4 Benefits of Local SEO

Local SEO is a digital marketing strategy that helps your business become more visible on local search results. 

This includes updating your business’s address when your business moves, claiming your Google My Business listing, adding long-tail keywords to your site, and responding to online reviews. 

For local businesses, such as shops and restaurants, optimizing your website for local search helps customers find your business’s information. 

Here are a few ways it can help you grow your business.

4 Benefits of Local SEO

1. Improve online visibility 
2. Target foot traffic for your brick and mortar location 
3. Reduce ad costs 
4. Optimize for mobile and voice search 

Improve Online Visibility

Over two-thirds of user clicks are on the first three results on search engine results pages. If you’re not ranking on the first page, you’re missing out on potential customers conducting online research. 

By optimizing your website for local search, you can appear higher on SERPs, resulting in increased visibility in your community and more traffic to your website. This will help grow brand awareness in your area and increase sales. 

Nearly 50% of Google searches are made with the intent of finding a nearby location. Users search for “restaurants near me,” when they’re hungry, “landscaping companies in Washington, DC,” when they need their lawn mowed, or even “SEO companies in the United States” when they’re looking for a partner in the same time zone. 

For example, here are the top search results for restaurants near Dupont Circle in Washington DC: 

Source: Google

Users can quickly see what’s near them and what’s open. 

To target potential customers, your business needs to optimize its site for local SEO. As people rely more and more on search engines to find the services and products they need, how you rank online is becoming increasingly important. 

High-ranking sites are viewed as more credible than sites that don’t rank. You can build trust in your brand and authority in your industry by investing in local SEO. 

Target Foot Traffic for Your Brick and Mortar Location 

Consumers are more likely to visit a company’s physical store if they have a strong online presence. In fact, 72% of local searches result in an in-person visit within 5 miles of the user.

If you’re trying to bring in more people to your store, you need to start online.  Search engines are often the first thing a customer will turn to before making a purchase because online research is often the first step of the buyer’s journey.

Additionally, local SEO helps businesses attract returning customers. By promoting your site online, you allow customers to discover your business online and in person. 

Clients that need the same service or product again in the future may come across your website online and recall their first experience with your business. Others may not remember your company name, but remember where you’re located and will be able to search for your business’s information based on your address. 

For example, someone new to town may look for hair salons in the area. A few months later, they might not remember the name of the salon on main street, but they’ll want to return. The first place they’re going to look to find the name of the salon and book an appointment is a search engine. 

Either way, local SEO helps businesses build loyal clientele and create a community in the area. 

Reduce Ad Costs 

While pay-per-click ads are listed at the top of SERPs, they aren’t as effective as organic results and they can be costly. In comparison, local SEO is free and helps build your business’s credibility. 

People trust organic results more because they believe that sites that rank high on SERPs are experts or the best in their field. Therefore, they’re more likely to click on organic results, bringing more traffic to your site. 

As a result, a well-run local SEO campaign can yield a higher return on investment (ROI) than other advertising strategies. 

Optimize for Mobile and Voice Search

Recent technology has changed how people conduct online searches. In 2021, about 60% of all online searches are carried out on mobile devices. At the same time, voice search technology such as Siri, Alexa, and Google Voice Search, appears to be an emerging trend. 

This technology allows people to look up information while they’re on the go. As a result, they’re often looking up what’s nearby as they’re about town or traveling in areas they’re unfamiliar with. 

Recent research on voice search revealed that 18% of people use voice search technology to find products or services. 

By improving your local SEO rankings, you can reach more customers that rely on mobile and voice search technology. 

Increase Sales 

At the end of the day, local SEO, like other digital marketing tactics, is about attracting customers and increasing sales. 

According to Search Engine Watch, local SEO is one of the most effective digital marketing strategies available for businesses. This is because local users have high purchase intent.

Research conducted by comScore revealed that nearly 80% of local searches on mobile phones convert. 

This marks a huge difference over other advertising methods. Google Ads for example, have just a 3.48% conversion rate on mobile devices. 

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to grow your business. Optimize your site for local SEO to increase sales. 

Local SEO Can Help Grow Your Business 

Local SEO is an affordable way to grow your business’s visibility online. At the same time, you’ll attract traffic to your site, increase sales, and reduce ad costs, resulting in a higher return on your investment. 

Simply by updating your business’s information, such as address and hours of operation, and managing your site, you can increase foot traffic and develop a loyal clientele. 

It will also help you reach a broader customer base that uses mobile devices and voice search technology to find information.