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Originally Posted On: https://www.thewebdetective.com/blog/how-to-improve-your-local-seo/

 

Are you looking for an effective way to boost your website’s online rankings in your local area?

Without hesitation, your answer should be yes. Boosting your local SEO is an effective way for your local audience to find your website.

Your local audience is one of the most valuable assets. In many cases, your local audience will make up the majority of your customers.

Reaching your local target audience today is more important than before. Since the beginning of last year’s pandemic, more people are using online ways to learn and contact nearby businesses.

Don’t let your website get lost in the depths of the online results page. Here’s how you can improve your local SEO today.

What Is Local SEO?

Businessman suggested an effective ‘SEO’ optimization approach. Hands presenting an ‘SEO’ flowchart.

Local SEO or search engine optimization is the process of optimizing your website to make it easier to find in your local area. This is a valuable digital marketing asset for every local face-to-face business.

These businesses include dentist offices, restaurants, and retail shops. Businesses that provide services such as cleaning businesses, electricians, and others will also benefit by improving their local SEO.

When you use a search engine like Google or Bing, you’ll type a keyword or phrase into the search bar. You’ll enter the search and receive a list of websites. This list is the search engine’s results page.

The websites on this list appeared based on the keywords you entered and your location. The websites on the first page typically have matching keywords and possibly a similar location to you.

The viewer is likelier to select a result from the first page. If they don’t see what they’re looking for, they might move to the next or change their search entirely.

Improving your local SEO will help boost your website’s rankings on a search engine’s results page. A higher goal ranking will make your website easier to find in your local area.

How Local SEO Works

Local SEO is a branch of SEO. The main focus of SEO is to boost your website’s rankings and improve its searchability on the internet.

Local SEO, however, focuses on the local side of improving your website’s search rankings. The goal of local SEO is to improve the searchability of your website in specific areas such as regions and cities.

Local SEO works best when your site lets Google know your business’s location. The search engine will recognize this and will connect your site to people making local searches. You can enjoy this benefit by adding your business’s proper address, create a local landing page, or include a store locator.

Google and some other search engines will refer to your website’s Local Business Schema markup. You can add this markup code to your website to help search engines understand what your business is, what you do, and your location.

If you’re not a fluent coder or web developer, adding the Local Business Schema markup sounds like a complicated process. Fortunately, many website editors offer local SEO plugins that will make completing this process easy.

Your website will need specific content catered to your local target audience. Quality content and good keyword usage will boost your website’s overall SEO.

Optimizing the content and technical details of your website is only one piece of the puzzle. If you haven’t already, create a Google My Business account. Create a social media strategy and add industry-based and local links to improve your local SEO.

How To Improve Your Local SEO in Massachusetts and Rhode Island

Do you want to increase local traffic on your website? Follow these tips to improve the local SEO of your Massachusetts or Rhode Island business.

1. Create Your Google My Business Account

Creating a Google My Business Account is a key part of crafting your business profile. A business profile will improve your site’s visibility on both Google’s search results page and Google Maps. This account will verify the local ownership of your business.

When you create a Google My Business Account, make sure all the information you add is up-to-date. Include your brand’s logo, operating hours, payment options, and the products and services you offer. Use this account to add events, publish posts, and publish special events to capture your local audience’s attention.

2. Get Reviews From Happy Customers

Positive reviews from customers will improve your Google My Business presence and inspire new customers to check out your business. Encourage happy customers to leave reviews by asking the customer for a review at the point of sale.

Reach out to happy customers to request a review. Make sure you professionally respond to reviews to thank them or acknowledge their review.

3. Craft Content Based on Local Events

Include content in your website that relates to your local audience. Include blog posts with topics relating to the local news, events, or activities in your area. Share what local causes and charities your business supports through video or images.

Location-specific content will grab your audience’s attention while improving your local SEO.

4. Use Local Keywords

Research what keywords your local audience uses when searching for businesses, products, or services. Including keywords based on your local target audience’s searches will make your website easier to find.

Google offers several tools that help you find the best keywords relevant to your location. Tools like Google’s Keyword Planner will show your which keywords are the most popular in your region or city.

Once you identify these keywords, add them to your site’s content, meta descriptions, and URLs.

5. Include Location-Specific About Pages

Does your business have multiple locations in an area? Add location-specific about pages that include:

• Business hours
• Business name, store hours, and phone number
• Promotions
• Individualized descriptions
• Parking availability
• Testimonials

Each page will need unique content to improve local SEO rankings. For those with one location, create an About page that mentions your involvement your experience working in your area.

Local SEO Is the Key for Success

You want your business to be successful in your area, right?

Investing in your website’s local SEO is the perfect way to improve your business’s online presence at a local level. Making your website easier to find locally will boost sales and grow your business.

Need help crafting the perfect local SEO strategy for a Massachusetts or Rhode Island business? Let us know! We’re happy to help you with your digital marketing needs.