Local SEO: A Basic Introduction
Local SEO brings you closer to your potential customers. It literally puts you on the map. So, why is local SEO so important in this day and age? It’s because local consumers need their local services or products fast. That’s why SEO optimizing for a specific geographic location can be so vital. Essentially, your business needs to fill this need. First, there are things you need to know about local SEO.
Citations Require Consistency
Your business’s citations, or business listings across different sites, need to have consistent NAPs(name, address, and phone) on each listing. For instance, if your address is 765 Tinsel Town Ln on Google, but 765 Tinsel Town Lane anywhere else, your chances of ranking high on Google Maps are slim. If your business is spelled a certain way, it should have that same spelling throughout all citations. You even want your NAPs to match on your social media accounts, especially.
Local SEO Brings People Together on Social Media
An active and up-to-date social media account is even better for locals to see what your business is all about. Even posts about upcoming events, promotions, free-bees, or updates on service hours make a difference. Social media is also a great place to capture memorable milestones in your business. Potential customers love to see how your business elevates overtime and be a part of it!
Think of grand opening. It’s like a house-warming party. In fact, potential customers get excited when they’re invited to celebrations such as these. There’s nothing like a warm welcome to get things started on the right track! They see friendly faces, get freebies, and a red carpet experience that make them feel valued. It all goes back to the idea that human interaction is key when running a small business, even if it’s online. This even applies to customers reviews.
Customer Reviews Shape People’s View of You
People judge products and services based on reviews. Also, they may judge you, the owner. You want to respond to every single review (if possible). This leaves the impression that you care about customer experience. In addition, it urges more people to buy from you. Whether the reviews you receive are good or bad, a quick and respectful response can win over even the most skeptical of potential customers. In addition, some bad reviews turn into better ones with the right approach!
Local SEO Makes Shopping Easier
There was a time when finding certain products or services was a huge hassle. Imagine calling and visiting over a dozen stores for one item. Thanks to local SEO, it’s way easier to find things on the web. Actually, it’s so easy that Google does the searching for you. All you have to do is type what you’re looking for into the search bar, click “Maps”, then choose one of the places that has your item. This works if you’re looking to travel to buy your item. There are different online retailers that will have what you need shipped to you, with the option of pick-up. Either way, Google makes shopping simple.
