How Local Search Marketing Can Help You

With today’s digital impact on society, it’s important for businesses to have an online presence. Research suggests that 50% of Atlanta smartphone users will visit a local store after scoping it out on their device’s web browser. All businesses benefit from responsive websites, whether they are an e-commerce business, service business, or even a restaurant. In addition to using SEO to help with organic rankings, your company can utilize local search marketing to gain more traffic and increase sales. Best of all local search marketing pricing is affordable!

With the right website optimization, your business could display prominently on Google Maps

Google algorithm attempts to find the most relevant businesses or information for searchers. It provides ads, organic site listings, and a variety of other user-friendly options to help internet users find the data they are looking for. Google My Business is one of the most helpful local search marketing tools a business can use. 

For your business to show up in Google Maps, you must have a Google My Business account, and optimize the information included in the account. Include your business name, address, phone number, company hours and more to receive the best results. After a user searches a specific term, the Google Map lists three relevant businesses closest to their proximity. It lists reviews and pricing in addition, to help users decide on which company to use. Keep in mind, your business will only show up in the Google “3-pack” if your business’s SEO tools are being used to their full potential.

Your business can appear at the top of Google search results

In addition to providing important information to show web searchers which business is located the closest, companies that utilize local search marketing may show at the top of Google search results. Having your business name, a picture of its storefront & other helpful information at the top of a user’s screen will ensure that your information is seen. Local search marketing is an easy way to get your business at the top of Google’s search results in case your organic rankings are struggling. 

Your company will stand out against competition.

Because of its increasing popularity, local search marketing is being used across all business industries. It’s more important now to utilize Google My Business to help you stand out against competition. If your competitor is showing up at the top of Google search results and is being placed on the Google Map, it’s very likely they’re stealing your customers.  Enhance your visibility with SEO performance that will yield better results. 

89% of local mobile searches are conducted per week.

From those searches, 72% will visit a store within 5 miles of the user’s location. With the fast-paced environment we are living in, we rely heavily on online sources to provide us with the information we’re looking for. 

Luckily, Google has its magical way of knowing when users are searching for information versus when they are wanting to buy something. When you search “pizza in Atlanta,” “pizza near me,” or even just “pizza” Google assumes you are looking to buy pizza and will show you the closest pizza companies based on your location. Google is always looking to answer its users’ wants and needs, and this is why local search marketing is so important for businesses.

Get found with a little help.

No one is born an SEO master. A great way to get started is with a data aggregator. These programs utilize your local business information and help you show up in search results. Yext is just one of many data aggregate software programs that you can use to help promote your company. What’s great about this service is that you have direct control over what information about your business gets distributed across the web, and where it lands. Their tools can help you stay up to date in the current goings-on in your area, so that you can have relevant postings that attract a larger audience. They even provide analytics for you to see how successful your local search marketing tactics are, and where there is room for improvement.

Moz Local is another useful data aggregate program that’s plans cater to both small and large businesses. Did you know that 73% of buyers will drop a brand if its online information contains false or missing data? When you live in an age where the bulk of information is displayed and found online, you want to make sure your web presence reflects your business properly. Like Yext, Moz Local also includes the analytics of your local search marketing techniques.

Use Link Building

It’s a good idea to legitimize your business with niche citation building. Getting your business mentioned on local company sites, Chambers of Commerce, or big names like TripAdvisor or DealerRater will extend the reach of your brand and get your community aware of your presence. WhiteSpark is an excellent tool to use for niche citation building, as well as for other local search marketing resources.

When seeking links from other sources, try to avoid geo-specific linking, such as Atlanta dog training, since these keywords often have lower search traffic. You should try to obtain links for broader terms, such as invisible fence, since these terms can drive more traffic to your site and increase your domain authority. While you can pay to obtain links, you can also reach out to similar companies and try to find creative ways to promote each other's brands through link building.

Use GEO pages to target and increase your desired audience.

When you can have the internet in the palm of your hand, why would you ever go back to using a desktop? That seems to be the mentality nowadays, with smart phone users taking the lead in local search statistics. This is why Google shows places “near you” whenever you search for a restaurant, store, or product online. Instead of putting nation-wide results as the majority, they are keeping up with search trends. With results being narrowed down to such a small margin, you want to make sure your business is showing up at the top. Getting there takes some work, however.

If you’re a Georgia business and your home base is in Atlanta, you’ll probably have phrases like “local Atlanta services” throughout your website. If you know SEO tactics, then you know that keywords are the best way for search engines to find you first. So, how do you let search engines know that your company’s coverage area spreads out to cities like Decatur and Lilburn without risking your place at the top for Atlanta search queries? The answer is GEO pages. These are pages you add to your website that online users can easily access through a “coverage area” page or can even be featured in the footer of your site. Because these are stand-alone pages dedicated to specific cities, you can go crazy with keywords without damaging your reputation as a local Atlanta business. If anything, these pages will put you at the top of local search lists more often.

Implement Structured Data and get found more easily by search engines

Structured Data is a formatted piece of code that can be added to your website. When you have structured data, search engines are able to understand and process the content of your site more easily. When you show up in a search query, the details that are displayed about your local business will show users exactly what they are looking for via a rich snippet taken directly from your site’s content. This is usually about 3 lines of text that is shown under your website name on a search page. Because only a small piece is shown of the information a user is seeking, there is an incentive to click on your site and learn more. A local business can use structured data to gain their place at the top of search lists and get found by potential customers.

An easy & effective way to promote your business

In addition to providing great results, local search marketing is easy for companies to set up. Taking a minimal amount of time, Google My Business accounts ask for a small amount of required information. By only asking for your business address, company hours, and a few other pieces of information, your local business listings present the needed info for consumers to quickly make a decision about using your business. This easy and effective promotion is user friendly, will help you stand out against competition, and will generate a larger number of sales.

If you need help setting up local search marketing for your business, call ClickReady Marketing. Check out our local search marketing plans! We help companies with SEO, PPC management, and other digital marketing services. Located just north of Atlanta, we help clients across the nation with their online marketing. Call today for a free consultation.