Here’s an explanation of what Local SEO is that you need to know to be able to compete in today’s online world. In today’s technological era, businesses that do not keep up with technological advances will certainly be left behind.
Especially now that there are more and more business competitors in the same field, for example businesses in the culinary, fashion and service sectors.
If a business does not have a special strategy, it is not impossible to lose to competitors. One of the strategies that can be used for your business continuity is SEO.
For those of you who are in the field of technology, this may already be familiar. SEO plays an important role for business continuity in the modern era.
If you want to know more about SEO and also what are the benefits for business, you can continue to read this article until it is finished.
What is Local SEO?
Local SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is an effort to increase a business’s visibility on search engines like Google, Bing and Yahoo in local or region-specific searches.
Local SEO focuses on optimising a business website for local keywords and creating a consistent and accurate online presence for the business in online directories and other platforms such as Google My Business, Yelp, Facebook and others.
It aims to help businesses rank higher in local search results, expand their reach to potential local customers and generate more traffic and conversions.
Local SEO strategies include optimising local keywords on web pages, creating content relevant to the targeted area, getting backlinks from trusted local websites and including complete business information such as address, phone number and working hours in online directories.
How Google Determines Local Content Ranking
Google uses a complex search algorithm to rank local content in search results. This algorithm uses hundreds of different factors, some of which are publicly known, while others are not. But some of the well-known factors that affect the ranking of local content on Google are:
- Relevance
Content that is most relevant to the keywords and locations searched will be more likely to appear at the top of the rankings.
- Distance
The distance between the business and the user conducting the search is also an important factor in local content ranking. Businesses that are closer to users will tend to rank higher.
- Authority
The authority of a business expressed by the quality of backlinks, positive reviews and rankings in online business directories can also affect local content rankings.
- Optimisation
Optimising web pages for local keywords and ensuring accurate and consistent business information across online directories are also important in determining local content rankings.
- User Experience
User experience on a website, such as page load time, availability of relevant content and easy navigation, can also affect local content ranking on Google.
Overall, Google uses a combination of these and several other factors in their search algorithm to rank local content in search results.
Factors that Affect Local SEO Ranking
What are the factors that can affect local SEO ranking? Some of these things have a significant influence.
- Business Information Consistency
It is important to ensure that your business information, such as office address or business location, phone number, working hours and are consistent across different online platforms.
This helps Google and other search engines confirm the accuracy of your business information and increases their trust in your business.
- Quality Local Backlinks
Backlinks from trusted and quality local websites can help increase your business authority in local search.
These backlinks can come from local business directories, positive reviews on review platforms, or related local websites that add links to your business website.
- Local Content Optimisation
Website content optimised with local keywords can help improve rankings in local search results. This content should be relevant to your business and the geographical area where your business is located.
- Positive Reviews
Positive reviews on review platforms such as Google My Business, Yelp and Facebook can help improve your business ranking in local search results.
Positive reviews also help increase customer trust and can influence their purchasing decisions.
- Activity on Local Social Media
Business activity on local social media, such as Facebook and Instagram, can help boost your business’s online presence and help improve rankings in local search results.
- Responsive and Easy to Use
A website that is responsive and easy to use on mobile devices can help improve rankings in local search results. This is because most local searches are conducted on mobile devices.
Benefits of Local SEO for Business Development
From the explanation above, of course you already know that SEO has an important role for the continuity and development of your business. Furthermore, what are the benefits that can be obtained? Here’s the explanation.
- Increase Visibility
By improving rankings in local search results, businesses can increase their visibility among potential local customers.
This can help businesses get more visitors to the website and consequently increase the opportunity to generate more sales.
- Relevant Target Market
Local SEO allows businesses to expand their reach to relevant local markets.
By improving their business’ online presence in local directories, potential local customers looking for products or services that the business offers can more easily find and contact them.
- Increase Customer Loyalty
By showing a consistent and accurate presence in local directories, businesses can build customer trust and loyalty.
By leaving positive reviews and recommending the business, loyal customers can help improve the business’ ranking in local search results.
- Cost Effective
Local SEO is a relatively cheap and effective marketing strategy. Compared to traditional marketing strategies, such as advertising in print media or television, this Local SEO can provide a higher return on investment and is easier to track.
- Increases Competition
Local SEO allows small and local businesses to compete with large and international businesses in the local market. By maximising their online presence in local directories and local search platforms, small businesses can be more easily found by potential local customers.
Overall, Local SEO can help businesses increase their visibility in the local market, improve customer loyalty and increase the chance to generate more sales, all at a relatively low cost and effectively.
Local SEO can also cut the cost of conventional advertising which tends to be more expensive but less effective. Without using this strategy, your website or presence in cyberspace is difficult to detect by the public or internet users.
Conclusion
Local SEO or Search Engine Optimisation is an effort to increase business visibility on search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo in local searches or specific regions.
Local SEO focuses on optimising business websites for local keywords and creating a consistent and accurate online presence for the business in online directories and other platforms such as Google My Business, Yelp, Facebook and others.
The goal is to help businesses rank higher in local search results, expand their reach to potential local customers and generate more traffic and conversions.
But Local SEO is not the only factor that should be considered in online business marketing efforts. There are many other factors such as social media, PPC advertising and email marketing that also need to be considered to achieve optimal results.
It is therefore very important for businesses to have a holistic and balanced marketing strategy that covers various aspects of online marketing.