When it comes to making a local impact with your audience, are you “famous” with your audience? While your website may not be able to be a grand celebrity, here are ways your organization can be locally famous and maximize your website’s local presence.
1. Get Your Website into the Mobile Age
Struggling to create a mobile-friendly website or improve your mobile visibility? Consider this: Google is mobile first, meaning that the popular search engine predominantly uses the mobile version of the content for indexing and ranking. In fact, more than 50% of the traffic received from Google inquiries come from a mobile device. These inquiries typically happen when your customers are sitting in traffic and need to make a quick decision from their phone. And when it comes to mobile devices, local results on Google dominate the listings. Here are additional statistics about web development in the mobile age:
- “Mobile First” Mobile Algorithm > Desktop Algorithm
- 46% of all Google searches are local
- 72% of consumers that did a local search visited a store within 5 Miles
- 88% call or visit the business within 24 hours
- 18% of local smartphone searches led to a purchase within 24 hours
- 78% of location-based mobile searches result in an offline purchase
- 28% of all local searches result in purchases
- 97% of people learn more about local companies online than any other medium
- 80% of all consumers use search engines to find local information
- 92% of local searchers choose a business on Page 1 of Google SERP
Sources: Google, HubSpot, SEO Tribunal
2. Keep Your Listings Consistent
If you’re customers are Apple users, they’re likely using Apple Maps to find your business. If they’re Android users, Google Maps may their go-to GPS. Wherever you are across the maps, be sure to be consistent with your name, address and phone number (aka NAP). For instance, you don’t want your business saying “butcher shop” on Apple Maps and “meat market” on Google Maps. The more consistent you are in your NAPs, the better, even when it comes to how you identify your address. For example, if you’re choosing to list your street as “Ave.” vs. “Avenue,” make sure you stick with one nomenclature across all platforms. In short: Be impeccable with your NAP, and you will be popular on the maps!
3. Localize Your Content
As you make sure your NAP is consistent, it’s critical to apply the same consistency on your website. Much like your NAP/map strategy, your website architecture should reflect how to you spell out your address. One way to ensure consistency is to ensure your footer is indexable by Google and links out to Google Maps. By adding compelling content to your website, it will boost your SEO and convey, as an organization, who you are. If you’re looking to make a more local impact with your customers, be sure to devote a blog or content strategy to reach your hyperlocal audience. And by hyperlocal, we mean really local. For instance, instead of “Denver,” be sure to tailor your content to “Capital Hill.” Or, instead of “Lone Tree,” be sure to mention “Park Meadows.” The more precise and local your content is, the better it will show up in local searches.
4. Inbound Links and Network Links
If other local business have optimized content, consider networking with them face-to-face and mention adding their content and links to your blog posts. From there, you can network digitally by linking mutual content from blogs. Looking to rank higher locally in the searches? Be sure to add inbound links from pages containing the city name, as they will be factored higher into a search engine algorithm.
5. Help from Yelp
If you do a search for a business or service using the terms “near me,” Yelp is likely to show up every single time. If there’s one place to have an optimized listing, Yelp is the channel. Yelp has an extremely robust directory that is well optimized. If your organization relies on reviews, you need a presence on Yelp. One way to optimize your Yelp presence is to hold Yelp Elite Events. There is a squad in your local area called Elites who have written many reviews, and you can get in touch with them directly and invite them to your business. By connecting with local Elites, you will get thorough and honest feedback for your organization.
6. Meeting With Your Google Local Guides
Did you know you may be a Google Local Guide? If not, you can sign up to be one. Google Local Guides, like Yelp reviewers, leave reviews for organizations. About since 90% of searches appear on Google, you are likely to target a local audience to review your business and invite over for networking. And just like with Yelp Elite Events, you can host a meet-up at your organization to share ideas, network and get even more honest feedback on your organization. Google also lists some great tips for organizing a meet-up.
7. Paid Local Search
If you go to Google and see the word ad, someone paid to be there — and your organization can be there too. To boost your Local Search Optimization presence, you will need to work with your Google Ads account and set up your display advertisements. Another strategy Webolutions recommends is purchasing Yelp ads to feature your local business and reviews. Not yet set up with a Google Ads account, or need a refresher with paid advertisements? Contact Webolutions today to get started with your Google Ads Account. We also offer a variety of resources to help you get the most out of your digital advertising strategies.
BONUS: More Tips Available
We offer many more local search tips in our on-demand webinar, Maximizing Your Website’s Local Search Presence. Be sure to catch the recording to get the right Local Search Optimization results.
Key takeaways from this presentation include:
- Why Local Search Optimization is critical in the mobile age.
- Tips about Local Search fundamentals and recent significant changes.
- Local Search mistakes to avoid.
Webolutions Can Help
Ready to take your organization’s Local Search Optimization strategy to the next level? We can help! Give us a call at 303-300-2640 or schedule a free consult with a web development expert.
