Foundation First
Do you really need local SEO for your business? Find out who benefits and why local search is an integral part of your marketing strategy.
Getting Started
One of the first questions a lot of businesses have about local SEO is: Do I really need it? We get it. You’re busy – your time, budget, and energy are precious resources.Do you really need another thing to keep up with? If you want to attract in-store traffic, online or phone orders, appointment bookings, clinic visits, or other business from local consumers, the answer is a definitive YES!
Local SEO is one of the best things a business can do to boost online visibility and generate more revenue without the added cost of advertising.
At Foundation First, we empower businesses to maximize their local business service areas to help them rank higher and attract more customers on Google. Through cutting-edge strategies, Foundation First helps your business grow organically, generate more leads, and build trust and engagement online.
Who Benefits From Local SEO And Why?
All types of businesses that interact with and service customers in a specific region can benefit from local SEO. This includes law firms, dental practices, retail stores, service businesses, restaurants, construction companies, and more. Here are a few examples.
Lawyers & Law Firms
One of the biggest benefits of local SEO for these clients is that Google shows a call button directly in the local search results on mobile phones. When a potential client pulls out their phone and does a search for [(type of) attorney], they will see targeted results for their particular location.
Proper local SEO will push the attorney to the top of the search results for that location, and the dominant call to action will be the “call us” button. The reason why this is such a huge benefit is that anyone who has been in an accident or has another issue will be on the phone attempting to find attorneys who offer free consultations. This one avenue offers a way to get in front of those people exactly when they need an attorney.
Doctors And Medical Practices
When someone is searching for a medical professional, they’re often searching for a [doctor nearby] or a [doctor near me]. Most people don’t want to go out of their way or travel several hours to visit a doctor. They want a nearby doctor who can see them regularly.
Using the search [doctor near me], there are several benefits of being in the Google Maps local 3-Pack result. This local 3-Pack result provides the doctor’s name upfront, along with an instant “directions link” that brings up a map application on a user’s phone. When it comes to doctors, people are more comfortable calling to set an appointment, and they are most likely looking for an easy way to look up directions to the doctor’s offices.
Who Won’t Benefit From Local SEO?
While we would love to see everyone benefit from local SEO and sell these services to more clients as SEO professionals, the reality is that some businesses just don’t lend themselves well to local SEO efforts. Businesses like online only ecommerce shops, businesses that don’t want to share their local information, and private online sellers who want to keep their information private are likely not great candidates for local SEO services.
RANKING FACTORS
- Finding the right keywords and topics to target as part of your campaign.
- Making sure your technical SEO is top-notch.
- Ensuring the highest quality content possible.
- Earning links to make your website stand out enough in Google’s eyes.
- Double-checking and implementing your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) information is accurate across many linking sites.
- Optimizing for local ranking signals.
Local Search Still Needs Organic SEO
Local search rankings appear in the Google Maps Pack, but your websites’s organic ranking is an important factor to keep in mind. This helps Google understand your overall prominence, which is one of the three main categories of local ranking signals. SEO schemes and tactics are history, and the search landscape has evolved exponentially.Today, User Experience (UX) signals, E-A-T, high-quality content, high-quality links, and much higher quality UX rule the game. With a local focus, many of your standard organic SEO methods may change slightly compared to the more traditional methods that are used for ranking.
Local Search Compliments Voice Search
People have more access to devices like smartphones, Amazon Echo, and Google Home, and voice search has become a preferred way for many to find local information. It’s easier to say “find a doctor near me” or “find a plumber near me” for most people than it is to type, and we've seen a rise in local queries based on conversational voice search. If your industry is service-oriented, try out keyword variations that include questions.
Local Search Is Mobile Search
Most local searches happen on local devices, and that mobile-friendliness is a Google ranking factor. What do these facts and the mobile-first index mean for your local SEO strategy? Google has done the work of optimizing Map Pack listings for mobile searchers. But it’s up to you to create that user-friendly, convenient experience on your website – and to ensure Google understands that via good technical SEO
Local SEO Needs A Dedicated Strategy
But, that doesn’t mean it needs to take up a lot more of your time.
Schedule a free discovery Zoom call here.
Hebrews 11:10
Local SEO is a game changer for local businesses and service areas!