Ready to dominate your local market? Local SEO is your answer. Read our guide to learn how to target local rankings, attract more customers, and break into Google’s top local search results.
When a hungry Hamiltonian searches for the best pizza in town, there’s a good chance they’re choosing one of the top results to satisfy their cravings. That’s the power of local SEO—and it works across every industry to bring organic traffic to your website and brick-and-mortar businesses.
According to Search Engine Roundtable, 46% of all Google searches have local intent. Combined with Google’s data that 76% of people who search their phones for nearby businesses visit one within a day, there’s a lot of potential for those who harness local SEO to their advantage.
How to optimize a site for local SEO?
Every click, search, and local customer matters. We’re a Hamilton-based agency with a passion for empowering local businesses through intelligent web design and marketing. Let’s dive into the best local SEO strategies and tactics to propel your business to the top of search and into the heart of your local community.
Local Visibility: What is a local SEO?
Local SEO is the art and science of optimizing your brand’s presence in local searches on search engines like Google.
With traditional SEO, you cast a wide net to capture the attention of relevant internet users. With local SEO, you adapt your efforts to target relevant local searches and users within a specific area. Since searching for a local business differs from searching for general information, SEO tactics shift to adapt to the right market.
Wondering how to dominate local SEO?
Local SEO tends to focus on targeted local keywords, geographically relevant content, and local business information to help you connect with customers in your area.
For businesses in Hamilton, for example, this means incorporating “Hamilton” and relevant neighbourhood names, like “Dundas,” “Ancaster,” and “Stoney Creek”, into your SEO strategy. Let’s explore some tips to help you succeed in local SEO in 2024.
5 Tips for a Successful Local SEO Strategy
#1: Optimize your Google Business Profile
What is the best strategy for local SEO?
Your Google Business Profile is your virtual storefront and calling card. Since it’s often the first thing that pops up in local Google searches, optimizing your profile is the foundation upon which all your local SEO efforts will build.
Build a GBP that creates a solid first impression of your business. Fill out your profile with your full business name, address, and phone number, ensuring that data is consistent across all platforms, from social media to your website and beyond. Any discrepancies can make it harder for Google to “place” your business, limiting your search engine visibility.
Showcase your business with high-quality photos of the storefront, products, and any services you offer. Visuals help people understand what you do and build credibility with people who don’t know you (yet!).
Your chosen business category matters because it helps Google understand the nature of your business for local SEO optimization. Your primary category should represent your primary business function, but don’t stop there—you can choose up to ten categories to support your main category and help get your business in front of the right audience. If you’re a bakery looking for local search engine optimization, for example, you could include dessert shop as another relevant category. Use Google’s Keyword Planner to research how people search locally and determine which keywords are best for your business and your audience.
#2: Target On-Page Local SEO
On-page SEO is always crucial, but there are certain tactics you can use to help you rank in local SEO search. Incorporate relevant local keywords throughout your site content, meta tags, image alt text, and more.
The goal is to connect the dots for users and Google alike, and your website offers you the perfect opportunity to show people where you do business.
Rather than simply mentioning your local city, sprinkle in references to nearby areas and capture those hyperlocal searches. Creating dedicated location-specific landing pages improves your chances of ranking locally while creating a better, more personalized user experience.
#3: Earn Local Links and Citations
Every time your business is mentioned or linked by another local business, it signals to Google that it is a credible operation within a particular area. For Google search engine optimization, build citations on as many local directories as possible, like Chambers of Commerce, regional tourism organizations, and industry-specific directories.
Are backlinks important for local SEO?
Search backlinks matter for all Google SEO, including local targeting. Beyond directories, target other local businesses, news outlets, organizations, and influencers. If you can earn backlinks from other reputable locals, they serve as a strong signal toward your own brand’s trustworthiness and help improve local SEO search engine optimization.
#4: Optimize Your Website for Mobile
Most local searches happen on our smartphones, so your website must be mobile friendly if you hope to rank well. Ensure it’s responsive, fast-loading, and easy to navigate and browse on smaller screens.
Rather than taking a “mobile-friendly” approach to web design, the goal in local SEO should be “mobile-first.” Design for smart devices first and adapt for larger screens later to target those local SEO search engine algorithms.
#5: Create Content for Local Audiences
Content marketing establishes you as a thought leader while creating meaningful connections with your audience. In local website SEO optimization, that content also ties your business to the area it operates within to help search engines put your location into context.
Your success in local content marketing for SEO engine optimization ties directly to the quality of your content, so get creative and release posts that are meaningful to your audience. You could showcase local hidden gems, share stories of local partnerships or charitable efforts, and demonstrate your commitment to your local community.
Extend your content’s reach and search optimization by repurposing it on social media and sharing it across relevant online platforms.
EB Media—SEO Services Near Me
Local SEO is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort to see great results. If you want to take your results to the next level, local SEO services can craft a customized strategy through website design, content marketing, reputation management, and more.
At EB Media, we specialize in creating custom websites and providing SEO and marketing services. If you’re ready to see what our local SEO efforts can do for you, contact us today for a free quote.
