Local SEO is a method used by businesses to target a specific geographical location when promoting their services and products.

With the help of local SEO, you too can make your business more visible in local search results. This can also make your business appear in the Local Pack; which is the top three local business results in Google search.

Let’s take a look at the best tips a business owner can follow to optimize their business website for local SEO.

1.  Optimize Your GMB Listing

One of the best ways to properly implement Local SEO in your business is by optimizing your GMB or “Google My Business” listing. This way, the visibility of your business in local search results can be boosted.

Here are some tips to help you optimize your Google My Business Listing easily.

Get The Listing Verified

After setting up your Google My Business listing properly, you should get it verified as well. A verified GBM listing has many more features compared to a regular listing and allows you to make more updates.

Use The Keywords Properly

To make your business listing show up in local search results, you should add the relevant local SEO keywords in your business name and its description to make sure that it shows up in local search results more often.

Earn More Reviews

You should also focus on earning more reviews by improving your services and providing top-quality customer care/ after-sales services.

You can start encouraging your customers to leave positive reviews for your business on your GMB Listing. Businesses with more positive reviews on their listing get ranked faster for local search results.

Utilize Google Post

Using Google Posts frequently can keep your GMB Listing live and fresh, and help you with better local search visibility as well.

You should also try completing your profile, adding relevant photos, and monitoring your listing regularly to get the best results.

2.  Use Local Keywords

Using local keywords helps your business rank better for local keywords used by people in your vicinity when they have to search for local businesses in the area.

Let’s take a brief look at how you can use local keywords properly.

Optimize The Header

Local Businesses can optimize the header of their website by adding relevant location information. This can include their city name, neighborhood name, and region-related information in the website’s header tags and title.

Optimize Meta Descriptions

Adding relevant information, like using local keywords in the meta descriptions of your website can provide search engines with some information about the location of your business.

Use Separate Pages For Each Location

If your business serves in more than one location, you should dedicate at least one pageof your website for each location you serve. You can also use separate sections for this purpose.

You can also try using your local keywords in your content, create a GMB Listing and use these keywords in it, use localized schema markup to give away your business’ location to search engines, and add your region/ city’s name in your website for better results.

3.  Gather Local Backlinks

Getting local backlinks is another way to do proper local SEO for your business.

Use Online Directories

You can start doing this by targeting local business directories and getting listed in online directories which are directly related to your business.

For example, A car wash owner should focus on getting listed in online car wash directories which cover their area.

Get Links From Related Websites

You can try reaching out to other local businesses, and ask if they’d like to link to your website from their website. You should do some homework and see how they can mutually benefit by linking to your website.

Attend Local Events

Whenever you participate in local trade shows or business events, you can include a link to your website on the marketing material you use. This is a great way to attract some local backlinks.

Adding valuable and informative content about your business or its parent industry can also intrigue other website owners to link back to your website in their content.

4.  Optimize For Voice Search

As a business, you can benefit from optimizing your website for voice search in local SEO. This will improve the visibility of your website in search engines when they display local business results.

Optimizing for voice search can come in handy when people use voice search services on their smartphones to search for specific businesses in your area.

Let’s see how you can easily optimize your local business website for voice search.

Optimize For Mobile

Mostly, smartphones are used to conduct voice searches as they have easy access to a microphone. That’s why your local business can benefit a lot by optimizing its website for mobile.

Mobile search optimization includes quick loading time, easy navigation, and a responsive design that provides mobile users with a smooth experience.

Structure Your Data Properly

Schema markup provides search engines with an easy understanding of your website’s data. That’s why you should always use schema’s vocabulary to introduce your business name, exact location, and other info to search engines.

Win Featured Snippets

In some search results (mostly questions), Google provides you with an answer box right on top of the search results; this is called a featured snippet. Google has optimized its algorithm to always prefer featured snippets whether it be regular search or voice search.

To win Featured snippets, you should try to answer some specific questions related to your topic, keep the content concise, and publish only the best quality content on your website. Voice Search optimization can be easily done by focusing on featured snippets.

Takeaway

With the help of the tips mentioned above, you can optimize your business with the help of local SEO. If done right, local SEO can provide your business with lots of attraction, and win you many local customers in a short time.

However, keep in mind that local SEO is a dynamic field, and to keep receiving results, you’ll have to stay consistent, and keep tracking your progress.