5 Must Haves for Local SEO

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What Is Local SEO?

Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) allows you to promote your business or services to local customers through search engines like Google and Bing. It’s a highly effective tool for online marketing and improves your chances in being found for desired search queries. Here are 5 must-haves for local SEO that will make it easier for new and old customers to contact or find you:

1.  Content Marketing

Google and Bing are going to return results for searches to the most valuable and useful web pages at the top for local businesses. What does this mean for your website? The content should be good quality content and relevant to the topic of the page. It should also encourage them to stay on your site and click through it without bouncing off to look at a competitor’s website. Remember “content is King.” Each page on your website needs to have at least 300-500 words. A good way to consistently add good quality content to your site is to create an FAQ page or blog posts. This will help to keep improving your sites rankings.

2.  Responsive Web Design

The mobile market is exploding and more and more people are searching on their phones to find local businesses than ever before.  If you haven’t made the transition to responsive web design for your website, you’re losing out on being found in search results. Google is penalizing sites that are not mobile friendly.  Don’t confuse Mobile Design with Responsive Design. Mobile Design in the old days was a scaled back version of your website. Responsive Design has all of the same content and your website design is the same. Responsive Design knows which device you are visiting a website from and scales to that devices screen width.

3.  Directory Listings

A good way to help get ranked is by listing your business in web directories such as Superpages, Yelp, Merchant Circle, Angie’s List, and many more. By creating these listings and adding your businesses URL, you are able to create a link back to your website.  It’s imperative that you keep these listings up-to-date with accurate information. For instance, your business address and phone number should match the information found on your website. Google could penalize you if this information is not accurate. If you have an address or phone number change, make sure to update all of your listings or employ a company to do this for you.

4.  Local Business Page on Google+

It’s important to create a local business page on Google+.  Local pages display business information including your address, phone number and link to your website.  When your business comes up in the search results, your Google+ page will show up. Having an up-to-date Google+ page is a great way to connect with local customers.

5. Social Media Marketing

Social Media

 

Social Media Marketing is also an important strategy that can be used to help emphasize your brand by providing helpful information to your followers. Keep your customers engaged by linking to relevant articles or blogs on your website, posting contests, sharing pictures from events/happenings, or just adding a funny meme to your posts. By building a strong local following through social media, it will help your business when it comes to local SEO.  You’ll want to use social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube and Pinterest to name a few.

Now is the time to focus on your local SEO and reap the rewards!

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