What exactly is Local SEO?
Local SEO is the strategy to increase your online visibility in a local market resulting in more website clicks and conversions.
Businesses which operate in a local market include: retail stores, doctors, dentists, service companies and local tradesman.
Local businesses know the distance a prospective customers or themselves will travel for business and need to to focus their efforts in their defined market.
Likewise consumers only look for certain types of businesses in their local or surrounding communities. Why consider a dentist in Tallahassee if you live in Orlando? Google recognizes “local” search intent and promotes close-by businesses in the search results. Factors that have an impact on your local search engine ranking include; website optimization, backlinks to your website, signals from social media and accuracy of your directory citations.
Local SEO Strategies:
Local SEO strategies for businesses include directory submissions like Google+, local geographic indicators, local Social Media and optimizing your website according to search engine best practices. Being found on desktop computers and mobile devices is extremely important today with the number of mobile searches eclipsing desktop searches. Most often mobile searches are for products and services which satisfy an immediate need thus shortening the typical selling cycle.
TaylorTown SEO is an agency that specializes in small and mid-sized local Orlando businesses which need to be seen online in their nearby community. SEO Local is our expertise and we utilize all the appropriate online tools and provide proven strategies to make your business more visible online in your local community than your competition. These strategies include:
1. Google Maps optimization – Consumers find businesses on the Google map
2. Directory submissions – Drives human traffic as well as search engine traffic
3. Blog participation in community blogs and websites – Community based reviews
4. Facebook promotion – Social reviews and breaking news
5. Pay per Click – Ads that generate an Immediate impact
Online Directories
Directories are business information that is organized by classifications and criteria. Think about the Yellowpages and how business classifications made it easy for consumers to find the business they needed. Want a locksmith? Look under the locksmith heading. Search engines act as directories as well. Enter a search term and the Directory will display websites in the results.
Taylortown SEO finds it advantageous for businesses to submit their Orlando business info with a website link to sites like Yelp, Yahoo, SuperPages and others in a consistent way to gain Google’s trust. Google hates to display inaccurate information. The number online directories with your exact business contact information (internet citations) helps convince Google that your business is a legitimate result for an internet search.
Question? Should I promote my local business on Google or Facebook?
Does you business depend upon repeat business or do your customers come to you in an emergency? Remember that consumers only look for businesses to solve a problem or to fulfill a desire. It really depends on what are your customer’s needs are and the manner they search to satisfy their needs.
Air conditioning repair businesses need to be found quickly online, because these companies know that their potential customers are in an emergency situation. Their position on Google is paramount and their website needs to be convincing and professional to generate phone calls.
On the other hand, your neighborhood tavern is already visible on your neighborhood street. People do not come to the tavern to solve an “emergency” situation but for relaxation and libation. Reviews and commentary through social media create a lively interaction which lends itself to the strengths of Facebook.
Research has shown that businesses with a strong “social” presence tend to rank higher in search engines. Businesses should focus on search engines and social media with distinct content strategies that engage your target market is my recommended approach.
Google Maps/Google+
The Google Map on the first page of the search results is prime real estate which is up for grabs if you understand the rules to get placed on the map. The maps sits above the organic results which is prime real estate and these listings drive clicks and inquiries. Mistakenly many businesses think you need to pay to get placement. Not so; but high ranking must be earned by following key strategies to convince Google you are a quality search result.
Orlando businesses which are able to get online positive reviews and their business name, address and phone number is consistent throughout the web have an excellent change of being one of the three businesses Google displays. TaylorTown can guide your business to Google Map Gold. All you need to do is know the rules.
Blog Participation
Participating in blogs while maintaining fresh content on your blog provides visibility to users searching for specific information related to your services. Google rewards your website with “freshness” points and raises your ranking based on topical content. Orlando service companies benefit by sharing expert knowledge in community based blogs.
Don’t adopt national SEO strategies from a national company when you need to stay “local”. Call ( 321) 230-3197 to learn how you can dominate your local market using proven strategies tailored to your business.