5 Ways To Perfect Your Local SEO

If you’re looking to improve your local SEO marketing strategy, you’ve come to the right place!

Local SEO is the process of using map tools and other online directories to drive website and foot traffic for a business. Refining your presence on tools like Google Maps makes your business more visible to users searching for businesses like yours in your local area. Simple enough, right?

Well, like any digital marketing tactic, Local SEO is a complicated and ever-changing medium and it’s one that often gets neglected by small businesses. Most small business owners understand the importance of social media marketing, email marketing, and web design for their business goals. Local SEO, by contrast, is as simple as claiming your Google listing, right?

The Local SEO team at JSL Marketing & Web Design got together and assembled these Local SEO recommendations for you to browse. In this blog post, we’ll run through why Local SEO is important, the impact it can have on your business, and the best ways to improve your Local SEO.

Read On For Local SEO Advice! 

Why You Need Local SEO

Business owners “get” numerous aspects of digital marketing. Everyone understands that most consumers are on social media, most people use email, and that a beautiful website increases your odds of getting new business. Per that understanding, a lot of small businesses know what they need to do to gain new engagement and business from these tactics. Few understand how they can improve their Local SEO or even why it’s important.

That’s a huge mistake. Local SEO is one of the best tools in the marketer’s toolkit.

•  97% Of Consumers Use Google Maps To Find Local Businesses.
• 93% Of Customers Read Reviews Prior To Making A Purchase
• The Top Local SEO Results For Any Search Term Get Between A Quarter And A Third Of All Traffic.
• Local SEO is One Of The Cheapest Ways To Grow Your Business.
• Almost 50% Of Searches On Google Involve Finding Physical Locations

Those are some compelling reasons to invest in Local SEO! But how do you actually optimize your Local SEO for best results?

Local SEO Tip 1: Craft Your Google My Business Listing

If designing a killer Local SEO strategy is like building a house, then your Google My Business listing is the foundation.

Having your Google My Business Listing claimed and optimized doesn’t guarantee that you will be successful in your local area. However, neglecting your Google My Business listing guarantees you will fail.

It’s completely free to claim your address on Google Maps, so there’s no reason not to do so. Once claimed, ensure that you’re adding compelling descriptions, location hours, services, and photos of the location to make the most of the listing. However, there’s more to a Local Search Engine Optimization campaign than just claiming your Google My Business listing. It’s a good place to start, but you’ll need to do a little bit more.

Local SEO Tip 2: Showcase Your Local Reputation

One of the best ways to drive new business via search engine map tools is to use reviews.

Users aren’t just finding locations on Google Maps and other map tools. They’re also looking for the best quality product or service possible and the reviews on any listing are the best way to quickly gauge the quality of a brand. After all, who would call to make a reservation at a 3.9 Star Cajun restaurant when their closest competitor has 4.7 Stars?

Pay close attention to the quality and quantity of reviews you’re getting on your listing to help grab the user’s attention. There are a few tips for the best management of your reputation we’d like to share.

• Always Respond To Reviews, Whether Negative Or Positive. It’s critical that you show prospective searchers that you value customer feedback, whether good or bad. It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of running your business, but don’t neglect to pay attention to your listing! We promise, other Google Map users read reviews and the attention you give all reviews will not go unnoticed.
• Don’t Argue With Negative Reviews. Bad reviews are inevitable. You can have the best doctor’s office or plumbing company in the world and still get the occasional bad review.  Some reviews will be cruel, unfair, and just dishonest. Regardless of this, it’s imperative that you politely and professionally let the reviewer know that you value their feedback and concerns and that you’d be willing to have a conversation offline if they’re willing. It won’t solve every bad review, but it will demonstrate that you listen to your customers.
• Try To Drive New Positive Reviews. Customers will leave reviews of their volition but do your best to drive new reviews if possible. Your top customers, your true brand advocates, already love your brand. Capture their delight on Google in the form of a 5-Star review and let them digitally sing your praises. There are a variety of ways to do this, but for a custom-made reputation management suggestion, reach out to our local SEO team.

Local SEO Tip 3: Add Location Pages To Your Website

Few business owners think about their website as a tool in local SEO. However, that’s a mistake.

Your website is an important part of your Local SEO strategy. Adding location pages to your website helps users find your different locations and respond accordingly. Plus, you’re also making it easier for Google to find your locations on Google Maps and rank the location higher as a result.

Each location page should properly display your location’s hours, address, and unique identifiers. Be sure that you’re writing unique content for each location. For best results, incorporate branded and tagged photos and videos of the location for both an SEO boost and the best possible impression on the page’s user.

Local SEO Tip 4: Optimize Online Directories

Google Maps is the main listing for Local SEO. Any SEO project needs to begin with this listing. (Remember that foundation metaphor?)

However, there are countless online directories on sites like Angie’s List, Yelp, Better Business Bureau, and more that will display your address and contact information. Ensure that these listings are correct and consistent across all of these online directories to boost your local SEO. Correct and consistent information across the web is a key Google ranking factor and will help you drive better results.

Local SEO Tip 5: Target Your Content To Local Keywords

When planning a content strategy, it usually makes the most sense to focus on search terms with the most volume behind them.

For instance, if you own a sushi restaurant, writing content around the term “sushi near me” makes a lot of sense. However, don’t neglect to also hone in on the smaller-volume search terms for your area.

Consider the term “sushi restaurant near me, Grapevine TX” might have less search volume, but focusing on this term will make your content hyper-relevant to people in your immediate area. After all, most searchers will want to find the closest physical location, so ranking well in Grapevine is better than appearing for a search two towns over.

Invest In Your Local SEO With JSL Marketing & Web Design

Ready to hypercharge your Local SEO and jump to the top of your local market’s Google Maps results page? Talk to the experts at JSL Marketing & Web Design! We’re an award-winning digital marketing agency based in the Dallas area and a proud Forbes Agency Council member!

All of our Local SEO projects are…

• Tailor-made For Your Local Market
• Exhaustively-Researched
• Centered On Boosting Overall SEO
• Optimized To Drive Engagement With Photos & Descriptions
• Review-Focused

If you’re not utilizing a Google My Business listing, you’re missing out on potential traffic and revenue. Right that ASAP with JSL Marketing & Web Design. Our SEOs are standing by to discuss your next Local SEO project!

Fill Out The Contact Form & We’ll Be In Touch!