Many businesses view Search Engine Optimization (SEO) as an all-around solution to attract a wider market. However, greater online visibility doesn’t always translate to better sales figures. For example, local businesses won’t benefit from the broader reach for their branding if they can’t service customers beyond their business’s limitations. This is why a smaller and more targeted approach can be a better use of your investment.
Local SEO allows small businesses to capitalize on their regional operation instead of casting a wider net for online reach. Unlike national SEO efforts with better ranking across the country, local SEO prioritizes visibility on specific locations. For this reason, local SEO is ingrained in the idea of optimizing your site for local customers. It’s a focused strategy that enables smaller establishments to have an advantage over national brands.
Managing your company’s Google My Business Account
There are numerous ways to develop your SEO, but not all of them contribute to greater local rankings. If your priority is to gain the local market’s attention, there are specific methods in utilizing your Google My Business account to your advantage.
If you want to develop a better presence to local audiences, here are three SEO strategies you should try:
1. Utilize your Google My Business Account
Your Google listing or Business profile is an excellent way to put your business on the map literally. This allows your establishment to be visible on Google Maps and local Google search queries. Thankfully, setting up a Google My Business account isn’t as complicated as setting up a social media profile.
First, you’ll need to create an account listing your company name, service hours, payment methods, and specific line of business. You can legitimize the look of your profile by uploading your official company logo and other relevant photos. Don’t forget to add your business address and contact details for customers to reach you easily.
2. Encourage customers to leave reviews on your account
Inputting your business’s essential information is just the first step in garnering better rankings in local SEO. Customer engagement must be your next priority in running your account. Requesting reviews from customers paints a realistic picture of what your business is capable of. Today’s consumers are more reliant on other people’s experiences than a company’s marketing agenda. This is why they tend to listen more to customer reviews.
Building your brand’s credibility through customer reviews is an excellent way to market your business without doing it yourself. After a customer visits your business or tries out your product, encourage them to write a review with a post-purchase incentive. Respond to these reviews appropriately, whether they’re negative or positive, to showcase your humility as a service provider.
3. Publish content related to local events
Besides customer reviews, you can also leverage your Google My Business account to publish your own content. For example, you can write blog posts or videos that relate to your business. Take it a step further by publishing content that centers around local news and activities you participate in. This allows you to hit high-volume, low-competition keywords that are appropriate to your business.
Conclusion
Sometimes, the best solutions don’t require you to be the best at everything. A more target approach at matching your local audience can give you a sustainable and reliable following for growing your business. This is why you should recognize which branding efforts have a high return on investment (ROI) for your business’s success.
Knowing the right SEO practices for your business can get tricky if you’re not an industry expert. Local SEO Pro is a US-based SEO marketing company that can guide you on the right strategies that will benefit your business. Sign up with us today to see how we can help!
