What is local SEO, and why is it important?

The entire point of search engine optimization (SEO) is to get your website to show up on the search engine results page (SERP). But the internet is a big place. What good does showing up in results for someone from another state or country do for your business? If you deliver goods or services to a specific area, not much!

Luckily, search engines want to help users find local businesses that will fulfill their needs. To attract more attention in your region, here’s what you need to know about local SEO.

Benefits of local SEO

Local SEO is similar to regular SEO, except it helps link your business to a specific location. When someone goes to their favorite search engine and types in “HVAC company near me,” for example, Google will scour the internet for companies matching that location. If you follow local SEO best practices, your website will appear front and center in the search engine results.

The benefit is that you get more attention from potential customers in your service area. Since 93% of consumers use search engines to find local businesses, the first page of the search engine results is exactly where you want to be.

Local SEO can also help you appear in the local map pack — which is a list of three businesses that match a search query and a map for where to find them. The map pack appears at the very top of the search engine results, even above the organic results. Plus, it makes it that much easier for customers to find your business with one click for directions.

Tips to boost your local exposure

Want to show up at the top of search results for potential customers in your area? Here are a few quick tips to help you optimize your local SEO strategy:

1.Take advantage of Google My Business

Google wants to give users the best information possible. To make it easier for businesses to show up in local search queries, they created Google My Business.

Google My Business is a simple business profile that shows up in search results. If a user searches for business-specific information, the Google My Business page for the top-rated business is what shows up on the right-hand side of the results. It includes all the information a customer might need to get in touch, including:

Website
Contact information (phone number, email, etc.)
Business address
Areas served
Reviews
Description
Hours
Photos

2.Include location-specific keywords

Since search engines rely on keywords to “understand” content and match it to search queries. Another way to build your local SEO is to use location-specific keywords throughout your website.

This doesn’t mean you should completely fill your content with your city’s name, but you should include a few location-specific keywords or additions to your primary keywords.

For example, if you want to rank for the key phrase “roofing company,” adding a location tag by changing it to “roofing company in Portland” will boost your local SEO.

Search engines will see that “Portland” keyword and rank you higher in searches related to Portland.

3.Work with a professional

There are many ways to maximize your local search engine optimization. Instead of choosing the trial-and-error method — which can be time-consuming and, as the name might suggest, prone to errors — it’s always best to work with an SEO professional.

When you work with a professional, you get instant access to the latest local SEO strategies. Since SEO is all they do, you don’t have to wait to start building authority right away with proven techniques. And better yet, it won’t take any time out of your busy schedule.

If you’re ready to show up in local results, I’m ready to help. I have decades of experience helping businesses optimize their SEO strategies, and I know what it takes to help business climb the SERPs. Contact me to discuss your project and generate more local business from your website.