Local SEO is on everyone’s mind! It’s what makes the difference between a successful brand and a shady one. But sometimes, it is challenging for business owners to discover and implement the best SEO practices. Luckily, with the help of a professional, you can get an excellent audit and access to valuable insights.
Local SEO Expert Perspective
In my experience as a local SEO expert, I can say that each brand is unique. This means that if a strategy works for a brand, it might not offer the same results for another. SEO is versatile, and it should always match market trends and business particularities. There are plenty of ways to boost your local SEO. But no matter what you select, you should be ready to constantly improve your strategy.
Rank Higher in Local Searches
So, if your brand has a hard time ranking in local search results, you’re in the right place. Below I share some of my pro tips on the topic. Let’s see next the top 5 ways to improve your local SEO for free. You’ll be amazed by the results you’ll be able to get!
#1 Start by claiming and using the Google My Business listing
The first and most important thing to do to improve your local SEO practices is to claim your GMB listing. GMB or Google My Business is there to help the business achieve exposure. It is an essential part of your local SEO strategy you shouldn’t ignore. This is a free-of-charge Google tool to set up a free business listing. It is a key element of your brand awareness. Users will tend to search for your brand on Google. And they expect to receive valuable insights with little to no hassle.
My advice is to add the following information to your GMB listing:
- Your full and correct business name
- Your physical store/office address
- Your exact location on a map
- Your business category
- Your phone number and website
After all this information is approved, you can move forward with optimizing your Google My Business. This means you can upload photos, use categories and add extra phone numbers. It might seem like a dull task, but I can say that GMB optimization offers impressive results. And the best part of it is that it’s a useful free local SEO tool.
#2 Set up a versatile and mobile-friendly website
Well, if you aim to achieve local SEO success, you should start by properly optimizing your website. Market data reveals that most traffic in 2022 will come from a mobile device. It is essential for your brand to have a mobile-friendly device.
A pro tip is to use a click-to-call button on both your website and GMB listing. This will ensure your users will receive an excellent online experience. I see all the time how businesses are contacted more often when they have a click-to-call button in plain sight.
#3 Ask and gather customer testimonials
Local SEO isn’t all about technicalities. When users search for a local business or brand, they focus on discovering an honest and reliable brand. The best way to improve their experience is by presenting your reputation honestly. Ensure you ask for reviews and show them in an easily accessible place. Google is the go-to place to read client testimonials. So, it might be a perfect idea to start asking your customers to provide feedback on Google.
#4 Consider local link building.
I do love link signals. And this happens because they are your ally when using local SEO for your business. Link signals can refer to linking domain authority, quantity, and quality. Link building improves your profile, especially if you’re using domains relevant to your target location. For example, you can use guest posting and partnerships to boost your local exposure.
#5 Don’t forget about NAP consistency.
Google is there to help you achieve the best online experience. But to do that, it needs relevant and qualitative information from a website. NAP (name, address, and phone number) is considered a powerful citation signal. The goal is to have your information on authoritative citation websites like Google My Business, Facebook, or Bing Maps. Make sure the information is consistent across all platforms you use!
Speak to a Local SEO Expert
These are some of the best (and free) local SEO approaches you should consider. Of course, there are plenty of other SEO strategies that can help your business grow. My advice is to always consider working closely with an experienced professional. A local SEO expert will use his knowledge and expertise to achieve some of the best results for your brand.
