7 Simple Strategies to Dominate Local Search

Localized SEO has grown to be very important, especially in this day and age where several SME and startup businesses are popping out of nowhere. Before you get ahead of the bigger SEO game, you first have to dominate Google’s local search results. From optimizing the title and meta description of your site to making it more mobile friendly, we’ve got you covered with these 7 simple strategies to ace the local SEO game, writes, Scott Donald Chief Strategist, Creativ Digital 

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With the proper utilization of SEO techniques, you’ll discover a lot of possibilities that will help grow your company! Imagine, just by sitting at your computer desk, you can reach a lot of customers that can turn into regular clients in no time.

But before we get to that part, it is important to note that you are not the only business owner who knows about this. As a matter of fact, if you do a check in your city, you’ll discover a lot of startup companies like yours.

And in this modern age when many, if not all things we need to be aware of are easily accessible via Google, there’s no SEO secret that cannot be revealed. What I mean to say is, if you discovered some tips and tricks that can help maximize your company’s potential, then there is a 90% chance that the others have learned about it too.

So how are you going to compete with small startups similar to your business in your locality? As we all know, healthy competitions among small businesses are natural. But in order to take the lead, you must make a step ahead. And that step is to optimize your website to dominate Google’s local search results.

Now you might be asking, “why do I have to dominate the local search results?” Well, for one, people within your area are your first and easy target market. You can’t expect to sell local goods and see people from the other side of the world patronize them. That just doesn’t happen usually, does it?

Having said that, dominating the local search results sure is a great jumpstart for your business. Once Google features your website for related searches, people within your vicinity will get to know you and might even visit your shop or store the next day! You have to establish yourself as the number one choice of the services and products consumers need. And you can easily achieve that if your website obtains a better online visibility.

But good things don’t come free, you know. You need to work hard to achieve your goals. And the good news is, with the help of strategies below, you can kickoff your local SEO ranking and soon dominate Google’s local search results. Let’s get started, shall we?

Optimize Title and Meta Description

The title and meta description of your website is like your online advertisement. When Google features your page in the local search, people will first see your business title and the description you have written under it. (insert photo of business showing proper title and description)

As I mentioned above, it is like an ad because you can take advantage of this field to let potential customers who you are and what services or products you offer. What you need to do is to make sure that the information you provide in the title and meta description is compelling, concise and complete.

This is your one chance to have people click your link and you don’t want to waste this opportunity. So if you want to reach the local market, you have to optimize the title and meta description by including the city your company is in and of course, the products and services you offer. (insert picture of SERP showing city name and service)

Prospective buyers in your locality will sure prefer a store they can easily reach. Highlighting your company products and services along with adding your location in your title is a great technique to convince them that “hey, I am what you need.”

Also, it is imperative that you only put relevant words in your title and meta description. This space is precious so make use of it the best possible way you can. There are actually pages that leave unnecessary and unuseful words in their titles. This is not a good practice. Every character counts so you have to carefully write your title and description to attract likely clients.

Use A Structured Data Markup Tool

We have discussed above that it is important that you put your business information in your title and meta description for customers to see. But it doesn’t end there. Google should also know you better and mark you under your business category for a higher chance of getting the first spot on the local search. And how are you going to achieve this? Easy. Use a structured data markup tool.

The use of a structured data markup tool such as Schema.org lets you feed Google more details about your company; who you are, where you are, what you sell, what services you offer, the reviews of customers about your business, and etc. Basically, the tool helps level up your game. Google can actually check your page’s content easily if you implement proper codes where they are necessary.

Make A Mobile-Friendly Website

Stop losing potential customers now by doing a website makeover! Make sure that your page can be viewed in a mobile-mode as cellphones have become the first gadget that users get into when searching for any product or services they need.

As a consumer yourself, you are very well aware that using a mobile device when searching online is such a breeze. You won’t go to the study room to turn on your laptop just to search for the nearest craft store on Google when you can do it on your phone. So just think of the huge number of possible customers you’ll lose if your website is not mobile-friendly!

Get Into Writing For The Local Audience

To help your website earn a reputation on Google, you have to gain online visibility and prominence. You can easily achieve this by filling up your website with blogs and contents, which will have an impact on your readers. It’s not always necessary that you only add write-ups that are about your business.

To increase engagement with the users, you can go beyond what your company offers. Find out what interests the local market or what they want to know, then write about them. An example of this is writing about the “Top 5 Mobile Phones Of The Year” if you are selling cell phones and gadgets. It doesn’t discuss your company products but it still has something to do with your business.

Build A Local Partnership With Other Businesses

You know your company can’t offer everything a customer needs. Build a network with local strategic partners and set up some campaigns to attract local customers. Share inbound links and contents to increase your online prominence.

This is a good strategy to acquire more local links. Look for local startups whom you can refer your clients to for their other needs. Share links with them and make sure that all of you in your team are linking and sharing contents to broaden your reach.

Earn As Many Reviews And Social Mentions As You Can

By doing the above-mentioned tips, your products and services will reach local customers but it doesn’t mean end game. You need people to write reviews about your business.

Facebook users are one of your easy targets. People nowadays voluntarily leave a feedback on Facebook pages to share what they think about a product. If you have a Facebook page, make sure this feature is turned on. If Google finds that many people in your locality are talking about you and leaving good reviews about your company, you win yourself a great chance of dominating the local search.

Don’t Forget Local Citations

Local online directories are still useful when people search for businesses. Don’t miss the opportunity of being discovered by not listing your company in local directories.

Did you know that there are industry-specific directories where you can have your website listed? Do a research about these directories and list your website now. You’ll thank us later as you discover that it really pays off!

Now that you know our seven simple strategies on how to dominate the local search, you are a step ahead in growing your business. Though these are just techniques to help you through, we hope you find use in them.