If you’re a startup owner, drumming up business with local SEO (search engine optimization) can be a daunting task. The more competitive your niche is, the tougher your marketing tasks become.
After all, your competitors will be optimizing for local searches too. Also, your competition may be dialing in their online directories, content, and other assets that make up their online presence. Worse yet, some of your competitors may also be dominating local searches, making matters harder if you’re doing your local SEO alone.
How do you sidestep your competition and increase visibility on the local SERPs and snack packs? You can with the guidance and expertise of a local SEO agency!
With a local SEO agency like Agency Jet in your corner, you’ll boost your business’s visibility to people within your locality, setting yourself up for maximum conversions and profit.
Learn more about how you can leverage the conversion-enhancing power of local SEO and an agency that knows its ins and outs. Stay glued to the end to see some real-world examples of how local SEO has transformed small businesses.
Let’s dive in!
Why Local SEO is Essential
These days, your potential customers will most likely find you by using their smartphones — and they’re not going to come from out of town for your services.
Rather, your clients or customers are likely to be in your locality. This is why appearing on the local SERPs is a quick way to send paying customers your way.
Your Opportunities Lie in Local Searches
With 46% of searches being local searches, local SEO can have a profound impact on your business’s visibility. Also, many of these searches will result in conversions from customers who are just a stone’s throw away from where your business is.
This isn’t anecdotal evidence; there are industry stats to back this up.
According to recent local SEO statistics, there are more than 97 billion local searches monthly. Of this number, 76% lead to visits within 24 hours. Of the 76% of searches, 28% result in conversions in the form of inquiries or sales.
Why does this happen? We can attribute this to many factors, but it mainly comes down to proximity. By showing up on a local search, you’re telling users that you’re open for business.
Most importantly, you’re immediately positioning your business as one that eliminates a barrier to buyer friction — distance.
In short, local SEO positions your business as one that’s for the people nearby. Why else do we optimize for the tag “near me,” right?
Being Near Establishes Trust and Credibility
If you’re like 83% of online users, you may be on the fence about buying something from a business you don’t trust. This is another area that well-executed local SEO addresses.
Local SEO adds credibility to your brand in two ways. First, local SEO makes you more accessible to your customers both physically and online.
The level of accessibility allows your customers to quickly get in touch with you if any issues with your products or services arise. The accessibility also comes in handy when your customers want to check out what you’ve got to offer.
Additionally, local SEO can add some social proofing to your brand. Positive reviews on social media, online directors, and a posting for your business all add transparency, which can entice as much as 72% of local customers.
As a business owner, dealing with bad reviews is an inevitable part of the process. Even if your product or service is top-notch, you could still receive a negative review from an unhappy customer.
While it may be tempting to ignore these reviews or try to delete them, this can have serious consequences for your business and local SEO success. A digital marketing agency can help you navigate these challenges
Online Visibility: The Nudge Your Customer Needs
You can be a step ahead of your competitors by delivering exceptional customer service. Giving customers products and services that’ll keep them coming back for more is a critical part of drawing eyes and clicks to your business.
While these are essential to running a business, an easier way to nudge customers into an inquiry or purchase is to simply show up on a search.
By appearing on local searches, you’ll immediately set yourself apart from businesses that are in the same niche but haven’t invested in local SEO.
As a result, you’ll be attracting customers who are in the decision-making process and simply need a visible option.
The Power of Information
Local SEO isn’t just about being seen. It’s also about being chosen. When your business information like location and operating hours is readily available, it becomes a deciding factor.
Customers might choose your business because it’s nearby and boasts stellar reviews. They might call your business because it’s the only one open on major holidays or 24/7. Your price point may even be the reason your service is the most practical.
In a world where options abound, these details can make all the difference when attracting new clients and customers. You can showcase what sets your business apart with well-executed local SEO.
Key Factors for Local SEO Success
A business website has to be visible on local searches. However, if you want to stand out, your site shouldn’t just appear on SERPs — it should be at the top of the list.
Only the top 10 results on the first page of the SERPs get the most clicks from users. With each spot, a site ascends to comes a 30.8% increase in clicks.
What makes a SERP-topping site in 2023 and beyond? Let’s go into each critical factor in detail. Knowing the key factors for local SEO dominance will be critical as you optimize your site for maximum clicks, conversions, and cash-making potential.
On-Page Optimization
On-page optimization is like arranging your products neatly on the shelves. It involves fine-tuning your website content, titles, and images to match what your potential customers are looking for.
