7 Tips for Better Local Search Results
If your business serves local clients – whether it’s in your local town, city or region – you need to be ranking in the Google 3-Pack as well as towards the top of the organic search results. By doing this you will get ahead of your competition and increase your enquiries and sales.
Fortunately, dominating local search is far easier than trying to get on page 1 of Google for a global search. For example, if you’re a roofer in York, you will probably only need to outrank your local competitors. But if you’re a company selling wooden blinds nationwide then you have a lot more competition and therefore a lot more work to do in order to climb up the rankings.
We’ve had some great local SEO results, achieving top 3 positions in Google for many businesses targeting local customers.
Getting high search engine results isn’t easy and does require consistent time and effort. But it definitely pays off.
Here are some of the main strategies that we use for local SEO:
1. Fix your website
- Fix any technical issues
- Speed up your website – eg: use a good host and optimize images
- Install an SSL certificate (https)
2. Optimize your website
- Use local keywords and phrases in titles and web copy
- Optimize your images with relevant file names and Alt text
- Make your website user-friendly and engaging
- Submit a sitemap to Google
- Add Schema to your website
3. Use Video
Google loves video and so do your customers. Adding optimized video to your website will keep your web visitors engaged for longer and this will actually provide a positive ranking signal for Google.
Adding a video to your page can increase the chance of a first page Google result by 53 times – according to Forrester research.
4. Optimize your Google My Business listing
You will have a better chance of appearing in Google’s Local Pack, Google Maps and Google’s search results if you have a fully optimised Google My Business listing.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Complete all the information
- Choose an accurate category
- Check your opening times
- Include photos
- Keep your information up-to-date
- Add posts
5. Reviews, reviews, reviews
Google reviews are the Holy Grail for local search. They will not only increase your enquiries and sales – but they will also provide a strong signal to Google that shows your trustworthiness and authority – therefore improving your search rankings.
But don’t just stop at Google reviews. The more verified reviews you can get, the better – so why not get reviews from third party sites such as Facebook and Yell.
6. Local citations
List your business on directories but make sure your NAP (name, address, phone number) and other details are consistent. Google will use this data to determine which businesses appear in the search results.
7. Get Social
Utilise the social media sites where your potential customers are. Engage with them and provide useful information without being salesy. Being authentic and transparent on social media will build trust, not only with your followers but also with Google.
Conclusion
These are probably some of the most effective strategies to help you dominate local search on Google and other search engines, so why not give them a try. If you need any more help or advice, please email info@nicholsondigital.co.uk or call 01423 202183.