{"id":444,"date":"2018-10-04T16:57:34","date_gmt":"2018-10-04T08:57:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/keywordtool.io\/blog\/?p=444"},"modified":"2023-09-19T14:44:04","modified_gmt":"2023-09-19T06:44:04","slug":"local-seo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/keywordtool.io\/blog\/local-seo\/","title":{"rendered":"The Complete Guide to Ranking Your Business on Google&#8217;s 1st Page"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Local SEO is similar yet quite different compared to conventional SEO exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Optimization for local search is primarily targeted towards <strong>brick-and-mortar businesses<\/strong> with a physical location (e.g., car workshop, florist, restaurant, etc.) or service-based companies without a local premise (e.g., wedding photographer, nanny, masseuse, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It helps potential customers to <strong>find a business&#8217;s location and information<\/strong> by providing data like address, contact number, location map, operating hours, and more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<span class=\"image-placeholder video video-youtube\" style=\"padding-bottom:56.25000000%\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eUh1cUvATuY?rel=0&amp;controls=1&amp;showinfo=0&amp;enablejsapi=1&amp;width=560&amp;height=315&amp;v=eUh1cUvATuY&amp;ab_channel=RankingAcademy\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; encrypted-media\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>With a thorough local SEO strategy, a business will be able to create a strong online presence that enables customers to quickly get information on its products or services on search engines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s important to note that searches for businesses don&#8217;t just happen on Google, but also Bing, Yelp, Apple Maps, and many more. But since Google accounts for over <strong>90% of all search queries<\/strong> on the web, we will focus on Google for this exercise.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To ensure your business has online properties that are properly optimized and ranks well on Google, you will need to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Optimize and manage your Google My Business account<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Improve your on-page SEO<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Have active social media profiles<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Nearly half of all searches made on Google are local, which means consumers are more prone to doing research or finding information about a business or store before engaging with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.slideshare.net\/ryanskye\/understanding-consumers-local-search-behavior-infographic\">More than 80%<\/a> of consumers use search engines to find information on local businesses, out of which <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hubspot.com\/marketing-statistics\">72% will visit a store<\/a> within 5 miles of their location.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is local SEO?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Local SEO is the process of optimizing your online presence to attract more sales or business from <strong>relevant local searches<\/strong>. As opposed to conventional on-page and off-page SEO, local SEO helps to <strong>maximize the visibility<\/strong> of a business or company on a search engine through <a href=\"https:\/\/moz.com\/blog\/google-local-snack-pack-shakeup\">snack pack<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/google-ads\/answer\/6054492?hl=en\">organic results<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.searchmetrics.com\/glossary\/rich-snippets\/\">rich snippets<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/moz.com\/learn\/seo\/local-citations\">local citations<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to create a local SEO strategy?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re running a business with a physical location or servicing a client that has one, your&nbsp;<strong>local SEO<\/strong>&nbsp;should be optimized correctly. But before that, you will need to plan and create a local SEO strategy. Here is a short list of what you need to do:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Claim and optimize <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/business\/\">Google My Business<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Perform keyword research<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Optimize the website<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Engage with online directories and cite your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/pulse\/local-seo-beginners-consistent-nap-william-chou\/\">NAP<\/a> (Name, Address, Phone Number)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Manage online reviews<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1) Claim and optimize Google My Business<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Claiming&nbsp;and optimizing your&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/business\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Google My Business<\/a>&nbsp;listing is arguably&nbsp;an essential part of local&nbsp;<span class=\"caps\">SEO.<\/span>&nbsp;But don&#8217;t forget about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bingplaces.com\/\">Bing Places<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/mapsconnect.apple.com\/\">Apple Maps<\/a> too, and if you are located in the USA, you should claim your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yelp.com\/\">Yelp<\/a> profile also.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A <a href=\"https:\/\/moz.com\/local-search-ranking-factors\">case study by Moz<\/a> has shown how vital it can be to insert the right <strong>keywords, descriptions, and categorization<\/strong> of business for Google&#8217;s search signals:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-453 size-large\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/d3av7c16ak3dxm.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/15160809\/local-seo.png\" alt=\"Google My Business is an important part of local SEO\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: Moz.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/business\/answer\/7091?hl=en\">Local Pack<\/a>,&#8221; or snack pack, indicates Google&#8217;s <strong>top 3 results<\/strong> on its first page for local searches, usually displayed underneath a Google Map:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/d3av7c16ak3dxm.