Are you a brick-and-mortar business owner wondering why local SEO is important? After all, you don’t sell products online, and your target market is capped to people who live near or visit your destination. While it may sound counterintuitive to promote a geographically-specific business online, local SEO is actually the key to generating more business and sales. Using the best local SEO practices, you can get the word out about your company and generate leads who are geographically close to you–ultimately leading to increased revenue. Keep reading to learn why local SEO is important for small businesses and large companies and how to experience the benefits of SEO for location-based businesses.
Why is Local SEO Important?
Understanding why local SEO is important for small businesses and large enterprises is best explained by local SEO stats.
46% of Google searches are for local businesses.
Long gone are the days of “window shopping.” Now people use Google to find local businesses in the area. In fact, of all searches on Google, nearly 50% are for a local business. That means your target audience is likely using Google to find local products and services like yours.
50% of users visit a store within 24 hours of their local search, and 80% of local searches convert.
Searches for local businesses result in visits and sales. 50% of people visit a local business within a day of researching it online, and 80% of those that visit make a purchase. This shows that consumers are looking for local businesses with the intent to visit and spend money at the establishment.
“Near me” searches have increased by over 500% in the past few years, with 99% of people using search engines to find local businesses.
Researching brick-and-mortar businesses online is a trend that’s on the rise, with more people searching for companies “near me” than ever before. Now is the time to make sure your business shows up in search results with accurate contact information on every platform.
78% of consumers use the internet to find local businesses more than once a week.
This trend isn’t a once-in-a-while phenomenon. Nearly 80% of consumers use online searches multiple times a week to find information about local businesses.
97% of people view a company’s online presence before deciding to visit in person.
You might think you don’t need an online presence if you’re a brick-and-mortar business. However, 97% of people think you do because they want to check you out online before visiting in person.
So, why is local SEO important? Because people use online searches to find, visit, and purchase from local businesses now more than ever. Having an online presence that’s optimized to show up in search results will get more feet in your front door, increasing sales and revenue.
What is the Difference Between Local SEO and SEO?
SEO is the practice of optimizing web pages and content to rank higher in search engine results pages, increasing online visibility and potential web traffic. Local SEO specifically focuses on optimizing web pages and content for geographic-based searches. While traditional SEO tactics apply to local SEO, additional steps are needed for success in this niche form of search engine optimization. For example, best local SEO practices include creating a presence on review websites and directories such as Yelp, YellowPages, Google My Business, and other localized outlets.
What is a Local SEO Strategy?
A local SEO strategy includes optimizing your online presence for geographically-based searches. Here are the seven best local SEO practices for creating a strategy that works.
7 Best Local SEO Practices to Get More Feet in the Door
Maintain an up-to-date, modern website that’s optimized for mobile.
Optimize your website copy for keywords related to your products or services within your specific location.
Use city-specific tags and metadata throughout your website to benefit local search engine ranking algorithms.
Launch a link-building campaign to increase domain visibility.
Build mentions of your company’s name, address, and phone number on multiple online directories, review platforms, and social media profiles; for example, claim and optimize your Google My Business listing.
Collect and share customer reviews; 91% of 18-35-year-olds trust positive online reviews.
With an excellent local SEO strategy and consistent effort applied over time, you can rank highly on search engine results pages for the keywords most relevant to you, helping drive more organic foot traffic and sales than ever before.
Best Local SEO Services to Skyrocket Your Numbers
The benefits of local SEO are vast, from improved online visibility to more in-store foot traffic (aka more sales) to gaining a leg over your competitors (by ranking higher in search results). But to experience these results, you need the best local SEO services. Whether you’re a small growing company or an established brand, you can increase your bottom line by investing in local SEO services.
As a local SEO consultant, I help businesses improve their online presence with local SEO strategies that place you at the top of search engine results. I ensure you have a strong directory presence and online review score by focusing on four main strategies:
Local keyword research and optimization
Content strategy and implementation
Technical SEO evaluation (broken links, page speed, unoptimized data, etc.)
Reputation management and reviews
You can learn more about my freelance local SEO consulting services for more information about my process. Or, contact me today for a free, no strings attached intro call to learn more about why local SEO is important and how it can benefit your business.