When it comes to brick-and-mortar storefronts, nothing is as satisfying as snagging the top spot for local search results. If you want your business to be the first to show up under "near me" searches, then you have landed on the right page.
Here, you will find the best tips and tricks for securing that coveted ranking.
How "Near Me" Searches Work
Have you ever started a google search for a local business and gotten an automated suggestion to add "near me" at the end of it? That is local search SEO at work.
For example: If you want to find a therapist in your area, your best bet would be to enter "therapist near me" in the Google search bar.
The results will be a concise list of therapists close to your location. People generally choose one of the top three results. So, you definitely want to take advantage of local search SEO to make "near me" searches work in your favor.
How to Rank High in "Near Me" Searches
1. Pay for a Local Search SEO Advertisement
If you want to hit that top spot sooner, you can take an easy shortcut by running an ad. You can include "near me" in the keywords for the ad. This will put your brand's website right at the top of the local search results. It can get pricey, but it may be worth it if you have the budget for digital marketing and don't want to wait for organic growth.
2. Finish Your Google "My Business" Profile
Have you completed your My Business profile on Google yet? If not, you need to jump on that ASAP. Google uses these listings to figure out where physical businesses are located and which one needs to be pushed to the top of the local search results. If you haven't completed your profile yet, then your business probably isn't showing up at all. Here are a few tips for completing the process:
Enter your business name and address
Use original images instead of stock photos
Double check to ensure the URL is correct
Avoid terms like "LLC" and "Inc"
Use a local phone number
Get your business verified by Google
3. Cultivate Positive Reviews
Having good reviews on your website is one thing, but having them on Google is a game-changer. Google makes it very easy for your customers to write reviews. All they have to do is find your business on Google Maps and click "Write a Review". It allows them to leave a star rating as well, which also helps your local search results ranking.
4. Put Your "NAP" on Your Website
To rank high in "near me" search results, you should make sure that your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) are all listed correctly on your website. They should also be consistent everywhere they are mentioned. For example: If the address is listed as "221B Baker St." on your Google My Business profile, then be sure it is spelled that way on your site. Don't list it as "221B Baker Street".
5. Showcase Local Sponsored Events
Does your company sponsor a local event or sports team? Be sure to list that on your website. This will inform Google that your business is active in the neighborhood and surrounding community. Don't forget to list all of the important details pertaining to the event or team.
6. Take Advantage of Image Geocodes
One thing that you can do to improve your local search SEO is to utilize geocodes with your images. This is still relatively new, and not a lot of local businesses - especially in smaller towns - know about this. Geocodes will associate your images with specific locations. Here are a few ways to geocode easily.
Flickr: Uploading your photos to Flickr will add geocodes automatically. You can then link the image to the site and provide a link to your website in the Flickr photo description.
GPS-enabled camera: Photos taken on this type of camera will have geo-coordinates embedded in the image file format. When you upload this type of image to Flickr, the metadata will be read automatically - which saves you time.
7. Make Your Site Mobile Friendly
Most people search for local businesses on the go. This means that they are usually using their smartphones - which is why you need to be sure your site looks good on a mobile platform. User experience is extremely important. Everything needs to be easy to read and navigate. If your site doesn't translate well on a phone, then your bounce rate will be high. This will make your ranking in the local search results suffer.
8. Ramp Up Your Backlinks
Backlinks are important for building brand trust and expanding your online presence. But did you know that they can also be used to improve your local search results ranking on Google? You can do this by including geographic anchor text in your backlinks. For example: "Grief Counseling Services in Little Rock, Arkansas" will tell Google where your business is - which plays into local SEO and higher rankings.
9. Add Directions on Your Site
While most people won't bother using the directions you provide, Google will. You can add directions from major landmarks or other cities to your physical address. It is best to put this information on the "Contact Us" page or the "Location" page. Google will associate your business with more "near me" searches if you take the time to do this.
10. Include Landmarks on Your Website
Is your town famous for having the World's Largest Ball of Yarn? Be sure to include that on your website. It is best to slide it in the "Directions" section or a banner on the Home Page. It is also worth the effort to add in surrounding towns within a reasonable distance.
11. Revise Your Home Page
Make sure your Home Page is compelling enough to keep people on your site as long as possible. You do not want a high bounce rate. Improving the quality of your online content and providing value are easy ways to keep visitors clicking through your site for longer.
12. Network for Backlinks
As I mentioned before, backlinks are crucial to online marketing. To find more opportunities to backlink, register your business with your local Chamber of Commerce. You can then find other non-competing companies to network with for backlinking opportunities.
Get Help with Online Marketing
Now that you are aware of 12 things you can do to improve your ranking in local "near me" searches, you can get started today. If you need more help with creative content to expand your brand's online presence and dominate the search engines, don't hesitate to get in touch with Clever Girl Copywriting.
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