You’ve heard of local SEO, but you’re confused about what it is. Does this sound familiar? You’re not alone! Search engine optimisation can leave you with a headache when trying to understand everything.
To help simplify it for you, we’ve created this blog. Not only will we explore why local SEO is so important but how you can get started doing it today. Let’s get started.
Defining Local SEO
The concept behind local SEO is quite simple: increase the chance that people in your area will find your business while browsing search engines.
For instance, have you ever used Google to find restaurants near you? If so, you’ve experienced local SEO firsthand. Now, you may be thinking, well, surely there are only a few industries where this works well… Wrong.
In today’s world, it is common for consumers to want to find and buy from local businesses, even if they’re purchasing goods or services over the internet.
Take us, for example. A lot of our clients are based in Luton or the surrounding area, but most of them haven’t physically met us! However, our location helps us understand the local market, which other agencies that are located in other parts of the country won’t know too much about.
What’s all the fuss?
Well, 46% of all Google searches are connected to something local. Yep, you read that right. Nearly 50% of everything that’s being searched on Google is related to finding local information.
When you factor in that Google is the most visited website in the world, that’s a lot of searches that you can potentially turn into paying customers.
Can your business really miss this opportunity?
There’s more to local SEO than a Google Business Profile
In some cases, clients come to us with the misconception that local SEO solely relates to having a Google Business Profile. If you’re unaware of what this is, it’s a way for searchers to find your business when searching on Google Maps and looking at standard search results for certain queries.
Firstly, having a Google Business Profile created for your business will absolutely help local SEO. Although, there’s a little more to it than that. There are various other local SEO strategies that can help you target searches within close proximity.
For example, say after reading this post you want to find an SEO agency. You type the exact words “SEO agency” into Google. Once Google has looked at the location you’re searching from (and usually other information linked to your Google account), it will provide a tailored results page for high authority agencies near your area.
Now, say you have a friend that did the same search, but they live in Scotland. Can you guess what will happen? Yep, you guessed it. Instead of the same results coming up, agencies that are nearer your friend’s location will show up.
To Sum Up
Local SEO is a fantastic digital marketing approach to finding customers that are nearby. Not only does it help stores that have a physical location but ones that offer services and products over the internet too.
SEO Luton helps businesses both close by and around the country with search engine optimisation. If you’re interested in learning more about how we can skyrocket your online visibility, contact us today for a free website audit.