Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) may sound like something only website developers need to think about. However, whether you are a business owner or a customer, local SEO can help you more than you might believe.
SEO focuses on increasing a website’s visibility in search results. Local SEO does the same, only with a more targeted focus to a specific location. This practice can immensely help business owners connect with nearby target audiences. Here’s how.
4 Business Benefits of Local SEO
1. It Makes a Local Business Easy to Find.
According to Moz, 80% of US disposable income is spent within 20 miles of home.
This means if you run a business it is likely that the majority of your customers will be from the surrounding area. On the flipside, if you are a customer, you are most likely to spend the most money close to where you live.
Local SEO services focus on helping businesses that meet with customers or clients in person. Any business with a front door who wants to attract customers online and encourage them to visit the business can benefit from SEO.
It’s helpful for customers to know what services are offered nearby, and local SEO can provide them with the information they need to find nearby businesses. This benefits local businesses by increasing traffic, while benefiting consumers by offering convenient solutions to their needs.
If you want to attract and bring in nearby customers, then local SEO must be part of your digital strategy.
2. It Helps a Local Business’s Website Show Up in Search Results.
Local SEO is a fantastic way for businesses to promote their services to a community audience online.
More and more people are searching online with terms like “near me” and “by me”. This type of search is different than traditional informational searches because it relates directly to the customer and where they are currently located.
The rise in these personalized, location-based searches has made it imperative for business websites to appear in search results so they can offer their services as a solution to the audience’s needs.
This is great for the business by increasing traffic to both their website and store locations, and impacts customer experience by improving the search results they see when looking for businesses in their area.
3. It Keeps a Business’s Local Listing Up-to-Date.
Maintaining a website can be a lot of work. There are many pieces that must stay updated, especially if the goal is to draw in customers.
Following local SEO best practices can ensure that a business’s contact information is correct, consistent, and has the appropriate SEO markup. This makes it easier for search engines to find the website and display it higher in search results.
If you are a business owner, be sure to monitor your local SEO status in order to manage it and request reviews from your customers. Monitoring combined with reputation management can make your SEO tactics even more effective.
4. It Helps a Business Show Up in Mobile Searches.
Mobile searches are often location-focused. Over 54% of web traffic comes from mobile devices, and 46% of all searches on Google are made with local intent. According to HubSpot, 61% of mobile users are more likely to contact a local business if they have a mobile-friendly site, and 72% of consumers visited a store within 5 miles after making a local search.
Appearing in local search results benefits both businesses and customers. If a business’s website can show up in local search results, there is a greater chance that interested customers will find them.
As a customer, if you are looking for a certain business in your area, it is most helpful when search results show information about the businesses near you so you can find what you need- think more like a customer when considering ways to improve the customer experience, like simplifying how they find information about your business.
As a business owner looking to increase foot traffic and site traffic alike, local SEO can increase your website’s visibility, making it easier to connect with your target audience online and in person.
Thanks for stopping by,
Laura
Editor’s Note: Originally published in November 2019, this article has been edited and updated for content in February 2022.
