businesses because it helps them reach current (and future) customers in their area!
Enhancing the business’ online visibility to people most likely to convert can be a marketing game-changer.
Increased Visibility
Have you ever been out on the road or out with friends when trying to decide where to get lunch? You might go to Google and search, “Restaurants Near Me”. The results that come up, including a map and the top three local businesses tend to get the most business. According to Google’s consumer insights, “Near Me” searches have increased by over 200% in the last two years!
Optimizing for local SEO increases the chances of appearing in these top search results.
Over 60% of consumers use mobile devices to search for nearby businesses. Local SEO ensures your business is visible to these users!
Attracts Nearby Customers
Not only does local SEO focus on attracting people to your business, but it focuses on people that are close to your business. These are highly relevant leads who are more likely to visit in person, make purchases, or use your services.
By optimizing for location-specific keywords, such as “best coffee shop in Kenosha,” your business can show up when people in your area search for relevant services or products.
Builds Trust and Credibility
Local SEO strategies often include optimizing and managing reviews on platforms like Google Business Profile. Positive reviews can enhance your reputation and increase consumer trust, making people more likely to choose your business.
Have you ever made a trip to a business that said they were open online, just to find out that they were in fact closed? That is a frustrating experience for consumers. On the flip side, making sure your name, address, phone number, business hours, and more are consistent across directories, social media, and your website builds major credibility with search engines and customers.
Higher Conversion Rates
People conducting local searches typically have a high intent to purchase or visit. By optimizing your business for these searches, you can capture high-intent customers and boost conversion rates. The average person clicks on the first organic result almost 30% of the time!
Don’t forget about “Call to Actions” buttons!
Local SEO often includes optimized listings with “call” buttons, driving directions, or easy access to your business website, making it convenient for users to act immediately.
Competitive Advantage
Take advantage of your competitive edge! If your competitors aren’t fully utilizing local SEO, you have a chance to dominate local search results.
In contrast, if they are, not optimizing could mean losing potential customers to them. 😲
For any business operating in a specific geographic location, optimizing local SEO can be a game-changer, directly impacting foot traffic, sales, and customer retention.
Google Business Profile
A Google Business Profile is your digital storefront. It’s where you can showcase your business information and give potential customers a glimpse of what you offer.
If you don’t have a Google Business Profile, something you might not be aware of is that Google can create a profile for you automatically! Without you being the one who owns it, or even knows about it, your information might be outdated or inaccurate.
To ensure your profile is accurate and up-to-date, it’s important to create and manage your own. This way, you can manage your information, respond to reviews, and share updates directly.
By actively managing your Google Business Profile, you can show potential customers that you’re engaged and responsive as well as show your specific services and contact information.
Trust The Gratzi for Your Digital Marketing Needs!
If you need help with handling all of these different platforms, the team at The Gratzi Inc. can help. We love helping local small businesses with all of their digital marketing needs and making sure that they are optimizing their efforts and reaching new customers. Not only will we help you create these assets, but we’ll make sure you’re the owner of them! Our goal is to help you show your customers that you are trustworthy and worth working with. So if you’re ready get in touch with The Gratzi Inc. today and get started with your digital marketing.
