Will Local SEO rule your world for 2019?

Will Local SEO rule your world for 2019?

Happy 2019! Hope everyone had an amazing Christmas and New Year.

Welcome back to the very first blog for 2019! I thought a good topic to start the year off would be Local SEO. Whether you're; promoting your business online or exploring ways to promote your business, the term “local search engine optimisation” is one of the biggest marketing buzzwords for 2018.

Why is local SEO important?

The internet has allowed customers to find local services and products quickly. According to Bluehost,64% of local customers use search engines and directories. 50% of searchers visit businesses within 24 hours of completing a local search. With this in mind, you need to ensure your website is optimised for local search.

What is Local Search engine optimisation (SEO)?

Brightlocal define local SEO as;

“Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is an incredibly effective way to market your local business online. It helps businesses promote their products and services to local customers at the exact time they’re looking for them online. This is achieved through a variety of methods, some of which differ greatly from what’s practiced in standard SEO.”

What is the difference between organic search and local search?

RevLocal Blog defines the difference between organic search and local search as; “The main difference between organic and local search is that local search has a geographical component. If a user searches for industry + location, the search engine knows that the search has local intent.”

When Google knows where your business is located, it will be able to find your business easily. This also helps searchers who are looking for local services and products.

Create a Local SEO strategy

Google My Business Listing

You need to optimise your Google Business Listing for FREE! This free tool from Google helps business owners manage their online presence across Google.
Your listing will appear when users search for your; company name, location or use relevant keywords. 

Business Tip: Here is a great guide by Search Engine Journal to help you complete your Free Google Listing. Also, you can check out my blog post on 8 Reasons why your business needs a Google My Business Listing profile

Online Directories /listings

Online directories are a great way to promote your business across the internet. Some online directories allow you to list your business for free for example Yelp and some you'll need to pay a fee.
Business Tip: For a new start-up business, seek out all the free online directories that are promoting businesses in your industry. You can also check out my blog post on 4 Reasons You Need To USe Online Business Directory Listings

Other websites to claim your free business listings include:
· Yahoo
· Yell
· Thomson Local

Business Tip: Visit the Invoice Berry blog to view 35 UK Business directories you could be listing your services

Online Customer Reviews

According to Search Engine Land research shows that 88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. So online reviews will be a factor when a potential customer decides if they want to use your products or services. Search engines such as Google also take in to account customer reviews.

Popular websites to generate customer reviews include Yelp and Facebook. However, there are other websites to consider to help generate customer reviews:

· Trustpilot – There are various pricing plans. But your business can Collect & respond to Trustpilot reviews for free.
· Google Reviews - Once you create your free Google Business Listing, you can link this to Google Reviews. Review Trackers has a useful guide for how to manage reviews on Google
· Angie’s List – Once you register your profile on Angie’s List, you can link this to their review section.
Business Tip: Check out this list by Hubspot of 22 customer review websites you should consider for your business.

Local Content

Creation of local content will help Google find your website. Localised content is another great way for local SEO. Local content can include the following:

· Your company address and contact details displayed on your website
· Create a blog, which allows you to focus on local keywords. Investing in a company blogsite also comes with other benefits such as; generating inbound links for your website and building brand credibility.

Final thoughts

I hope you've found this blog post useful and feel more confident about exploring local search engine optimization with all the free tools available for your business to use. It would be great to know who is already using local SEO and what strategies have worked for you. 

Nicola xox