3 Tips For Getting the Most Out of Your Local SEO

Local search engine optimization helps attract visitors who are searching for businesses in your area, and the right strategies can make those efforts pay off. Three practical tips, covering keyword research, local citations, and social listening, can help you get more from your local SEO work.

How do I research keywords for local SEO?

Local SEO keyword research goes beyond finding keywords. You also need to analyze what users are searching for and how they are searching for it, so you can focus on the terms that matter for your business.

Free tools like Ubersuggest, KeywordsFX, and Google Keyword Planner are good starting points. A third-party tool may give you a more accurate search volume estimate.

How can I get more local citations?

Citations tell Google and other search engines who you are, where you are, and how to reach you. They include your business name, address, phone number, website link, and more.

Submit your citations to websites that are relevant to your business, and check that each listing is accurate. Unreliable citations can hurt your search engine rankings and your online reputation.

A tool like BrightLocal’s Citation Tracker will show you where your citations appear and which websites are linking to competing local businesses. That information can point to gaps in your NAP data. Data aggregators, which collect and distribute local listings from different websites, can also help fill those gaps and improve search engine rankings.

Why does social listening matter for local SEO?

Social listening gives you insights into the wants and needs of your customers, and it can help you shape your marketing messages, spot industry trends, and create content that fits your target audience. It can also help a smaller business compete against larger companies.

You’ll need a good tool to collect and monitor data. The right tool uncovers industry trends, helps you create content that meets social media’s requirements, and lets you watch what competitors are doing.

Iconosquare tracks brand mentions and their engagement, with detailed analytics that show how your content is performing. If This Then That is a free automation tool that’s good for tracking web activity and notifying you when your brand is mentioned.

Which authority websites should I target?

With more than 90% of all web searches related to a business’s location, getting your business’s name into local search results is worth the effort.

A keyword tool like Ahrefs can help you find the right keywords for your business. The right keywords target the right customers, which leads to more sales and higher rankings.

A quality SEO tool saves time and money while improving your business’s visibility. Free options include Google Search Console and Rank Tracker.

How do I keep my NAP citations up to date?

Keeping your NAP citations up to date for local SEO is essential to the success of your business. Incorrect citations can stop customers from contacting you and lead to a poor customer experience. Inconsistent NAP can also cause customers to abandon plans to visit your business, and you can lose revenue as a result.

The correct name, address, and phone number (NAP) information helps customers find you. If you have more than one location, use the same name, address, and phone number across all websites.

If you are opening a new location, update your NAP citations to reflect the new address. Do the same for closed locations. If you are relocating, update your NAP citations so you attract customers to the new location.

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• How to Make Local SEO Work For Your Business