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/15160751\/Keyword-Tool-Local-SEO-4.png\" alt=\"A business featured in Google local pack shows a well done local SEO\" title=\"A business featured in Google local pack shows a well done local SEO\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>To ensure the online presence of your business will rank well, you need to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Create and verify a Google My Business page<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Make use of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/business\/answer\/7342169?sjid=9389663913680020383-EU&amp;visit_id=638284022275484502-2156344828&amp;rd=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Google Posts<\/a> to publish news or latest promos<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encourage customers to share reviews online<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Respond to reviews as an official business entity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If Google can verify your business as authentic, it will also potentially reward you with the sought-after&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/business\/answer\/6331288?hl=en\">sidebar space in Google<\/a> local search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How to setup Google My Business<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>To be eligible to register with Google My Business, you&#8217;ll need to be the <strong>owner or authorized representative<\/strong> of the business. Here is the list of information that will be <strong>compulsory<\/strong> to key in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The name of your business<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An official address of your business or premise<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Your business website URL and contact number<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Operating hours, including special hours like events or holidays<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Category or type of business<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Product or services menu<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Make sure that the location of your business premise is pinned accurately on <a href=\"http:\/\/maps.google.com\">Google Maps<\/a> because the same address will also appear on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.waze.com\/\">Waze<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When creating or verifying your <strong>Google My Business<\/strong> account, you&#8217;ll also need to ensure that you do not violate any&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/business\/answer\/3038177?hl=en-GB\">Google My Business guidelines<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>2) Perform keyword research<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Customers who are looking for your business on search may or may not have come across you before. Either way,&nbsp;<strong>inserting the right keywords<\/strong> is essential in making your business more discoverable. For example, if you&#8217;re running a bicycle shop in London called Cool Cycle, you&#8217;ll want to appear in searches like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Bicycle shop near me<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bicycle shop in London<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cool Cycle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Where is Cool Cycle<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What is Cool Cycle contact number<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>What time does Cool Cycle close<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>If keywords in your Google My Business page are optimized correctly, Google will show these non-traditional queries as cards (<a href=\"https:\/\/neilpatel.com\/blog\/the-beginners-guide-to-the-googles-knowledge-graph\/\">Knowledge Graphs<\/a>) on SERP such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/d3av7c16ak3dxm.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/15160754\/Keyword-Tool-Local-SEO.png\" alt=\"Part of local SEO is being able to give quick, instant answers to search queries through featured snippets\" title=\"Part of local SEO is being able to give quick, instant answers to search queries through featured snippets\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Targeting for <strong>exact-match<\/strong> and <strong>related keywords<\/strong> to your business will make it much easier for your customers to find you on Google. Another best practice is to include the <strong>type of product or service<\/strong> alongside the <strong>location<\/strong> of your firm or store.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To do this, you can use <a href=\"https:\/\/keywordtool.io\">Keyword Tool<\/a> and filter your results based on your location. For example, if you have an affordable car rental business in London, you might find additional high-volume keywords using this tool:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/d3av7c16ak3dxm.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/15160805\/keywordtoolresutls.png\" alt=\"Example of how to find high-volume keywords in Keyword Tool for Local SEO\" style=\"width:840px;height:397px\" width=\"840\" height=\"397\" title=\"Use high-volume keywords from Keyword Tool for local SEO\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The results will give you <strong>alternative keyword ideas<\/strong> that are relevant to your business. The example above has 445 unique keywords pulled from&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/keywordtool.io\">Keyword Tool<\/a>, showing three <strong>keyword variations<\/strong> that you can use for your affordable car rental service in London.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/d3av7c16ak3dxm.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/15160759\/keywords-for-car-rental.png\" alt=\"keyword tool for local seo\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>On top of that, you can also get more keyword ideas from the&nbsp;<strong>Related Keywords<\/strong> tab:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/d3av7c16ak3dxm.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/15160744\/keyword-tools-for-local-seo.png\" alt=\"Example of how to find Related Keywords in Keyword Tool for Local SEO\" title=\"Use Keyword Tool to find Related Keywords for Local SEO\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>3) Optimize the website<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like any website with content, it should be optimized adequately by including <strong>high-volume keywords<\/strong>. On-page optimization will go a long way to boost the visibility of your business on SERP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Here are some <strong>SEO tips<\/strong> to help you optimize a website for local business:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Improve site structure and internal linking<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Your website&#8217;s site structure <strong>should be simple<\/strong> enough for both customers to navigate and Google crawlers to understand. When combined with well-managed internal links, it will help the landing pages rank well on Google.