What is local SEO, and how does it benefit your business?

Do you know that about 78% of people who perform local searches visit the same store that day? But what if your business is not visible in those local searches? You are likely to lose out on a lot. But we don’t want that! That is why we have jotted down this blog to guide you about the importance of local SEO services. 

In this guide, you will learn about local SEO, its importance, how local SEO works, and the best local SEO tips for the success of your business.

What Is Local SEO?

Local SEO is a search engine optimisation technique that helps your local business to become more visible in the local search results on Google. According to Google, about 30% of searches are related to location. So, ranking high is very important for the success of your local business. 

If your business is operating in a traditional setup or has a physical store, then you can get the benefit of local SEO. By following local SEO techniques, businesses can improve their organic traffic and visibility on search engines.

Search engines depend upon signals like links, social media account pages, local content, and citations to offer the most relevant local results to users to gather information about local searches.  Businesses can make the best use of local SEO to make their products and services available to a large group of people.

How Does Local SEO Work?

When you search for something in Google, the page that appears is called a search engine results page (SERP). It includes links to all relevant websites, images, and other necessary information related to the search.  

However, Google has various complicated algorithms to determine which sites appear in top search results. Also, there are other options to keep your business at the top of search engine results, like paid content. 

Moreover, the working of local SEO is very different, it is more about offering search results related to a particular geographic location. Google considers your location when you search for something locally, whether you include an address or not.

Suppose you are at work and want to get a cake for your friend’s birthday, then Googling “Cake Delivery” will show you a list of locations near your offices in its local SERPs. But if you search for the same keywords at home, you will get different results.  

Local SEO helps Google understand where your business is located and what it offers.  Moreover, Google considers the following three key criteria to rank a business in Google Maps.

Prominence 

This shows how popular and well-known the businesses are.  

Distance 

 How far the search location is from the location. Of business. 

Relevance   

This means how well a business matches with what the user I am looking for.  

In addition, Google displays two kinds of local search results i.e., organic blue link and map pack results. Your business can rank on both. 

The map pack results can be found at the top of local search results and display a search engine results page feature that highlights the top-ranking local business against the map. 

The blue link results are the organic search results that appear under the map results of local search. 

What Sets Apart Local SEO From Google Search?  

The local SEO works similarly to the general Google search, to offer the most relevant results for the user’s searches.  

But what differentiates local SEO from Google Search is its dependence on some ranking factors. Such as: 

• NAP citations
• The user’s location
• Google business profile listing
• Online review sentiment
• Keywords in Google Business Profile
• Social media shares
• Keywords in online reviews
• Google Maps star rating
• Number of check-ins at business location

All those unique signals assist Google in delivering the best local search results to the users.

What Are the Benefits of Local SEO for Businesses?

Do you know that 4 out of 5 users conduct searches with local intent on the search engines? The business understands the need to market their services and products, but many of them do not exactly know what to do.

That is why we will understand why businesses should explore local SEO and how it can assist them in reaching more customers. 

There are plenty of reasons why businesses should follow local SEO services. These are:  

Better Online Visibility 

Local SEO services enhance the visibility of your business on search engines. Your small business should appear in local search results whenever potential customers search for the products or services you offer. This visibility is important in today’s digital world, where the first point of contact between a business and a customer is online. 

By optimising your website with local keywords and listings, you can make your business stand out and become more visible. 

This increased visibility means that when locals search for the services and products that you offer, your business is center and front, capturing their attention. This is a brilliant benefit of local SEO services for a local business owner. 

Increased Conversion Rates 

One of the key benefits of local SEO is that the conversion rates of your small business will increase significantly. Local searches usually result in higher conversion rates because the people who search for the nearby business are generally closer to making a buying decision. 

As per Google, 2 out of 10 searches on smartphones led to purchases within a day  

When prospective customers search for products or services in their local areas, they are generally in the final stage of purchase, searching for the products or services that match their requirements. The visibility of your business in the local search results accelerates your chances of converting these potential buyers into customers. 

Cost-Effective 

Local SEO services are budget-friendly, especially for small businesses. Digital marketing strategies are more affordable than traditional advertising methods such as print media, billboards, or newspaper ads. Also, digital strategies provide a higher return on investment. 

By using digital marketing strategies, you can make focused efforts where they matter the most. Targeted marketing makes the customers feel more connected to the brand. That is why it is way more effective than mass marketing. 

