Local search why use it and local SEO

Local search - Local search is helpful if you have a local business. If you run a local business or restaurant, what would it be for you to gain global online exposure? How does it help your local business reach out to people in Melbourne, Australia or New York, USA?

In short, no! This is where you need to focus on your local area and compete only with other similar businesses in your geographic area, where it is easier to get top rankings than competing around the world. world! Local Google search allows you to do that. So, what is local search and how do you use it?

A. Reason for using Local Search

Local searches are used by people who know what they want to buy and are using their computers or mobile devices to find businesses in their area that provide what they want. This type of search is widely used by different types of people looking for different types of products or services.

According to EZLocal, about 70% of internet users find offline services or products using local search. Chitika reported that 20% of US Google search traffic in September 2012 contained a geographic reference like ‘Irish restaurant in Boston’.

Many statistics have been cited, but this cannot be denied that local searches are increasingly popular, as well as the use of specific geographic searches. People hunt for restaurants, cafes, art galleries, theaters, etc., are now using Google on their smartphones to search.

Below are typical local search results for online web design in Delhi.

The three results with the address are local search results. There is more in this search and each pin on the accompanying map. These listings are organic and free compared to other listings shown as paid ads. Local search can bring you to the top of the list, before other listings that aren't registered with Google Business Center.

If you have a website, then the link will lead directly to your website. If not, it will display a page with your business details on it, including business hours, directions and any photos and videos you have included. You can also view its location on Google Maps and also find Street View for it. But how do you create local listings?

B. Start with Local Search

Local listings make sense, but how does it work? You must first have your business listed on Google Local / Google Places. You don't even need a website to do this! Here's how:

• Visit Google’s local business center at google.com/lbc or google.com/local/add


• Log in to your Google account. If you do not have, you are required to create an account. Click the link and create an account: follow the instructions. It's very easy - all that is required is the email address and password.


• If you already have, this list will appear. If you haven't already, then you can add. Click on ‘Add listing’ (or similar terms) and you'll see a search box asking for more business names. Use ‘SEO content’ as an example.

• If any of the listed businesses belong to you then you can claim it is yours.


• If not, click the bottom link. You will then be provided with a form to add all your business details. Fill it up as completely as possible, including any photos and videos (external or internal) that you have. The more information you provide, the higher your list will appear.


• You will then have to verify your listing, by phone or email. Once verified and approved, your listing will appear in Google rankings for search queries including your main keyword (s) and geographic location.


• If you already have a listing and want to register another business, you may see a ‘Add another listing’ link on the local search listings you have. Otherwise, still on your listing page, go to the cog wheel at the top right of your Google screen and click on ‘Add listing’:

• Add local business listings

You can now add other listings. This may be a new business or other location for your current business. You can do this for as many businesses or locations as you like. Now your business listing will be ranked if searches are performed that determine your geographical location.

List many locations: If you have more than 1 location, you should have multiple business listings. You should also create separate pages for each location and use that page as your list. That way potential customers can see that you have more than 1 location.

See more: How to create a multilingual WordPress website using WPML

C. Local search SEO: Optimize your listings

Like any other form of search engine listing, you have competition on rankings. In this case, your competitor is local: other companies in the city or locality related to your business. Sure, local listings get you closer to the top of search engine results pages, but the closer you are to that # 1 position.

There are few local SEO search strategies available to you that can improve your rankings and improve your clickthrough rate due to the popularity of businesses in the local community. Many of these are common to the conventional and SEO websites we discussed in the previous article, but there are also several aspects of local search SEO that are unique to local business listings.

1. General SEO website

Just because your local business website is not globally competitive doesn't mean you can ignore or relax SEO best practices. You should avoid all the pitfalls like excessive keyword usage, duplicate content, purchased links and other black hat SEO techniques.

Although the website is not necessary for local listings, it certainly helps, and if you have a site, you should optimize it like any other website. However, there are few specific online and offline actions you can take to maximize your local search SEO and to stand out more in the local community.

They relate to the listing information you provide, how you interact with other local businesses, quotes in other publications, and how you use Google+ Local and other social media. Get started with the ‘Add listing’ form, whether this is the first listing or you're adding the listing to an existing Google Local account.

2. Sample list

Here is your registration form:

Company's name: This must be your legally registered business name if you have one. If you don't and just run a local service like ‘Dave's Garage’ then use that service. Including the core service or product in your business name will help you rank higher than any competitor without this.

And, you must use the exact same name wherever it appears online. Consistency in name, service and contact details is very important.

Address: Use the same address for every link between publications about your business details. If you have more than 1 address, use each address as a separate list.

Primary business phone: Use your area code here. Do not use 0800. Google uses different pointers for your geographic location, including phone area codes and website zip codes. Use the same area code on your website, Google+, Facebook and all other online publications. Your phone number will be used as a link between Google+ and your website. Your 0800 number may be included as an optional option.

Category: It is extremely important that you choose the correct business category. The box allows you to enter keywords for your main business and then provides several defined options. You must choose: in older versions you can create your own catalog but this is being removed. Enter what your business does, not what it sells or the service it offers.

When your business is connected to fish, type ‘fish.’ You will then be given a list of options, such as:

The blue highlight was added by Google when we entered ‘fish.’ You can accept that or choose from other options. Try to get as close as possible to what your business is aiming for - if you can't find anything that fits, try synonyms, such as 'auto repair' with 'auto repair' '. Remember that the vast majority of Google uses American terminology!

If you are using the same form found on Google+, you can add multiple categories. The reason for using the correct category is that if someone is searching for 'fish and chips restaurant, Boston' then you should be listed 'fish and chips restaurant' to be found and get the location best rating - not 'chip store' or 'seafood restaurant'.