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Optimize the website&#8217;s metadata<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Just like any on-page SEO exercise, you will need to optimize your business website&#8217;s URL, title tags, headers, and meta description. Use <a href=\"https:\/\/keywordtool.io\">Keyword Tool<\/a> to source for relevant <strong>high-volume keywords<\/strong> to insert in your metadata.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Create valuable local content<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The website of businesses used to be thin in content, mostly consisting of sales-driven landing pages. But that has since changed. In today&#8217;s increasingly competitive and crowded landscape, businesses need to innovate to attract and retain customers. And one of the most cost-effective ways is through <strong>content marketing<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For local businesses, creating content that is relatable and relevant to its customers can go a long way. It provides an opportunity for the brand to become a thought leader while strengthening your brand value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Local content<\/strong> can be created on the blog section of a business&#8217;s website or in Google My Business via <a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/business\/answer\/7342169?hl=en\">Google Posts<\/a>. Ideally, you should leverage on both platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/d3av7c16ak3dxm.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/15160748\/Keyword-Tool-Google-Post.png\" alt=\"Increase visibility for local SEO through local content on Google Posts\" title=\"Example of local content on Google Posts for local SEO\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Display NAP as schema format<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>It&#8217;s a good idea to display your NAP <strong>on the footer<\/strong> of all your landing pages. Meanwhile, on the About page, the NAP is best accompanied by an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.techrepublic.com\/article\/link-the-business-address-on-your-website-to-a-google-map\/\">embedded Google Map<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For Google crawlers to show your NAP on SERP cards, it needs to be formatted correctly. Use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehoth.com\/blog\/local-schema-markup\/\">schema markup<\/a> to tag your website data to accurately in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/webmasters\/markup-helper\/u\/0\/\">Structured Data Markup Helper<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Tip:&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/web\/fundamentals\/native-hardware\/click-to-call\/#link_telephone_numbers_for_click_to_call\">Make phone numbers clickable<\/a>. It will make it easier for your prospective customers to get in touch with you, thus increasing the potential click-through-rates.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Make your website mobile-friendly (or eligible for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ampproject.org\/\">AMP<\/a>)<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Did you know that <a href=\"http:\/\/www.go-globe.hk\/blog\/local-seo\/\">a study by GoGlobe<\/a> found that <strong>46% of all searches<\/strong> on Google are local, out of which <strong>89% searched for local businesses<\/strong> on their smartphones every week? It goes to show that being mobile-friendly has never become as important as it is today. And it&#8217;s set to grow even more soon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re unsure about the extent of mobile responsiveness of your business&#8217;s website, it&#8217;s best to <a href=\"https:\/\/testmysite.thinkwithgoogle.com\/\">perform a mobile speed test<\/a>. The tool by Google will show you gaps in speed and how best to rectify and improve upon them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As of 9 July 2018, <a href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2018\/01\/17\/google-will-make-page-speed-a-factor-in-mobile-search-ranking-starting-in-july\/\">Google has implemented an algorithm update<\/a> to prioritize websites that are <strong>mobile-friendly<\/strong> and <strong>AMP-enabled<\/strong> in search rankings. The new <strong>mobile-first search index<\/strong> is part of the search engine&#8217;s effort to favor mobile pages rather than desktop versions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Making your business&#8217;s website mobile-friendly has become more important than ever before, for both Google crawlers and consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>4) Engage with online directories to cite your NAP<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Online directories are like the Yellow Pages of today, featuring a list of businesses within a specific niche, category or location that is searchable by consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When the <strong>NAP<\/strong>&nbsp;of a business is listed in an online directory, it <strong>improves discoverability<\/strong> and helps to boost its SEO through authoritative backlinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Follow these best practices when adding your business to online directories:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Keep a consistent NAP across all online directories<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Write a good but brief description of what your business is about<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Link back to your business website<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add images and visuals that reflect the nature of your business<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightlocal.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">BrightLocal<\/a> webinars&nbsp;performed a survey consisting of more than 500 local SEO consultants and small-to-medium business owners, with nearly 95% of them located in the&nbsp;USA and Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The study found that the number one factor for ranking issues of local businesses is <strong>inconsistent NAP citations<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-458 size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/d3av7c16ak3dxm.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/15160740\/common-ranking-issues-for-seo.png\" alt=\"Inconsistent NAP is one of the most common ranking issues for local SEO\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: searchengineland.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Spend time to ensure that your NAP is <strong>correctly mentioned<\/strong> in online business directories, social media platforms, and your own Google My Business page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Note: Anyone will be able to suggest changes or edit information displayed on your Google My Business. Make sure to keep an eye to unwanted changes to your NAP.