What is Local SEO?
Local search engine optimization (SEO) is the strategy used to make your business more visible for geographically-related searches, specifically within Google’s Local Pack (or map listing).
Local SEO helps your company increase its local online visibility, outrank local competitors and increase organic traffic to your website. The end result is to earn your business more qualified leads within a specific service area.
When do you consider using Local SEO?
If your website is part of your marketing strategy for a bricks and mortar business.
And that business is at one or more locations and you are servicing clients with the product or service that you offer to this geographic specific area you need to consider Local SEO.
SEO or search engine optimisation is all about having your website ranking well for particular keywords or phrases to attract a specific target audience to your website in the desire of converting these visitors into customers.
Many aspects of local SEO are the same as for sites competing nationally or internationally but the geographic component needs to be introduced.
What are the Aspects of Website Design Should I consider For Local SEO?
Some aspects of website development and local SEO to consider.
1/ We recommend a domain relevant to your country i.e. Australian businesses should have a .com.au domain. It is simply standard practice, there is no evidence advising there is a penalty if you select a .com suffix. But a .com.au suffix is well known to be an Australian business.
There may also be a slight benefit in having your geographical target in the domain also. eg www.WarragulAccountingServices.com.au or ByronBaySurfSchool.com.au, but this is so minimal to be of no concern. It is more significant to have a geographic locations in the URL eg https://smedesign.com.au/website-design-traralgon/
2/ Ensure that you have your contact details on your site’s homepage so that your visitors, whether they be human or search engines realise you are a local business. By the way, do not forget to assess what your call of action is and what you are trying to achieve from your website e.g. Are you wishing the site visitor to ring, to email, or to visit your geographical bricks and mortar location. The visitor to your site should not need to click away to find out these details.
3/ The site needs to mention the geographical areas that you actually service. Make sure you are including towns and suburbs close to your business that you service in the content of your site & URLs
4/ Submit your business to Google maps and create a Google plus page your business. If your business actually has a shop front include the Google map in your contact page as this will assist the site visitor to locate your business. E.G. If you are a pizza store a potential customer can put the word “Pizza” into Google Maps and all the close Pizza stores will be displayed.
5/ Standard SEO practice is to include relevant keywords to your ALT of your images. This is an opportunity to once again drop in towns suburbs or states that you service.
6/ Submit your business details including the services that you offer, opening hours (if relevant), address details and your website URL to various well ranked directories.
Check if there are any business associations or professional associations that may be relevant to your business.You can Contact SME design to assist in this area.
How Can I Improve My Local SEO?
One of the best way is to make use of the opportunity to establish your “Google My Business” page. Some clients get the same amount of inquiries from their Google My Business page as they do from their website. Just let us know if you would like assistance in this area.
Ask all your clients to leave a Review. Ideally reply to every Review even if it is not so glowing.
A significant percentage of searches use a geographic term in their search. For example if I am looking for a plumber. I would use the search Term “Warragul Plumber”
Create content that is reflective of your local area. For example SME Design supports the Local Hockey Association, Little Athletics and other Community events. Part of that strategy is good SEO but even the more important aspect is developing a local network, and being part of the community rather than just trying to sell to it.
Ensure your website meets all the other aspects for good website design. Fast Download speed, fully mobile compatible. Always conduct keyword research to establish a list of search terms you wish to be found for.
This is a very brief introduction to the subject “What is Local SEO”
Even though a business such as SME Design can actually service clients from any where in Australia or indeed the world we mainly target the Gippsland region. It simply depends on how competitive the market is or in fact how competitive is to rank for specific key words is in proportion to how much effort needs to go into your online presence to be rank well.