The Google Hummingbird algorithm can change all this. It is designed to extract the meaning of the search term used, not simply by keyword. It is still too early to evaluate its effectiveness for local search.

3. Google title and description tags

SEO is always good to optimize the Title and Meta description tags that appear in the Header of your HTML website and can be inserted or edited on your SEO website plugin version.

In local search SEO, it always pays to include the geographic location in each of these tags. You can convey a certain positive effect on the ranking of the list by including your town or city names in these tags, and even your state name or abbreviation. So ‘Dr. Dr. David Chapman Boston MA ‘will be better in your title than‘ Dr. David Chapman. ‘

When saying that, you should fully understand that searches conducted in Boston MA will likely yield similar results without the geographical reference in the search term or the Title list tag. That's because local search in your location will provide local results unless you specify otherwise. However, if you are providing a service that visitors from other regions can search first, then they will use geographic references and you will benefit from non-listings.

4. Visit Google+

Anyone who is serious about advertising their business online should have a Google+ business page. Once you have registered with Google, you can log in to your account every time you upload to Google. Click on the Google+ tab (or YourName +) and you will visit Google+.

Scroll down to the left of the ‘Local’ page and you will be able to enter services, products or keywords and find all local listings that meet your search criteria. This information comes from Google+ business pages.

To get listed here and link your local general listing with Google+, you must first create a Google+ business page. Click on the ‘Page’ link. Most of your professional data may have been added by Google, depending on what you provided in the account you own.

Google+ is where you can set up Circles and communicate with people on Hangouts. You can also publish news about your business in the local community. This will allow you to participate more locally and make your business more widely known.

If you connect everything with your Facebook business page, then you will have a strong network that will help your listing very well and allow your business to thrive in the local environment.

Google+ circles are a form of social network where you can add people to your circles and others can let you join their groups. No deal needed as with friends on Facebook. It's almost like ‘following’ on Twitter.

By being active on your Google+ business page, you can be added to Circles of many customers and leads. This is a very useful aspect of local search SEO.

Another key aspect of Google+ pages is that you add permissions to your website and can link it to your main website. This is easily done by connecting them both via a shared email address. You can find more information about Google+ in SEO on our posts.

Make sure the landing page linked from the Google+ page to your website contains your geographic data: your business name and address, along with your phone number and area code. Do not provide popular phone numbers between each website, Google+, local listings and your rankings will be affected. Your 0800 number may be listed as an alternate number, but not the main phone number.

5. Local quotes

It is estimated that about 25% of local search SEOs relate to each link (including Google+ and other social media), online reviews of your business, website optimization factors and local citations.

Each citation is 1 referring to your business name, with or without its address or phone number, with or without a link. Full citations include name, address and phone number. It's not a link, it's just mentioned somewhere on the web.

Structured quote

Each citation is structured as a quote published on a local directory website or online Yellow Pages service on the internet and published in a format that search engines can easily scan. An example of such a format is the HCard microdata format, suitable for publishing contact data in (X) HTML, RSS and Atom. Examples of publications include Yelp, Kudzu, Yellow Pages, CitySearch, Bing, and more: check online for more popular online business directories in your country.

This is a form of building local search links, but use your business name, address and phone number instead of HTML links. You must use a third party service to build links, Whitespark.ca is the more commonly used service in the United States. Searching the web will provide you the same local service with you. The company offers a free trial of its services, including searching for available citations for your business.

Of the most important aspect of the quote is that all your data is consistent. For example, if you change premises or phone numbers, it is extremely important that this change is reflected in all quotes for your company or business. Conflicting data can be confusing to Google and ruin your local rankings. The more citations you have, the better.

6. Review Google Places

The number of reviews you receive can account for up to 25% of all local search ranking factors. A search for 'Boston Indian food restaurant' provided this list:

You can see the total review result for Indian Quality Restaurant is 4.0 / 5 stars gold: there are 243 reviews. Now, click on the restaurant name you get the landing page for. If you click on ‘243 Google review’ you will get this page:

7. Mobile friendly

Local search is growing fast along with the growth in mobile technology. Make your website mobile friendly and easily resolve in Apple or Android mobile screens. Many people will use their phones to show directions to your facility, so provide these or link to specific regional directions on your website. A good local search ranking may automatically provide directions, but it doesn't hurt to do it yourself on the internal 'Directions' page, with a link on your website sidebar or navigation bar. .

D. Engage with local communities

When you have a local business and want to promote it to the local community, it is best to join it. There are many different ways to improve your local exposure and get local links back to your website. Here are some effective ways:

1. Community friendly

A good optimization strategy is to write about the local area and its community. Let people know what's happening locally and find a way to include local keywords in your content. It can often help donate to local charities and there may be opening days when locals can look at your facility and what you do.

Successful car dealerships in Alabama that provide monthly cash prizes to community-voted locals have gone further to make the community a better place to live. It is called the Extra Mile Award and offers more free advertising through local newspapers than spending the same amount of money on advertising that can be achieved. Of course it depends on your type of business, but local involvement often yields local custom.

2. Mention other local businesses

Another good way to get your website connected with the local community is to write posts about additional websites and businesses in your local area. This allows you to use local search terms without keyword stuffing. Also, if you help local companies promote their businesses online, that could lead to more businesses for you if you're not a direct competitor.

3. List many locations

If you have more than 1 location, you may have multiple business listings. You should also set up a separate page for each location and use that page as your list. That way, potential customers can see that you have more than 1 place.

See more: Create a free sales Web

Epilogue

Local search people are allowed to search for local services to find it easily online. If they were in the area, it would automatically come, but if they were far away, the use of georeferencing in their search yielded similar results.

If you follow the tips above to optimize your website using local search SEO, you will achieve good results and rank high in local results. If you don't have a website, your business will still be found because your Google+ or local search listing details will be published as search results.