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Which online directories to submit your business?<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>There are many online directories that you can <strong>submit your business<\/strong> into, but it&#8217;s best to aim for the larger and more established ones. Here is a list for you to get started on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/appleid.apple.com\/account#!&amp;page=create\" rel=\"noopener\">Apple Maps<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/business\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Google My Business<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/directory\/companies\/\" rel=\"noopener\">LinkedIn Company Directory<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/bing.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Bing<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/yelp.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Yelp<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbb.org\/en\/us\" rel=\"noopener\">Better Business Bureau<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/foursquare.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Foursquare<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/mapquest.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">MapQuest<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/offers.hubspot.com\/agency-directory-listing?utm_campaign=Global%20en%20%7C%20AP%20TOFU%20ACQ%20%7C%20Directory%20Users%20%7C%20June%202018&amp;utm_source=blog-promotion\" rel=\"noopener\">HubSpot<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/yellowpages.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Yellow Pages<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.angi.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Angi<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/smallbusiness.yahoo.com\/local\" rel=\"noopener\">Yahoo! Local<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/manta.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Manta<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/merchantcircle.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Merchant Circle<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/superpages.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Super Pages<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thumbtack.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Thumbtack<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/local.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Local.com<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/kudzu.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Kudzu.com<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>5) Manage your online reviews<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Most consumers today often choose to research online <strong>before deciding<\/strong> to purchase a product or subscribe to a service. They browse through online reviews on Google, Facebook, Yelp, Trip Advisor, and other platforms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A study by Deloitte found that <strong>81% of people<\/strong> will &#8220;<a href=\"https:\/\/www2.deloitte.com\/content\/dam\/Deloitte\/uk\/Documents\/consumer-business\/consumer-review-8-the-growing-power-of-consumers.pdf\">read customer reviews\/ratings,<\/a>&#8221; which goes to show how important online reviews have become.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image wp-image-491 size-full\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/d3av7c16ak3dxm.cloudfront.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/06\/15160753\/Keyword-Tool-Local-SEO-Online-Review.png\" alt=\"Customer reviews play a big role in local SEO\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Source: fanandfuel.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Reading online reviews<\/strong>, like asking friends or family for product or service recommendations, has become an essential part of the consumer journey. A research done by&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/fanandfuel.com\/no-online-customer-reviews-means-big-problems-2017\/\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Fan &amp; Fuel<\/a>&nbsp;in December 2016 revealed that:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>Consumers want to see customer reviews for your products and services AND they look for the nitty-gritty details in customers\u2019 written reviews\u2014experiences and problems they\u2019ve had, how you\u2019ve responded to complaints, consensus on whether or not the product\/service lives up to your claims and so on. Online customer reviews tell a story that consumers trust.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Customers are people<\/strong> too. They give valuable feedback on what your product or service might be lacking, thus giving you an opportunity to improve. Whether your business received praise or a complaint on an online review, <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.hubspot.com\/service\/respond-to-google-reviews\">responding to customers makes a big difference<\/a>. Not only will it help your Google Business ratings, but also help to&nbsp;<strong>increase customer loyalty<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Optimizing your business for local SEO might involve a lot of work at the beginning. But you&#8217;ll be surprised at how effective it can be, on top of being <strong>cost-efficient<\/strong> while providing great ROI. Remember, it&#8217;s becoming an increasingly digital world. Don&#8217;t be left out and <strong>pay attention<\/strong> to the local SEO performance of your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Create a thorough local SEO strategy, and make sure that you consistently manage the optimization of your local business on Google.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Local SEO is similar yet quite different compared to conventional SEO exercises. Optimization for local search is primarily targeted towards brick-and-mortar businesses with a physical location (e.g., car workshop, florist, restaurant, etc.) or service-based companies without a local premise (e.g., wedding photographer, nanny, masseuse, etc.). It helps potential customers to find a business&#8217;s location and&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":460,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[102],"tags":[98,36,97],"class_list":["post-444","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-seo","tag-google-my-business","tag-keyword-research","tag-local-seo"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Local SEO: The #1 Guide For Google&#039;s 1st Page<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"If you have a client or business with a physical location, optimizing local SEO will help increase visibility. 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