Local SEO: What Is It And Why Do You Need It?
Introduction
Local SEO, well we think it is a crucial for most businesses, without it, while quite simply put it giving your competitors a huge advantage over your business. Whether you sell surfboards online, or you are one of the top solicitors in your area, often you will need the help of a and agency, as without them your business might not appear on the first page of Google.
With the increasing reliance on search engines to find products and services, optimising your website for local search is more important than ever. Especially in a city like Bristol, when there are hundreds of thousands of businesses, and you want your company to standout, often you need the help of an seo company like ours.
This comprehensive blog post will guide you through the world of local SEO, Google My Business, and Google’s Pigeon update, providing you with the knowledge to enhance your website’s local search visibility.
What is local SEO?
Local SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) refers to the process of optimizing your company’s website to improve its visibility in local search results. This optimisation aims to help your business /charity/website be found by people who are searching for products or services near their location. So for example, somebody in Bristol might be searching for, local family law solicitors, and because you have invested in high-quality digital marketing, your company may appear on the first page of Google .Local SEO is essential for businesses with a physical presence or those that provide services within a specific geographic area.
How can you optimise a website for Local SEO?
To optimise your website for local SEO, follow these steps:
Keyword Research: there are a lot of free keyword research tools, so this is easy to do. Begin by researching relevant local keywords. These should include your target location and the products or services you offer. For example, if you run a plumbing business in Clifton Bristol, your keywords could be “plumbing business in Clifton Bristol” or “boiler repair Bristol.”
On-Page Optimisation: again really easy to do, but make sure that the work that you complete is white hat Incorporate your local keywords into your website’s content marketing, title tags, meta descriptions, headers, and URL structure, but make sure that you do this in a white hat way. This helps search engines understand your business’s relevance to the local area.
Local Business Listings: these are sometimes called NAP listings Ensure your business is listed on major local directories and citation sites like Yelp, Foursquare, and Yellow Pages, most of these businesses will allow you to create a free account, so it can help improve your local seo plus is free. You should also make sure your business information, such as name, address, and phone number, that is the NAP information , is consistent across all platforms.
Optimise for Google My Business, you can claim an account free.
So claim your Google My Business, account and optimise your Google My Business (GMB) listing, it’s easy to do, our to increase your chances of appearing in the local search results and Google Maps.
Acquire Reviews: Encourage your customers to leave reviews on your GMB Google My Business, listing and other relevant review sites such as trust pilot. Having many positive reviews help build credibility, and can also improve your local search ranking.
Local Link Building: you need to make absolutely sure that all the backlinks that your business builds are built in a white hat way. Obtain high-quality local backlinks from authoritative sources, such as local newspapers, such as Wales online or industry-specific websites.
Google’s Pigeon Update
Google’s 2014 Pigeon update, this was a very important update, it was a significant algorithm change that aimed to improve the accuracy and relevance of local search results. The update took into account factors such as proximity, local content, and traditional SEO signals , such as backlinks to provide users with more accurate results when searching for local businesses or services. As a result, it’s essential to optimise your website with local SEO strategies to stay competitive in the local search landscape.
Section 4: Google My Business, our marketing agency would highly recommend setting up a Google My Business account, it’s simple to do and you could do it in a matter of minutes, plus it can really help improve your businesses local seo.
Google My Business (GMB) is a free tool that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, for example, you could give your customers important information such as the opening hours of your shop. By claiming and optimizing your GMB listing, you can provide essential information about your business, such as your NAP, and photos of your products.
how to claim your free Google My Business account
The first step of any local SEO campaign should be to claim your free business address on Google My Business. Here’s how to do it:
Visit the Google My Business website, and sign in with your Google account. If you haven’t got one, then it only takes a few minutes to set one up, so grab a cup of tea and is you will have a Google account set up in less than five minutes.
Search for your business by name and address in Bristol. If it’s not listed, click on “Add your business” and follow the prompts to provide the necessary information.
Verify your business, this is easy to do, you can choose your preferred method, such as by phone, by email, or postcard. Verification is crucial to ensure that you are the legitimate owner of the business listing.
Once verified, it’s time to start optimising your GMB listing by adding accurate and up-to-date information, including photos, business hours of your business, and a detailed description. Ensure that your NAP is consistent with other online listings.
Regularly monitor and also respond to customer reviews, we would recommend responding to negative reviews and also positive reviews as well, that your customers leave and questions on your GMB listing. This engagement can improve your local search rankings and establish a positive reputation.
Local SEO: Why Do You Need It?
In today’s very competitive world, local SEO is essential for most businesses in Bristol for several reasons:
Increased Visibility: Local SEO helps your business appear in relevant local search results in Bristol, making it easier for potential customers to find you.
Targeted Traffic: Local search optimisation ensures that you attract more customers within your service area in Bristol, increasing the likelihood of conversions and repeat business.
Cost-Effective Marketing: Compared to more traditional marketing methods, such as radio advertising, local SEO can sometimes be much more cost-effective, that’s if you hire the right marketing agency.
To enhance your understanding of local SEO, consider checking out these resources: