For all online businesses, SEO is an important part of any marketing strategy, but when you’re a business confined to a small geographical area then local SEO should be your prime concern.
What is local SEO?
With smartphones and wearables becoming increasingly popular methods of interacting with online content, GPS and location-specific software are becoming more important. Search engines can detect where someone is when they log onto the internet, offering them shops and services local to them, which is a great marketing tool if you use it correctly.
Where do I start?
According to Search Engine Land, you should make the most of your title tags and meta description tags, ensuring that the text contained within them works like an advertisement. With up to 60 characters available for titles, and 200 characters for descriptions, you need to spend time crafting the perfect copy to attract local visitors.
Google My Business
Next, you need to claim your Google My Business listing. This will ensure that your business details are listed on local search pages, and on Google Maps, so make sure that you optimise the page with as much information as you can, to make sure visitors know where you are, how to contact you, and your opening hours.
Get your listing on local directories
You may not be aware of the best directories to get your site as many views as possible, but a good SEO agency will be able to point you in the right direction, whilst making sure that your website is as prominent as possible. Some creative specialists, such as the London SEO agency at Elevate UK, will even assess your competitors’ marketing tactics, to ensure that you stand out from the crowd.
Make contact information easily accessible
Ideally, you should aim to have your business address and telephone number featured on every page of your website, making it easy for visitors to find you. Don’t make visitors search for the information they need – make it a feature of your page header or footer for the best results.
Seek out reviews and testimonials
The internet has made reviewers of us all, and we have become accustomed to checking out the experiences of other customers before making a purchase. Encourage satisfied customers to write a review of their experience on your site to aid future visitors.