See, the marketing efforts do not need to be expensive. Instead, by understanding how you can boost your SEO through keywords, you can reach the same number of consumers as traditional marketing. By targeting what attracts your customers, you can spend less time and money on advertising. 

Continuous Growth 

The main similarity between traditional and local SEO is that once you reach the top, it is tough to bring your business down.  

By reaching the top of search results, you will have an influx of new clients. Additionally, better online visibility will assist your other marketing efforts and ensure continuous business growth. Then, you can maintain your placement on search engines with minimal financial investment and effort. 

One more thing about local optimisation is that it offers stable results. Unlike the other marketing methods, the placement of your local business on the top of SERPs will give you similar traffic each month.  

More Competitive 

A significant part of creating and refining your local SEO strategy is benchmarking the competitors and identifying what they are doing better than you.  By identifying these opportunities to improve your business, you can make your business more competitive than before.  

For example, studying their reviews could tell you what the customers appreciate about their services and what they don’t! This way, you can also incorporate the same approach implemented by competitive businesses. Also, you can take lessons from their mistakes.

More Local Reviews 

If you are providing good services, then customers will give you honest GMB reviews, which will help you generate more clients. But that will not be possible if your business is not optimised for local SEO.  By executing the local SEO services, you can get more customer reviews. 

Also, make sure to reply to the feedback provided by your customers. This will help you in ranking higher on the search engines. It is a sign of good customer experience as per Google. Moreover, getting local reviews can benefit your business in various significant ways.  

Organic and Sustainable Growth 

The local SEO gives long-lasting results, which leads to the sustainable growth of your business. It assists your business to grow consistently and naturally. When your business shows up consistently in the local results, people in your areas start trusting and recognising your business.  

This trust leads to enhanced visibility, which, in turn, brings more customers. It is like a cycle: the more you are visible, the more you will be trusted, and the more customers you will attract. And this all leads to more business growth. 

This steady growth means you do not have to rely on short-term strategies or spend a lot on advertisements to succeed in the long run. The main benefit of local SEO is that you will get organic growth for a long period. 

Better Customer Relationships 

With the help of local SEO services, you can strengthen your relationship with customers by offering personalised experiences to them. For example, businesses can use location-based data to provide relevant discounts and special promotions tailored to their current geographical area.  

This shows your customers that you care about what matters the most in their vicinity. This helps in building loyalty and trust over time. When it comes to local SEO, you cannot go overboard. So, make sure to use all the relevant data like seasonal events or weather forecasts, to gain more attention from prospects in their vicinity. 

Also, you can offer free cold drinks along with free shipping in your store when they come for their order pickup. Make sure to run the promotion on your website and make it redeemable only when they sign up for your newsletter.

Authority and Trust  

Nowadays there are too many options available in the market. Every business claim to be the best in the field. You can write whatever you want about the services and products that you offer, and people will believe in that. But it is impossible to trust a business that you have never heard of. That is where this local SEO benefit comes in.  

The real magic of implementing a local SEO strategy is in its ability to boost your brand awareness and attract more visitors. This is a good way to reveal and share your experience. The visitors will then believe that what you are doing is good, and they will trust you even more. This brand trust will soon turn into brand loyalty with time. It will allow you to retain customers for years while increasing your ROI. 

When your business is well-optimised for local searches, you get high rankings on Google. It is much easier to trust a local business that is on the first page of Google. That is why, you must do your best to appear on the top rankings.  

More Foot Traffic 

When your business ranks higher on the search engines, it will be visible to many people, and this will bring more traffic to your store. 

When a customer searches for a business near them, the algorithms Google shows them a list of top-ranking businesses that match their needs. This algorithm considers different factors while deciding what the users see in the search results. 

The top-ranking businesses are then shown in the organic search results and Google Maps. The user can click here to get more information about the local business-like directions to the physical location, contact number, and other details. 

So, if your business implements local SEO services, then the chances of your business being visible on the top are higher. When your business is visible on top search results, users will visit your physical store. 

Hence, higher search rankings in Google Maps mean more foot traffic. This could also lead to increased revenue for your business. 

Conclusion  

That’s all about local SEO and its benefits! There is no denying the fact that local SEO services are very beneficial for your business. With this cutthroat competition in the market, it is crucial to invest in the best local SEO practices.  

To conclude, local SEO boosts traffic, increases visibility, enhances trustworthiness, enhances revenue, and more. If you still have queries about local SEO, then make sure to get in touch with us! RVS Media Limited, a leading SEO agency in London, will help you get the best results from local SEO services for your business.