How to dominate local SEO

How to dominate local SEO in 2018

Lets you experience the most constant thing about SEO: it is always changing. Even white hat, user-focused SEO techniques can fluctuate in efficacy as search platforms change and less ethical sites try to game the system.  In local SEO, it’s especially important that you optimize your on-site and off-site SEO tactics. Customers and clients are looking for you online and there is a wide scope for better lead generation and improved conversions locally.

Raushan Bhardwaj, SEO professional in India lists five strong local SEO strategies that will enable your business to rank better locally. Let’s get an insider look:

  1. Title and meta -description tags

Title and meta-description tags can be customized to reflect the topic and content of a webpage. They are essentially HTML elements and show up in the search results, thus are huge for Local SEO. Meta Description and Title are like mini-advertisements that should be carefully designed to attract more people. However, don’t go too long as it will make your titles and meta-descriptions truncated in the SERPs.

In 2017, Google increased the width of the main search results area to 600 pixels. Taking that into account, the generally accepted length for title tags is now increased to 50-60 characters (approximately) and in 2018 for description tags, it is somewhere between 160 to 280 characters.

So, keeping them short, simple, accurate, unique, compelling and crisp will help you rank. Write descriptions that inspire the viewer/reader to click on the result. Use trigger words and check the quality of your content with different tools.

  1. Online directories and citations

According to a study conducted by Google, three out of five consumers (approximately) use search engines to perform local searches. Having said that, If your small, local business is not showing up online on Local Business Listings, you are losing serious business opportunity.

It is absolutely reciprocal that your business shows up on major local business directories like Yelp, Merchant Circle, Bing etc and gets result.

Mention your business name, address, phone number, website, working hours etc and other information on the citations and keep the information consistent. Before publishing, recheck everything as discrepancies such as spelling mistakes, irrelevant abbreviations, incorrect phone number will make it difficult for Google to determine your presence.

  1. Google My Business

Google My Business (GMB) is another directory but it’s an incredibly useful tool for small and midsize businesses (SMBs). Google My Business is absolutely important and the best part is that it’s free.

Businesses with physical addresses can gain huge exposure through this tool also you can only claim the GMB Page for your business if you are a business owner.

After the claiming part, you need to focus on its optimization.

You need a rock-solid description, appropriate categories, right business hours etc and more relational information on the business page. Be sure that you upload your business logo and concerned pictures for more prominence.

Google My Business creates a win-win situation by hiding your physical location for service businesses.

  1. Online reviews

Reviews are additional driving force behind your local SEO performance. Getting positive, high-quality, and frequent reviews from your customers improve your business visibility and give your local SEO a massive boost.

A recent survey revealed that 84 percent people believe in online reviews as much as a personal recommendation. And almost 7 out of 10 customers will write a review when asked for one by the business.

You can scrutinize through reputation marketing software tools like Vendasta, Reputation Loop, Get Five Stars etc.

Always responding to customer reviews helps building relationship and it engages them more into your services which reciprocates your visitor count and ranking.

Focusing more on Facebook page and Google My Business page reviews will help you influence, rank better and become more visible online.

  1. Use local structured data markup

Structured data markup is actually schema markup and you can add it to your website’s code to give search engines more information about your business and helps increasing the CTR (Click through Rate).

According to recent research, only 27 percent of total websites have applied the markup strategy and most still rely on the basics. Schema Markup is a great technique of making your local business different from competitors and rank high.

Google features the structured data markup to help its spiders crawl the web pages and contents better.

Conclusion

Local SEO centers around being accessible, applicable and high caliber for searches that are done on a “near me” premise. As per Raushan Bhardwaj, Faculty of Digital Marketing Training in Bhubaneswar , references and Google my Business can liberally enable your business to push ahead and show up in more pursuits with applicable content.

Despite the fact that these tips are only the start of Local SEO, they should give you the kickthrough you require.

 

 

 

 

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