Why Does It Matter to Improve Your Local SEO?
Local SEO increases your visibility in search engines when people search for businesses like yours. As a result, your website receives more traffic, and more customers walk through your door.
To make the most of what search engines can offer, it’s important to keep up with the best Search Engine Optimization practices.
The good news is that, although Local SEO is relatively simple, only a handful of companies truly optimise for it.
This means that by improving your website’s optimisation, you can get ahead of most of your competitors, and that brings in more customers.
So, the next question is: how do you do it? Below, we break down the most important SEO practices you should follow to improve your position in local search.
Best Local SEO Practices
Update Google My Profile
Many local businesses have never created a Google My Business profile. Or they created one once and never updated it.
This profile is essential, as it helps your business appear in local searches when people look for your products or services.
Here, you should include your business website, address, phone number, working hours, and email. You can also add photos to help people identify your location easily.
Make sure to update your profile regularly. If you change your address or phone number, update it straight away.
Most businesses forget to do this, and it often leads to customer frustration. Imagine needing something urgently, finding a business on Google, calling the number, and realising it’s outdated.
By keeping your business information up to date, you offer a better customer experience and stay ahead of most of your competitors.
Leverage Other Local Directories
Besides Google My Profile, you should also take advantage of other local directories. Make sure your business is listed in as many relevant directories as possible.
Some directories may automatically create a profile for your business, but many won’t. That’s why it’s a good idea to regularly check local directories and create or update your profile where needed.
Use industry-specific directories
Make sure your business is listed in industry-specific directories. You can find these easily by searching on Google. Just type in your industry and browse through the results.
Alongside business websites, you’ll often see directory listings. Look for those related to your field, and if you find a relevant one, create a profile there.
Utilize Reviews
Reviews are one of the most powerful tools you can use to grow your business. They build trust, attract more customers, and improve your visibility online.
Whenever possible, ask your customers to leave a review. There are several ways to do this. If you run an online shop, you can offer a small discount in exchange for a review, or include review requests in your email marketing.
Target Local-Based Keywords
To improve your local SEO, you should use location-based keywords. There are several ways to find them.
You can do it manually or use keyword research tools, ideally, a mix of both works best.
Start by typing relevant terms into your browser and checking the autocomplete suggestions. Write down anything that fits your business in a document, like Google Docs.
Once you’ve collected 20–30 keywords, you can use tools like SEMrush or the free Google Keyword Planner to check their search volume.
As a local business, even keywords with a monthly search volume of just 100 can be valuable. Of course, the higher the volume, the better, but relevance to your location and service is what matters most.
Get Local Backlinks From a Trustworthy Source
To boost your business visibility even further, try connecting with local bloggers or even local newspapers.
They can mention your business in their articles or news stories, which helps increase your reach. Depending on the arrangement, you might pay for the exposure, or return the favour with a link or social media mention.
This kind of exposure pays off in two key ways. First, having your website featured in local content brings immediate traffic, meaning more potential customers.
Second, when trusted local websites mention your business, Google sees this as a positive signal. It builds your website’s authority and improves your position in search results.
Optimize for Mobile
Make sure your website works well on mobile devices, as most local searches happen on smartphones.
This is crucial because Google uses mobile-first indexing, which means it ranks and indexes the mobile version of your site before the desktop one.
Constantly Improving On-Page & Off-Page SEO
To keep your website aligned with best practices and ensure it’s mobile-friendly, make sure to regularly optimize it using On-Page, Off-Page, and Technical Search Engine Optimization strategies.
Involve Your Business in Local Activities
Even though it’s not directly related to website optimisation, being active in the local community helps raise your visibility.
This brings several benefits. First, it increases brand awareness and recognition, as people will remember you. When they need your services, you’ll be the first business they think of.
This activity also indirectly boosts your Search Engine Optimization Score. It has the potential to generate more reviews and increase website traffic.
These positive signals are noticed by Google and other search engines, which can improve your ranking in search results.
When Can You Expect Positive Results?
After completing your Local SEO optimization, you can expect to see noticeable results within 3 to 6 months.
The timeline depends on how well your site is optimised and how much effort your competitors are putting into their own SEO.
Once the results start coming in, you’ll begin attracting organic visitors and customers, without spending a single euro on advertising. That’s the real power of optimising your website for local search.
We Can Help You To Improve Your Business Position Through Local SEO
If you’re unsure how to handle SEO or simply too busy running your business, we can take care of it for you through our Local SEO Services.
At MDV Designs, our digital marketers specialise in website optimisation. We’ll make sure your site follows the latest SEO best practices, helping you improve your position in search results and attract more customers.
If you’re interested in learning more, get in touch with us for a free consultation. We’ll discuss how we can help you achieve your business goals.
