Get Local SEO Right: The Ultimate Local On-Page SEO Checklist
SEO for Local is a truly essential business and marketing strategy when you have a physical business.
Well, any action taken that contributes to increasing the footfall for your business can be the ultimate game changer.
Search engines like Google usually consider location aspects for showing the best results to the users.
Google’s local search algorithm has a proximity factor, which effectively means that when you search for a local keyword or phrase, Google considers your location. Even when you exclude a city name or “near to me” from your search query, Google will still consider your location.
46% of all searches on Google include searches that seek local information.
This is why any business that operates in a physical place or that caters to a bigger geographic region must put efforts to get their local SEO right. Generally, you can start with working towards your local on-page SEO.
It doesn’t take a genius to understand what the right local SEO can do to your physical business.
Search engine optimization can typically be on-page and off-page. Let’s try to understand more about the local on-page SEO along with a go-to checklist for it.
So, keep reading!
What Is Local SEO?
SEO for Local (Search Engine Optimization) is the process of enhancing local businesses’ visibility on search engines, particularly for those having a physical presence.
Similar to standard SEO, local search engine optimization entails working with local customers and their searches to optimize a website for increasing search visibility.
As per RangRanger, there is a local pack present in 29% of all Google SERPs. Hence, businesses can increase organic traffic from queries made by local customers and by adhering to local SEO best practices.
Local SEO is a great approach for you to support the online expansion of your business and will assist more local leads to find and visit your business.
Checklist for Local On-Page SEO
Local on-page SEO comprises techniques and procedures used to optimize a web page for better search results and increased organic traffic.
This can include optimizing your headlines, HTML tags, meta descriptions, and images in addition to producing high-quality, pertinent content. Let’s dive deeper into this with the below time-tested and go-to local on-page SEO checklist.
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- Have A Robust Website
The most crucial and foundational element for doing the right SEO for Local is your website; no amount of optimization will be effective if your site isn’t outstanding as per the SEO best practices.
As Google now indexes the mobile versions of websites, ensure that your website has a responsive design. Also, optimize your website for faster speed and the right URL structure.
Lastly, interlink relevant pages on the website to help searchers and the search engine easily find more business information on the site.
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- Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Generally, the first batch of results that are shown below ads for any local search on Google is usually the Google Business Profiles.
There is a ton of information in Google Business Profiles that can drive customers to take the desired action right from your profile, so you must optimize your Google Business Profile for local SEO.
After verifying your Google Business Profile and ensuring its claim, make sure that all the crucial information such as the name, phone number, and address are mentioned accurately and consistently across the listing.
Try to fill out all the sections with suitably as much information as possible. Don’t forget to choose the correct business category.
Lastly, upload relevant pictures such as pictures of the business logo, cover photo, pictures of the interior and exterior of your physical store, and so on.
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- Target Local Keywords
As part of your local SEO strategy, you can target specific local keywords and improve your chances of showing up for those searches.
To target local searchers, your keywords should be connected to your business, your products or services, and your local area. For example, the best interior designer in Brooklyn, Brooklyn interior designer, and so on.
Additionally, you can develop high-impacting content around the long-tail keyword phrases that your customers use in search queries for finding a business like yours.
To benefit more you can use the local keywords in your title tags, meta descriptions, on-page content, social media profiles, and Google Business Profile.
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- Optimize Meta Title And Meta Descriptions
The meta title is a powerful factor that influences the search ranking for selected keywords. Because it contains on-point useful information. The local keyword you wish to rank for should be included in the meta title as far as possible.
To offer searchers a better idea of what to expect before they click on the page appearing in the search results, meta descriptions are the HTML code that appears beneath the meta title of a page.
Ensure that your meta descriptions contain your target keywords and a summary of the page’s content. Also, make sure that they are not more than 150-160 characters.
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- Manage Online Reviews
Managing reviews is yet another important factor to be considered for local ranking. A maximum of the searches read online reviews for the local businesses listed online before taking any action.
That is why search engines consider the sentiments in the reviews and the keyword used in them. If you try to get more positive reviews from your happy customers, and manage to respond to all types of reviews promptly, it can help you increase your local ranking performance.
Further, ensure to get higher ratings, so that Google considers your business when someone searches for phrases including words like “best”.
This is pretty much it!
We hope that you find more value in this when you execute the above. Arista Systems enforce a set of time-tested strategies developed through years of experience with the help of exceptional marketing experts at the core of its team.
You can connect with us at info@aristasystems.in to get access to the local SEO best practices. We’ll make the most out of your marketing activities.