Did you know that 46% of Google searches are looking for local information? Local Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) enables consumers to use search engines to find businesses that are located near them. If you want to drive more customers in your area to visit your business, you must first be visible on search results. And a local SEO agency can help a great deal with that.
The Changing Landscape of Local Search
Local SEO assists prospects in close range to discover your business and get in touch or pay your store a visit. It’s an integral part of any SEO strategy, especially with the rise of ‘near me’ searches and mobile search usage.
Globally, 74% of in-store shoppers who performed searches before entering a store said they searched for terms like ‘closest store near them’ ‘in stock near them’ or entered the relevant location. And with more than half of internet users worldwide using a mobile device for local searches, it shows the great importance of implementing local SEO techniques and mobile optimisation.
So how does Google determine local ranking? The search engine uses three main factors, namely relevance, distance and prominence.
- Relevance – this refers to how well your local Google Business Profile matches a searcher’s query. Complete and up-to-date information helps Google to understand your business better and show your profile to relevant searches.
- Distance – this considers how far a potential search result is from the location term used in search. If no location is mentioned, Google calculates the distance based on information you have provided.
- Prominence – this refers to how well known your business is. If a business is popular in the offline world then search results will reflect this. It’s also determined by information from across the web including links, articles and reviews.
Benefits of Working with a Local SEO Agency
So how will you know if now is the time to work with a local SEO company? For local businesses, it’s super important to be visible on search engines like Google to drive website traffic, leads and sales. Here are a few benefits of hiring SEO experts and what they bring to the table.
Expertise and Experience
A local SEO agency will focus on ranking your website for relevant keywords and specific geographical search terms. For instance ‘plumbers in Watford’ or searches including ‘near me.’ This will improve your chances of showing up in your target audience’s search results. By optimising your website for local searches, you will be inviting a huge range of potential customers searching for your product or service and who live nearby.
The SEO agency will set up your business listing on Google and ensure it’s updated regularly with content and details so it complies with Google’s ranking factors. From local keyword research, landing page creation to local link building and keeping up with changing industry and algorithmic changes, SEO experts will do it all.
Tapping into their experience and expertise will ensure that your objectives are met more efficiently. And you can rest assured that your local SEO is in good hands.
Targeted Strategy Development
Local SEO agencies often create personalised strategies for you. This is done by getting to know your business, goals and objectives. Using these insights, they can conduct in-depth research on your target market to understand the behaviour and preferences of local customers. As a result, the relevant search terms can be identified to achieve your desired results.
After a full SEO audit and research, a tailored SEO strategy can be created. The strategy usually involves local content creation, optimising web pages for local keywords and management of your Business Profile.
Efficient Use of Resources
Working with an agency can be cost-effective compared to hiring in-house experts – depending on the agency of course. SEO local services’ pricing can range from hourly to monthly to a project-based structure. But what’s important to know is that you will have a dedicated SEO agency that can offer the expertise and advice you require. And they will know exactly how to make efficient use of your resources.
Unlike paid marketing, SEO has the power to organically generate leads with little to no cost. So you will hardly need to worry about setting aside a large budget for your local SEO to generate results.
Keeping Up with Algorithm Changes
You will be able to rely on your agency to stay informed about search engine algorithm updates, trends in local SEO and how to adapt. In the past, Google only made a handful of updates to its algorithms, now, Google makes thousands of algorithm changes every year.
And your local business will need to keep up with these.
Not staying updated on algorithm shifts can have a negative impact on your ranking. SEO experts will ensure that both core and minor updates are taken care of so your website doesn’t experience a drop in rankings. This gives you more time and peace of mind to focus on your core business.
Skyrocket Sales With Local SEO
If you’re not working on your SEO, you’re missing a vital marketing channel and a significant group of potential customers. There’s a big difference between ranking across the UK and ranking in your local area.
Small businesses with limited SEO budgets can still rank highly for relevant terms from local searchers and this can have a huge impact on lead generation and sales.
With the many benefits of working with a local SEO company from expertise, targeted strategy and efficient use of resources to keeping up with algorithm changes, your business will be able to achieve brilliant results.
As an award-winning digital marketing agency, we’ve helped countless businesses gain traffic and leads using local SEO. If you think you could be gaining more leads from search engines, contact us today.
