As potential clients turn to Google to search for local services, optimising your local SEO becomes crucial!
When individuals search for businesses in their local area, they rely on platforms like Maps and Search to find relevant results. By ensuring your business appears in these searches, you can attract more leads and increase sales. So, where should you begin? Start by creating a Google Business Profile to enhance your online presence!
How Does Google Business Profile Help Your Local SEO?
By creating a listing you will have a better chance of making top local results within Google maps & search.
How Does Google Source & use information in business profiles?
Information on Your Business Profile
For example, if customers search for a restaurant that you manage, they can find information that you’ve added, such as when you’re open and where you’re located. They also might get information that you haven’t added, such as a link to your menu or photos that customers have uploaded of meals that they’ve enjoyed. The combination of information provided by you and other sources lets customers make informed decisions about your location. Users may also find personalised recommendations and matches based on their preferences. [Google]
How Google sources business information
Information in profiles is compiled from a variety of sources:
- Publicly-available information, such as crawled web content (e.g. information from a business’ official website)
- Licensed data from third parties
- Users who contribute factual information (such as addresses and phone numbers), and content (such as photos and reviews), including business owners who claim profiles through Google Business Profile
- Information based on Google’s interactions with a local place or business
How Google Serves results
Local results are based primarily on relevance, distance and prominence. A combination of these factors helps Google find the best match for your search. For example, their algorithms might decide that a business that’s farther away from your location is more likely to have what you’re looking for than a business that’s closer, and therefore rank it higher in local results. Click below to learn more….
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.
Distance considers how far each potential search result is from the location term used in a search. If a user doesn’t specify a location in their search, Google will calculate distance based on what they do know about their location. Always update Location
Prominence refers to how well known a business is. Some places are more prominent in the offline world, and search results try to reflect this in local ranking. For example, famous museums, landmark hotels or well-known shop brands are also likely to be prominent in local search results.
Prominence is also based on information that Google has about a business, from across the web, like links, articles and directories. Google review count and review score factor into local search ranking. More reviews and positive ratings can improve your business’ local ranking. Your position in web results is also a factor, so search engine optimisation (SEO) best practices apply.
Tip: There’s no way to request or pay for a better local ranking on Google. Google do their best to keep the search algorithm details confidential, to make the ranking system as fair as possible for everyone.
5 Steps To Get Up The Rankings in Google For Local SEO
1. Create & Verify A Google Business Profile
Create your Free Business profile on Google and update your business information. Google states that business with complete and accurate information are easier to match with the right searches. Include physical address, category, phone number and more. Your Listing will be verified.
and remember to include link to your website!
2. Optimise Your Google Business Profile
- Adding detailed descriptions captures your target keyword
- opening hours ( this may be factor depending when people search for you)
- Add photos - make sure they best describe your business - logos, cover photo, business photos (at least 720 x 720pixels)
3. Get Reviews
87% of online searchers read local business reviews before making any buying decision. Trust is extremely important, and reviews are a great way to build credibility with potential clients. More isn’t necessarily better. quality of the content and star ratings are some metrics used.
Google Suggests you should respond to your reviews, as when you respond to these reviews, you show existing and potential customers that you value their business.
Did you know you can send direct link from your Google business profile to your clients to ask for reviews?
4. Update Your Profile Regularly
As above you can respond to reviews, and create posts, offers & events. and post answers to frequently asked questions.
5. Local backlinks
The more Google finds a business listed may help boost its relevance and authority, local directory sites such as Yellow pages and Yelp may play a part. Ensure you update all with name, address and phone number.
6. Optimise Your Website for local organic search
Ensure your website is optimised for your local audience. ensuring it loads quickly, is user-friendly, serves information to uses quickly, and be fully responsive across all devices!
Then target your website for local keywords.
Tip- although not stated Google Map embedded in your contact page may help providing a better user experience for visitors.
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