Business owners who are selling products or offering services both online and offline need to invest in their local SEO to improve their sales conversions or revenues. Local search is an integral part of any SEO strategy targeting customers in a specific region, city, or neighborhood.
Wiggle Digital has been helping companies with SEO strategies that has helped them to achieve their long-term goals in their business endeavors. Our content marketers are well-versed in building up SEO strategies from the technical point of view, on page SEO to local SEO.
Furthermore, having a local SEO strategy is important for businesses that are looking to grow their clientele because Google supports search intents that use relevant keywords. Additionally, local SEO is where you focus to improve your rankings and visibility in local search results such as Google’s Map Pack/Local Pack.
Organic listings are another great opportunity for your local business to appear in front of motivated searchers when Google determines that the query has local intent. So, although local and organic SEO are interconnected in these ways, each requires a unique strategy with different optimization tactics.
Local SEO
What is local SEO?
Local SEO is a search engine optimization (SEO) strategy that helps your business be more visible in local search results on Google. It involves various tactics and techniques designed to enhance a business’s visibility in local search results on search engines like Google.
Any business that has a physical location or serves a geographic area can benefit from local SEO.
To understand local SEO, you need to know how Google works first.
Google search
How does Google work?
Google operates as a search engine, and its primary function is to help users find relevant information on the internet. The process through which Google works involves several intricate steps:
Crawling:
Google uses automated programs called spiders or bots to crawl the web. These bots follow links from one page to another, indexing the content of web pages. The crawling process is continuous, with Google constantly updating its index to reflect changes on the web.
Indexing:
After crawling a webpage, Google indexes the content, organizing it in a way that allows for efficient retrieval when a user performs a search. The index is like a massive database containing information about the content of billions of web pages.
Ranking:
When a user enters a search query, Google’s algorithms come into play. These algorithms evaluate the indexed pages to determine their relevance to the search query. Google considers numerous factors in this process, including keywords, page quality, relevance, and user experience.
PageRank:
Google’s PageRank algorithm, although not as prominent as it once was, still plays a role in determining the importance of a page. It assigns a numerical value to web pages based on the quantity and quality of links pointing to them.
User Experience and Intent:
Google aims to provide the best possible user experience. Recent algorithm updates prioritize pages that offer valuable, relevant, and trustworthy content. Understanding user intent is crucial, and Google seeks to deliver results that align with what the user is searching for.
SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages):
Based on the ranking process, Google generates a list of results, which is displayed on the Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs). The results are typically a mix of organic results and paid advertisements.
Personalization:
Google considers user data and behavior to personalize search results. Factors such as location, search history, and preferences may influence the results a user sees.
Frequent Algorithm Updates:
Google regularly updates its algorithms to improve search quality and relevance. These updates can impact how websites are ranked in search results.
Mobile Friendliness:
With the increasing use of mobile devices, Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in its rankings. Responsive design and fast loading times contribute to a positive user experience.
Why Local Search Matters
The significance of local search cannot be overstated in today’s competitive market. Consumers often turn to search engines when looking for nearby businesses, making local SEO a powerful tool for attracting potential customers in the immediate vicinity. This targeted approach is particularly beneficial for brick-and-mortar stores, service-based businesses, and restaurants that heavily rely on local foot traffic.
Conclusion
Local SEO not only increases the chances of appearing in local search results but also contributes to building trust and credibility through positive online reviews and consistent business information. In essence, local SEO serves as a digital storefront, making businesses easily discoverable by local consumers and providing a competitive edge in the ever-expanding online marketplace.
If you are struggling to set up your local SEO to rank high on Google, give us a call or email us to assist you with a winning local SEO strategy.
