What Is Local SEO?
Local SEO is a close relative to SEO. It performs the same functions as SEO does but on a local level.
The process is simple; each time you enter a location-specific query on the search engine, it shows you a list of all possible results around a specific location.
A location-specific query generally uses modifiers such as;
● prefix + near me
● prefix + in
The modifiers also use three principles to detect, gather, and produce results for a local search query.
● Proximity: It answers questions like – How close is the store to the user?
● Prominence: This attribute answers questions like – How are the reviews of the store? And if the customers like the product or service.
Based on these three principles, it collects data for the location-specific search query and reflects on the SERPs. For example, when I search for “home loans mortdale,” this is what shows up on the first page:
So, the idea is simple!
Each time that you enter a location-specific search query into the search engine, the Local SEO strategy works its magic to push a relevant store into the local-pack or at least in the first five results of page one.
But, the question arises, why do we need Local SEO?
Isn’t it simpler to just walk out of the house and look for what you need?
Since 2015, the number of mobile users has only increased. And as a consequence, mobile searches also have shot-up by a great deal. And to match the level of advancement, creating a mobile-first and functional website is of utmost importance.
Furthermore, getting the crawlers to notice your website is another task. But when it does, the traffic just doesn’t stop!
So, if you’re a multi-location business or a small business looking to increase traffic on your physical store, then keep reading to know how Top4 Marketing can help you through Local SEO.
How does Local SEO Help Small and Multi-location Businesses?
1. Creates An Online Portfolio
As you’re creating the bases of a flawless online presence, you will need to list your business in Google My Business. Since Google receives 86% of the total mobile searches, you will want to establish a strong presence on this search engine.
When you create a GMB profile, you’re one step closer to niches. Let’s walk through what happens once your profile is ready.
● If your local SEO strategy is good enough, then each time a user enters a relevant local query, your store shows up on the first page, if not the local pack.
● After looking at your store’s rating, other potential customers will want to try your store for a set of commodities.
So, you see, all you have to do is create and optimize a GMB profile and rest the reviews and ratings will do it for you.
In fact, if you have an online website, Google will redirect the user to the website upon clicking on the “website” icon. And this means that your increased website traffic will increase your SEO rankings.
Now, if you’re a business operating on multiple locations and you have a website, you must create a different webpage for each of these locations. By doing so, you allow the crawlers to crawl each location page differently and index them under relevant keywords.
Our unique location-based marketing platform works just like Google My Business, if not better. Your Top4 Business Profile is SEO-ready and will show your ratings and reviews to local searchers. Therefore, all you need to do is to add your business on Top4, and you can even use it as a “mini-website” for your business!
Better yet, Top4 links to your website and social media profiles; in other words, this gives you a great backlink source, which will improve your overall search ranking.
2. 78% of the Total Local Searchers Will Come To Your Store!
It is the mobile-first era. Every consumer with purchasing power has a smart-phone to help them with groceries and other purchases.
On the top of the SERP are two ads, a direct result of PPC (a.k.a paid search.) It says that these business owners have shelled out money to appear on the top of the SERPs when a user enters a relevant local search query.
In the second screenshot, you can see three more stores.
I call the third screenshot – “A rare zone.” Users scroll down so much only when they’re not happy with the first few results. And that happens only rarely.
Basically, when your local SEO is done right and you appear on the top results, you can almost be sure that local searches will come directly to you!
3. Busts The Myth Of Age
As rational users, we tend to prefer a commodity in the market for five years over the one entered two years back. The reason is simple: because it has a trusted user network and we avoid experimenting with newer things.
However, local SEO busts the myth of “Old is Gold” and brings in a FOMO factor that encourages users to visit a place or buy a product/service. After all, in the online era, most people want to be the first to try the new trends in town!
4. 88% of customers trust online reviews
We’ve touched this briefly above; the importance of online reviews are not to be underestimated, especially not in the post-COVID era.
Studies show that 88 per cent of customers trust online reviews. In order to appeal to this market and acquire more positive online reviews, you need to make it as easy as possible for your customers to leave a review on your website.
This is why Top4 makes it very easy for them to do so; however, we do manage and keep track of all the reviews received by businesses listed on Top4, so that you don’t have to worry about fake and spammy reviews.
Here are some tips you can follow to get more reviews:
- Contact your existing customers using email marketing or other methods
- Offer incentives for leaving reviews, like a small discount or voucher
- Respond to your reviews when you get them, regardless of whether they are good or bad
As discussed above, star ratings and user comments are displayed directly on your Google My Business listing and Top4 Business Profile. The more positive reviews you get, the higher chances you have of attracting your target customers to your location.
Wrapping Up
We saw how Top4 Marketing could help businesses in single or multi-location gather more customers and multiply your sales. Using search engines’ power to leverage more customer base is now a popular way of running your business.
So, to quote Spiderman, “With great power, comes great responsibility.”
Use the power of the search engine wisely to avoid the ramifications and reap the benefits!
Looking to build customer loyalty through social media? Don’t forget to add your business to Top4.com.au
List your business, create your own digital store to sell goods and services, and share posts on social media. Promote your business on Google instantly! Should you need help with local digital marketing then view our new Google Marketing Platform and services Top4 Marketing
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