You may think that digital marketing is only for enterprises or corporations. You do not know that search engine optimization is also vital even for a local boutique shop.
This is where local SEO comes in.
What Is Local SEO?
According to BrightLocal, local SEO is a marketing strategy designed for local businesses to improve their visibility.
For instance, you own a flower shop in Central Square Mall in New York City. If an employee somewhere in Times Square needs to buy a bouquet of flowers quickly, he will opt to buy from a nearby store.
He will fire up his PC or turn his phone on and search “flower shops near me” on Google. If you are implementing local SEO right, your store should be one of the search results.
Aside from appearing on relevant search results, local SEO allows you to reap the following benefits:
- Increase foot traffic to your store
- Gain loyal customers
- Boost website traffic
- Generate more leads
- Build trust among customers
Moreover, local SEO allows you to have an even playing field against large businesses. All of these can lead to an increase in sales and revenue.
How to Improve Your Local Search Ranking
Now that you know what local SEO is and how it can help your business, it is time to find out how you can implement it correctly.
1. Optimize Your GMB Listing
If you want to know how you can leverage local SEO more, start by searching for your business on Google.
If you see that your business is all over the place, it could mean that your target customers find it challenging to search for your information, too. Thus, you must optimize your Google My Business listing.
This includes completing your profile, updating your contact information, and generating customer reviews.
2. Get Listed on Online Directories
When done correctly, getting listed on online business directories can be a great way to build links for your local business. That’s because it allows you to create an identity for your business.
It is just a matter of being consistent. For instance, you spell your business’s name should be the same across all the local directories where you are listed. It is also imperative that you complete your profile.
However, do not just get listed anywhere. It would be best to create profiles on directories that are local to your country or has something to do with the nature of your business.
3. Ask for Customer Reviews
As mentioned earlier, asking for customer reviews is another great way to optimize your GMB profile.
If your customer ordered via your website or social media, consider sharing a link to your GMB profile and ask for a customer review.
But what about those who buy from you in person? You can opt to add your social media channels on your receipt, reminding them to connect with you online.
Another idea is to give your customers a thank you card, encouraging them to leave a review on your GMB profile.
4. Target Local Keywords
Besides getting listed on GMB and other business directories, it would help if you have your website. And what better way to optimize it than to target local keywords?
However, local keywords are more than just “flower shop in NYC” and “flower shop near me.” Sure, you can add “flower shop in NYC” on your web copies, but there are other ways you can optimize your website for your local audience.
If you are working with a digital marketing agency, check if they include local keyword research in their local SEO packages.
5. Build a Buzz Around Your Business
In relation to the previous point, one way to optimize your website for your local business is to create buzz. One way to do that is to find events that are known in your area.
Using our flower shop example, New York City is known for its New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square. That said, here are some ways you can make a buzz around your business:
- Blog Post: Consider writing a list of activities that people can do to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Times Square. You can also encourage your readers to buy a bouquet of flowers for their loved ones to make the event extra memorable.
- New Year’s Promo: Let’s face it, a flower shop business can be seasonal. So, what better way to boost your sales on New Year than to launch a promo?
- Product Feature: You can write a blog post or upload a social media image featuring products relevant to your event or location. For instance, feature a flower that symbolizes new beginnings or why the rose is the official state flower of New York.
The goal here is to spread about your business by showing your expertise and relevance.
6. Leverage Social Media
Your GMB profile is mean to consolidate your business information. Meanwhile, social media allows you to interact with your customers.
In fact, Facebook and Instagram have Shoppable Post features, allowing you to tag your products in your post. Social media is also a cost-effective way to promote your business by running advertisements.
Lastly, you can use social media to accept orders and answer customer queries. If you feel like it will take most of your time, consider setting up a chatbot or hiring someone who can help manage your social media accounts.
7. Have Mobile-friendly Content
Whether it is your blog post or social media image, ensure that it is compatible with any device.
Back in 2018, 69% of smartphone users in the US used their mobile devices to shop. About 82% of them used a “near me” query, and 60% of them tend to click the first search result.
Hence, being mobile-friendly is essential if you want to rank first on local search engine results.
As a local business, it may seem challenging to rank on relevant searches. More so if you have big companies to compete against. But with the help of local SEO done right, you can have a fair chance to boost your visibility and sales.
