Local SEO is a subset of the search engine optimization strategies. It is about optimizing for geographically-specific search. It includes a dizzying array of tasks including registration in business directories, listing in search engine local directories, attracting incoming links from local sources, and many other tasks.
Optimization strategies to make your SEO local
There are two kinds of optimization strategies that go into making SEO local. One is on-site, the other is off-site. On-site SEO strategies generally refer to strategies that are implemented within the web programming language, and appear on the website itself.
These can include strategies to aid search engines in indexing and ranking the website in question, as well as encourage visits, especially repeat visits. Off-site SEO strategies are all those SEO strategies that are implemented off-site, such as those which incorporate third-party websites. Many off-site SEO strategies involve driving traffic to the website; however, some involve enhancing a website’s overall visibility in search results, while others involve enhancing its index-ability by search engine crawlers.
Citations
“Citations” is important for improving the overall search engine ranking of your site. It is really important to understand the definition and application of “Citations”.
Citations are essentially data references to your business name, address, telephone or other pertinent data which can appear on website pages, other than your own website. These are one of Google’s optimization factors that you should not neglect, because if implemented properly, citations can be the main factor for your website to be shown or not.
For example, if two websites have almost the same SEO values, the website with the most citations will most likely be ranked higher and therefore will be more visible in certain search engine results.
Online Reviews
In today’s digital age, Most of the customers are likely influenced by online reviews in buying their decisions.
Online reviews are important for a number of reasons, and have major implications through their ability to affect:
- Your rankings in local search engines
- Which search results actually gets clicked on
- Consumers purchasing decisions
That makes online reviews as critical to your local SEO strategy as building citations and on-site optimization.
To further improve the presentation and visibility of your web pages in the search results you can add rich snippets to your website. Using structured markup on your web pages you can make it easier for humans and search engines, such as Google, to establish the nature of your content.
Google My Business/Google Places
Google My Business (formerly Google Places) is one of the strategies if you want to succeed at local SEO. Google My Business puts your business info on Search, Maps and Google+ so that customers can find you, no matter what device they’re using. Give customers the right info at the right time, whether that be driving directions to your business in Maps, hours of operations in Search or a phone number they can click to call you on mobile phones.
Your customers can show their appreciation with ratings and reviews, use the +1 button to endorse your content, and re-share your Google+ posts across the web.
Social media
And last but not the least; don’t forget social media as part of your efforts to make your SEO local. SEO and social media go hand-in-hand and there’s a good reason why. Social signals are factored into the ranking algorithm and can help to boost search engine rankings if you can leverage them correctly. Social media will give you a chance to engage with your customers. Tell them what you’re doing, show off your products or special offers, and answer their questions and concerns.
