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Local SEO Checklist for 2021

Statistics show that about 46% of searchers look for local businesses. Optimising your business for local search ensures your business shows up among the results on the first page of search engine results. As most searchers check out enterprises on the first search engine results page (SERP), this visibility is crucial.

Companies provide affordable SEO services to help you excel in local search.

What Is Local SEO?

Local SEO involves the strategies and techniques you use to improve your company’s visibility among the search results of a specific location.

How To Optimise Your Business for Local Search

You can optimise your business for local search in many ways.

  1. Know Your Ranking Essentials

These eight factors can determine your local search rankings.

  • Google My Business signals
  • Social media signals
  • Behavioural signals
  • Link signals
  • On-page signals
  • Citation signals
  • Personalisation
  • Review signals

Ensure these elements work well on your website to succeed in local search.

  1. Optimise Your Domain

Use tools to clear these issues on your site.

  • Zombie pages
  • Indexabilityprob problems
  • Missing metadata
  • Duplicate content
  • Broken links
  • Accessibility issues

You may use Screaming Frog or SEMrush for the audit. Optimise these areas to improve your local search performance.

  1. Optimise Your Google My Business Listing

Google My Business plays an essential part in helping search engines understand local businesses. Optimising your GMB listing can help you.

You can optimise your GMB listing in many ways.

« Create your GMB profile with your address.

« Allow Google to display your business page and company information.

« Include your service area’s geographical radius.

« Choose secondary and primary business categories.

« Summarise your business activities in less than 750 characters.

« Add high-quality images and videos to your listing.

« Verify your listing via mail or call.

« Get reviews and questions for your listing.

  1. Use Social Media and Local Directories

A presence on local directories and social media can help your local SEO efforts. They can be a source of traffic to your site and show search algorithms that you are a legitimate, influential business. Ensure you get excellent reviews on these platforms and address complaints well. Be consistent with your name, address, and phone number (NAP).

  1. Encourage Clients To Review Your Business

Manage your online reputation. Search algorithms rank businesses with excellent reviews higher on SERPs. Optimise your operations to get excellent ratings.

You can get more ratings and reviews in these ways.

  • Embed ratings and review systems on your website.
  • Add a GMB review request to your email signature.
  • Manage your negative reviews and engage reviewers with professionalism.
  • Ask user-experience questions once you complete a transaction.
  1. Optimise Your Site for Mobile Search

Almost half of the searchers use mobile devices. Your business can show up among their results if you optimise it for mobile search rankings.

You can optimise your site for mobile search in these ways.

« Have a responsive website design.

« Consider mobile searchers when adding icons and images.

Performing well on local searches can have many benefits for your business. You will show up among the searchers’ results in your area. These prospects are likely to visit your store and buy your products or services.

About the author

Torrance Mueller

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