While local SEO has been evolving rapidly over the last couple of years, local SEO is not going to die and will remain an imperative part of websites’ SEO strategies. With 80% of local searches converting (according to WebFX), local SEO is a strong strategy for boosting the conversions and brand awareness of your local business.
In fact, for some industries, there are more “near me” Google searches than ever. Looking at Google Trends data, most “near me” search queries have been seeing more search interest over the past couple of years than ever before:
“therapy near me”
“coffee near me”
While these are only a few of the many examples, it is certain that many industries are receiving an influx of local search traffic. If you are considering a local SEO strategy for your business, there many initiatives you can take:
1) Google My Business optimization
Google My Business, or GMB, is a free business profile that allows your business to show up in local maps and search results. Ensuring that you have a GMB account that includes up to date business information, like customer reviews, your phone number, address, and hours of operation, is essential for capturing local search traffic.
2) Mobile Friendly website
Since 57% of local searches are made using a mobile device, ensuring your website is mobile-friendly is a key component of any local SEO strategy. Use your Google Search Console Mobile Usability report to identify what changes need to be made.
3) Encourage reviews
Reviews play an important role in how Google ranks your local business. Offer incentives and encourage customers to leave reviews in order to boost your credibility.
Want more information on how to implement a local SEO strategy?
