Local SEO is important if your Startup caters to a smaller, local market. This can be the case when you are starting off and want to dominate niche markets based on location.
The Complete Local SEO Checklist
In this post, we'll break down the essential steps to boost your local SEO rankings, based on expert insights.
Understand the Core Ranking Factors
Google's local pack ranking is influenced by three main factors:
- Relevance: Ensure your business profile matches the search queries. This can be achieved through effective on-page SEO and by building topical, geo-targeted relevance.
- Distance: Your business's proximity to the searcher's location or the location specified in the search is vital. Having an address central to your target area can significantly improve your rankings.
- Prominence: This refers to how well-known your business is, which can be enhanced through reviews, backlinks, and citation accuracy.
Optimize Your Google My Business (GMB) Listing
Your GMB listing is a powerful tool in local SEO. Start by benchmarking your performance and optimizing the info section. Respond to every review—both good and bad—and add at least 10 unique images to your listing. Utilize the product listing section to add more depth to your profile by including primary keywords.
Create a GMB Posting Schedule
Regular GMB posts, although not a direct ranking factor, can indirectly boost your performance by driving engagement. Aim to post at least once a week, focusing on content that addresses different parts of the sales funnel, from blog posts and videos to testimonials and company updates.
Clean Up Your Citations
Identify and clean up your business listings across the web. This ensures consistency in your business name, address, phone number, and website, which is crucial for improving your local SEO.
Get More Reviews
Reviews are critical for both local SEO and business credibility. Aim to exceed the average review count of your top competitors by delivering outstanding service and actively asking satisfied customers for reviews. This practice should be ingrained in your company's culture.
Optimize Your On-Page SEO
Ensure your primary keywords are strategically placed in your URL, title, H1 tag, and throughout your content. On-Page SEO tools can provide insights on further optimizing your pages from a strategic, technical, and content perspective.
Create Geo-Targeted Content
Content creation for local SEO should be both topically and geo-targeted relevant. Use national-level content for inspiration and tailor it to your specific location, avoiding spammy practices like unnecessarily slapping a location on irrelevant topics.
Acquire Local Backlinks
Focus on building local backlinks through content-centric approaches and leveraging opportunities like local sponsorships and collaborations with local bloggers. The perfect backlink is both topically and geo-targeted relevant, but even geo-targeted or niche-relevant links can boost your SEO performance.
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