Local SEO For Small Businesses: Why Is Local SEO SO Important?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) enables users to find your website and rank it depending on how well they understand the content. Local SEO is a strategy that improves findability for brick-and-mortar businesses in specific regions, and area-based online stores in some cases. 

Moreover, local SEO for small businesses should be a top priority – there are multiple reasons to back up the importance of local SEO for small businesses. 

If a business isn’t optimized for locals, you’ll miss out on prospective customers in the area. Ensuring that everyone in your locality searching for what you’re selling can get it from you is the backbone of local SEO.

Additionally, it can be hard sometimes to go DIY, so to learn the ropes, you can engage an SEO coach to assist you in doing it right for your business to increase organic traffic.

But First, What Is Local SEO (In Brief)?

Local SEO is a significant part of reaching the local target customer in a specific city, region, or neighborhood. In simple words, local SEO services help you to get local customers and increase visibility in local search results. For example, Google Maps. 

Organic SEO makes your website authoritative and boosts the ranking factor. Similarly, the website ranks in the organic search, which influences local SEO ranking. 

Local SEO For Small Businesses: How Does It Work?

Local SEO is the practice of search engine optimization. It means it helps your business in listing the Local search results. Suppose you have a grocery store, you will definitely want to catch your local customers. 

In this case, the best local SEO works to show your grocery shop in the search results for the nearest grocery shops on Google. It influences the organic result, organic traffic, and visibility.

On this note, you should remember that in the local search results, the business name, website, address, videos, customer reviews, photos, and ratings should be available. 

These are essential because, when customers link your shop link, they want to know the basic information and customer reviews along with images. However, Google has separate guidelines for local SEO, so you should go through each point and implement them in your local business. These guidelines are necessary to excel in your organic visibility.

Why Do Small Businesses Need Local SEO?

Local SEO for small businesses is necessary, highly relevant, and very important. Making your business findable online is a great strategy to capture a vast audience. Imagine dominating the top search terms on Google Maps, having hundreds of great reviews, and amplifying your customer base!

1. Targets And Converts Mobile Users:

Mobile users are increasing each new day, generating a more significant fraction of online traffic. Almost half of the mobile users who search for local services are likely to buy both in-person and online. Mobile users are always searching for restaurants, hotels, or events near them, and the chances of getting these services locally are very high. 

Depending on what people search for, they tend to gravitate to the top-ranking businesses. Therefore, it’s up to you to ensure your business appears among the top, if not the first. Moreover, if you cannot pull it off, owning a business is already busy enough! – Considering SEO monthly packages to assist you in making it happen will speed up growth. 

2. Reduces Competition:

SEO is the use of unique, relevant terms to describe something. Therefore, you should ensure that whatever terms you use for your local SEO strategy are unique to the business. Avoid generic terms that anyone can use; for instance, add the location or shop name if you offer plumbing services. 

As a result, with each search, your potential client will find relevant service providers and head your way. Using general terms keeps the competition at bay, while local SEO narrows down the relevant businesses in the region. 

3. Give Your Business Local PR:

Local SEO opens your business to a significant local presence, which in turn, increases local opportunities. Hosting relevant events or attending some in your area will make your business known and build lasting relationships. Local customers enjoy services or products within their reach, compared to going out to big brands that aren’t within reach. 

4. Boosts Ranking For Local Keywords On Search Results:

Although search engines like Google don’t disclose how the organic ranking algorithms work, it’s open about how you can achieve local results.

Here are the three main categories to rank locally.

•  Business relevance
•  Location
•  Prominence.

Google states how to improve your local ranking in its help resource.

**Relevance refers to how well a local Business Profile matches what someone is searching for. Add complete and detailed business information to help Google better understand your business and match your profile to relevant searches.**

Local SEO For Small Businesses: Important Data To Consider

Local SEO for small businesses is mandatory, especially if you want to rank on search results and drive organic traffic to your website. In that context, here are some data points, thanks to Google, which highlight the huge importance of local SEO for small businesses. 

1. According to Google reports, 76% of total local customers are searching for local stores or restaurants on the Google search bar, and 28% of them are going to purchase the products or services. 

2. According to Google, 30% of all searches are associated with lactation. So, you may understand that location is the biggest factor in getting traffic. 

3. A recent survey has shared that 61% of customers are searching locally every day. So, it is important to present your business in the local search. 

4. According to the report, 74% of store shoppers first search for the products or store on Google before they decide to purchase or go to the physical store. 

5. And, the most important thing is that 83% of users or searchers use the Google search engine to search for everything. If the users have any doubts or queries, they come to Google. So, it can be said that the Google search engine is the online marketplace where your business needs to be.