Organic search results are the goal of any search engine optimization (SEO) campaign. It’s surprisingly easy to have a high ranking in your search results thanks to a strong local SEO marketing strategy. If you’re struggling to rank highly in search results, it’s almost a sure sign that something has gone wrong with your local SEO. This probably isn’t for lack of effort, but rather trying too hard in the wrong places. Like the old saying goes: “work harder not smarter.” Creating an effective strategy for your local SEO is the most important step in getting the results you want. In this article, we’ll be going over a few tips and tricks on how to get your local SEO strategy to pay off.
Getting the Basics Right
Starting on a solid foundation is key to a strong SEO strategy. It all starts with a name. Choosing the right name for your business can have a huge impact on your placement in local searches. For example, if your name doesn’t match your business, it might be missed in search results. It may be tempting to use location in your business name, but this can backfire and lower your local search ranking. For example, if you put a city in your business name, your business may be buried deep below general searches for similar companies in your area. Find the balance between catchy and descriptive to best optimize your local search results.
The other most important fundamental of local SEO is making sure that search results tell people where they can find you. Keep your location online up to date and consistent. Incorrect or inconsistent information can hurt your relationship with consumers as well as lower your rank in local search results. Don’t just keep your address updated on your website, make sure you’re also regularly checking and updated directories that list your business address as well. Another way to keep your location updated is by claiming your Google My Business (GMB) page to make sure the address your customers see when they search for you is accurate.
Optimize for Local Traffic
In the modern age, most people research a business online before actually making the trip outside to visit it. 72% of marketers have said that creating content is one of their most effective SEO strategies. Generating high-quality, engaging, and relevant content is one of the best ways to drive organic search results.
One strategy that’s popular with big companies that operate in multiple markets is to split those markets into different websites. For local businesses, however, this can do more harm than good. When your main competition is other small businesses, splitting your content across multiple sites can come across as confusing or even dishonest in some cases.
Building Trust with Reviews
When it comes to local SEO, reviews may be one of the most important things to have. Most people check reviews on google or other sites before they decide where to spend their money, and no reviews can be a red flag in the eyes of the consumer. Most directories allow you to ask for reviews (like Google) but some have strict rules about when, where, and how you can go about it. You want to get reviews that show the great things your business offers, but you don’t want them to be insincere. An overly happy or complementary review can rarely be seen as genuine and isn’t a way to build trust with your customers. It’s also important that you never, ever, pay customers or copywriters to write positive reviews for you. Educated consumers will be able to spot the differences in paid and genuine reviews, and if it gets out that you’ve paid for reviews, and trust you’ve built will be destroyed.
Optimizing for Mobile Traffic
Mobile users are even more likely to visit a website before deciding where to do their shopping. Having a mobile site that is easy to navigate, high-quality, and fast to load is key to attracting that customer base. Including long-tail, local, and voice-search keywords in your local SEO strategy is key to integrating mobile traffic effectively.
SEO can be complicated, but it’s one of the most effective investments for companies to make in the long run. For more help with local SEO in Tampa, FL, contact Local SEO Tampa Company.
