If your business services a specific geographical area like Atlanta or Cumming, GA, you should be using local SEO Atlanta or Local SEO Cumming strategies. When someone wants to find the best Chinese restaurant in Atlanta, they will probably search the “best Chinese restaurant in Atlanta. ” The search engine will return the top 10 or 12 on the first page of results. 80% of consumers utilize search engines to find local information. If your business isn’t using Local SEO strategies, you are missing potential sales.
How does Google influence local business SEO?
The Google 3-Pack is the method Google uses to determine the top three results that show up for a local-based query using where the customer is. When a consumer located Cumming, GA, searches “pediatricians near me,” Google will return pediatrician results relevant to Cumming.
Optimizing your website for Local SEO
While you can’t optimize your site to guarantee you rank in the Google 3-Pack, you can optimize your website to increase the possibility of appearing in the 3-Pack when a query is made applicable to your business. Here’s how.
- Make Use of Google My Business (GMB)
Google My Business is Google’s free tool to manage your business’s online presence. GMB can provide insights into how customers reached your website and offer you a way to interact with customers. Fill in, verify, and edit your business information to help customers find your business on Google Search, Google Maps, and Google+.
- Check NAP. Make sure that your business name, website address, and physical address, phone number, and hours of operation are the same as posted on your website.
- Mention location. Mentionthe specific town and or city that you are targeting in the GMB landing page title.
- Products & Services should be appropriately categorized. Ensure that the GMB products and service categories are consistent with your products and services.
- Read and reply to reviews from your customers and post photos that draw users to your business profile
- Improve your on-page SEO by giving your website a local focus.
People like to take their business to businesses that are part of the community. Set your business up as a local partner by sponsoring local events and writing about them on your website. Offer local maps highlighting your business and points of interest. Add location pages to your website that make your business information easy to find.
Improve the internal linking structure-to support website navigation
- Optimize website and blog content by using high-volume local keywords in the URL, Title Tags, Headers, Meta Description, and the body of the material.
- Ensure your website is mobile-friendly.90% of smartphone users conduct local searches on their phones.
- See to it that your website is view and link-worthy.
Your website should be attractive, easy to use,mobile-friendly, and
laced with original, relevant, captivating content that is updated regularly and keyword optimized.
- Post recent news and events on Social Media and add posts to Google My Business to draw people to your site
- Write Guest Blogs, publish articles on Linked in, or magazines to get the attention of other local businesses that you can partner with or who will want to link to your site.
- Don’t forget to focus on good organic SEO.
Research and Analysis, Identifying Keyword opportunities, On-site Coding, Copywriting & Implementation, Speed & Site Performance, Marketing & Link Building, Rankings Report & Tracking.
- Engage, Engage, Engage.
- Engage with other businesses to obtain Inbound links that lend authority to show you are a legitimate business.
- Engage with consumers by responding to ratings and reviews promptly.
- Engage with consumers on social media to build excitement about your brand.
- Engage with local directories and listing sources to get citations that build authority for your brand and website.
With careful attention to your geographic location and making use of local SEO strategies, you can be sure your business will be found easily by Google and increase your chances of being listed in the 3-Pack.