When your site is well-organized and easy to navigate, both visitors and search engines find it appealing. This, in turn, boosts your chances of ranking higher in local searches.
On-page optimization is one of the pillars of local SEO — and it’s one that we excel in. Reach out to Agency Jet now, and let’s talk about how we can make your site look and perform well for maximum conversions and clicks.
Your Google Business Profile (GBP) Listing
Your Google Business Profile (Google My Business) is like your business’s online ID card. Claiming and optimizing your GMB listing is like putting up a clear sign outside your physical store. It contains crucial information such as your address, phone number, business hours, and customer reviews.
When you optimize your GMB profile, you increase the likelihood of showing up in local search results and on Google Maps. This easy accessibility encourages potential customers to reach out or drop by.
Since Google is all about the user, the search engine rewards you by potentially placing you above other business sites that lack updated GMB listings.
Mobile-Friendliness
These days, most searches are performed on mobile devices like phones and tablets. 64% of all search traffic comes from mobile devices. By optimizing for mobile friendliness, you’ll enhance your users’ experiences on your site.
What goes into creating a mobile-responsive or friendly site? It’s pretty straightforward. Mobile-friendly sites look and perform well on mobile devices. Everything from page layouts to font sizes and styles is designed to accommodate the smaller dimensions of device screens. You’ll also have to tweak certain parts of the site, so they load easily on phones.
By ensuring your website looks and functions well on smartphones and tablets, you open your doors to a broader audience. You’ll make life easier for your potential customers as you provide a seamless mobile experience for them.
Google and other search engines will take notice of your mobile-friendly website, helping your business ascend the SERPs.
Customer Reviews
Word-of-mouth has gone digital — in the form of online reviews.
These virtual testimonials build trust among potential customers. They’re an indicator of your experience and expertise in delivering quality customer service and products.
Managing your online reputation involves addressing negative reviews professionally and encouraging satisfied customers to share their experiences.
When people see positive feedback, they’re more inclined to choose your business. It’s all about establishing credibility and trust, one review at a time.
To leverage the conversion-boosting power of client reviews, here are some easy steps to follow.
- Encourage reviews: Don’t hesitate to ask for reviews from happy customers. You’ll want to make it easy for them to share their experiences through online forms, comment boxes, or site sections where they can leave ratings in the form of stars.
- Respond to reviews: Thank your satisfied clients for their positive reviews. For the comments that aren’t happy, you can respond, address concerns, and express gratitude for the input.
- Be as prompt as possible: Users are more likely to trust a business that addresses concerns promptly. Do your best to respond to feedback as early as you can.
Proven Local SEO Strategies
Now that we’ve laid down the groundwork, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and dive into the strategies that can skyrocket your local SEO game.
These aren’t just theories. At Agency Jet, we’ve tested methods and various digital marketing strategies and used them to help small and medium businesses get their share of the Google spotlight and increase their keyword rankings.
Local Keyword Research
Local keyword research is all about identifying words (short-tail keywords) and phrases (long-tail keywords) people use when looking for businesses like yours. Tools like Google Keyword Planner can help you discover relevant keywords tailored to your location and industry.
Once you have these keywords, strategically incorporate them into your website content, headings, and meta descriptions. This way, when someone in your area searches for products or services you offer, your business will pop up on their radar and boost your organic rankings.
Local Link Building
Links aren’t as critical as they were known to be before 2023. However, that doesn’t mean you skip link-building altogether.
Links are beneficial to your site’s organic traffic. Backlinks from other sites can send users your way. Meanwhile, having some well-placed internal links in your content adds to your site user’s journey of your site.
Content Optimization
Whether it’s blog posts, product descriptions, or service pages, your content should be geared toward the tone of your audience. Add “near me” and location-specific tags wherever necessary, as well as some unique references to your locality.
Also, incorporate local keywords naturally within your SEO content. Steer clear of keyword stuffing as search engines will notice this and flag you for it.
When your content resonates with your audience, it encourages longer visits to your website and increases the likelihood of conversions.
Local Citation Management
What are citations? Think of them as mentions of your business in other places outside your business site, also known as business listings. These places are online directories like Yelp, GBP, Apple Maps, Yellow Pages, Bing Places, and even Craigslist.
When managing your citations, you must keep your business information relevant and consistent. You’ll want to update your business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP)
If you’ve got a social media page, you’ll want to keep your NAP information there consistent with your other listings. Doing so will enhance trust in your business, which is key for climbing the SERPs!
The Role of a Local SEO Agency
Making all the tweaks on your site and online listings will be daunting. You might not even know where to begin. Fortunately, this is where a local SEO company like Agency Jet comes in.
With us in your corner, your site will be supercharged with all the optimizations you’ll need for an effective local SEO strategy. Here are some of the ways we can take your business site and make it top the SERPs for maximum clicks and conversions.
Local SEO Knowledge
Our specialized expertise means we know precisely what it takes to boost your business’s local online presence. From understanding the nuances of local keywords to mastering the art of link building, our experts have the knowledge and skills to navigate the intricate world of SEO. When you enlist a local SEO agency like Agency Jet, your business can stand out among the online competition.
Effective Strategy Implementation and Execution
Juggling multiple responsibilities as a business owner is no picnic. Luckily, hiring a local SEO agency for your SEO ticks one critical item off your to-do list.
Whether we’re optimizing your website, managing your online reputation, or fine-tuning your local citations, our agency knows the tricks of the trade.
With our guidance, your business can seamlessly implement strategies that lead to higher search rankings, increased website traffic, and, most importantly, more customers through your door.
Staying Ahead of the Curve
Climbing the SERPs is a lot like nailing jello to the wall. Search engine algorithms evolve, and what worked yesterday might not work tomorrow.
As your local SEO agency, we invest time in continuous research to stay updated with the latest SEO trends and updates. With our strategies, we ensure your business is always on the cutting edge of SEO strategies.
Our innovative approach can adapt your online presence to meet the demands of the ever-shifting digital terrain. In short, we take the guesswork off local SEO and keep your business ahead of the competition.
Measuring Local SEO Success
Executing a local SEO campaign is a significant investment that’s supposed to bear fruit. With this in mind, you may want to know how to tell if your local SEO is paying off.
For this, you’ll want to keep your eye on the following metrics. These measurements will tell you what aspects of your site need tweaking, as well as which parts of your local SEO strategy work and which don’t.
You can also use Google Analytics to measure your organic traffic. Another part you should monitor is your foot traffic to your physical locations, if applicable.
Website Traffic and User Engagement
Web traffic indicates how many users visit your site. Engagement is an indicator of how many people stay on your website. You need to measure both to evaluate how your site is doing. Any high bounce rates should tell you what parts of your site put users off.
Mobile Friendliness and Page Load Speed
With the majority of users browsing on mobile devices, ensuring your website is mobile-friendly is a top priority. Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test can assess your site’s responsiveness.
Local Pack Rankings
When users perform local searches, Google displays a localized set of results known as the Local Pack. Tracking your business’s position within the Local Pack for relevant keywords gives you a clear indication of your visibility.
Climbing up the ranks means more eyes on your business, potentially leading to higher clicks and visits.
Online Reviews and Reputation
Regularly monitor online reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Positive reviews enhance your reputation, while negative ones provide opportunities for improvement. Engage with customers, address concerns, and encourage satisfied clients to share their experiences online.
Conversion Rates
Conversions are the holy grail of local SEO — they indicate that visitors took the desired action, whether it’s making a purchase, filling out a form, or calling your business. By analyzing conversion rates, you can assess the effectiveness of your website and landing pages.
Success Stories: Real Businesses, Real Results
Left and right, small businesses are reaping the benefits of a well-implemented local SEO strategy.
All Brides Beautiful: Thriving Through Market Challenges
The pandemic hit many industries hard, especially the wedding industry. One of the small businesses in this niche is All Brides Beautiful, an appointment-based bridal shop based in Ohio.
During the pandemic, the company invested in local SEO to boost organic traffic. As a result, the company experienced a 68% increase in traffic in just months. Talk about thriving during hard times.
iComp Payroll and HR’s Journey to Page 1
iComp Payroll and HR understood the significance of local SEO and teamed up with us to boost their online visibility, and the results were astronomical!
The payroll and HR company experienced an incredible 570% surge in Google impressions. They not only ranked on the coveted first page but also dominated with 200+ keywords. Their story showcases the transformative impact local SEO strategies can have on a business’s online reach.
Start Small and Local, Win Big
Your journey to local SEO success starts with understanding your audience, embracing effective strategies, and seeking the expertise of a local SEO agency. The success stories we’ve shared prove that businesses, just like yours, can achieve remarkable results with the right approach.
However, local SEO is a time-consuming task that can take you away from what matters most — but who said you had to go about it alone?
Our dedicated team is ready to provide you with personalized guidance, implement tailored strategies, and offer ongoing support to fuel your online growth.
It’s your turn to start small and win big online. Contact us at Agency Jet today and book a free site evaluation and SEO audit.
