Why Local SEO Matters for Small Businesses: Start Dominating Your Local Market

Local SEO Basics, Local SEO Strategies, Local SEO Tips, a look at Bing & Google, plus much more….

Do you want to start dominating your local market and develop a consistent pipeline of new leads and sales? Start leveraging the power of the internet to scale your business. As a small business owner or marketing manager, you know how important it is to connect with customers in your community. Whether you run a brick-and-mortar store, a service-based business, or an online shop with a local presence, your success often hinges on your ability to reach and engage potential customers in your area. That’s where local SEO comes in. By optimizing your online presence for local search queries, you can improve your visibility in search engine results pages, attract more qualified leads, and ultimately dominate your local market. In this blog post, we’ll explore why local SEO matters for small businesses, and share some tips and strategies to help you get started.

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Fun Facts About Local SEO

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Local SEO can be traced back to the launch of Google Maps in 2005, which revolutionized the way people search for local businesses online.

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46% of all Google searches are local in nature, meaning that people are actively searching for local businesses and services.

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72% of consumers who perform a local search visit a store or contact a business that shows up after a local search query.

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88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, highlighting the importance of customer reviews in local SEO.

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Local SEO is particularly important for mobile users, with over 80% of “near me” searches being conducted on mobile devices.

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The use of voice search is also on the rise, with over 40% of adults using voice search at least once per day. Optimizing for voice search can give businesses a competitive edge in local search results.

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Local SEO can help small businesses compete with larger businesses by providing a level playing field in local search results.

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Local SEO is an ongoing process that requires regular maintenance and updates to stay relevant and effective.

Small Businesses Can Level The Playing Field With Local SEO

Local SEO helps small businesses connect with potential customers and their target audience(s) in their immediate geographic area. With more and more consumers turning to the internet to research products/searches and look at reviews before making a purchase, having a strong online presence is crucial for businesses of all sizes. By optimizing their website and online profiles for local search queries, small businesses can ensure that they appear at the top of search engine results pages when someone searches for a product or service in their area. This can help them to drive traffic to their website, attract more qualified leads, increase foot traffic to their physical location, and ultimately generate more sales. Additionally, local SEO can help small businesses compete with larger, national brands that may have more resources to devote to traditional advertising and marketing campaigns. By focusing on their local market, small businesses can level the playing field and carve out a niche for themselves in their community.

Local SEO Basics

Local SEO strategies encompass a variety of techniques and tactics aimed at improving a business’s visibility in local search results. You should consult with an expert to make sure you are getting the best results. Some of the most common strategies include optimizing website content with local keywords, building high-quality backlinks from local directories and websites, creating and consistently updating and optimizing Google Business Profiles, and generating customer reviews and ratings. While these strategies may require an investment of time and resources, the ROI is significant when done correctly. Additionally, local SEO strategies can help you build a strong reputation in your community, which can lead to repeat business and referrals. In today’s digital age, investing in local SEO is essential for small businesses that want to thrive in their local market.

Google Owns Over 93% Of Search Query Market

Google is the most widely used search engine in the world, and it’s also the go-to search engine for most people when they’re looking for local businesses. In fact, Google accounts for over 90% of all global search engine traffic. This means that if you want your business to be visible to potential customers in your local area, it’s essential to have a strong presence on Google. One of the key ways to do this is by creating and optimizing a Google My Business profile, which can help your business appear in local search results, Google Maps, and Google’s Knowledge Panel. Additionally, Google’s algorithm considers a variety of factors when ranking websites in local search results, including proximity, relevance, and prominence. By focusing on these factors and optimizing your website and online profiles accordingly, you can improve your chances of appearing at the top of Google’s local search results and attracting more qualified leads to your business. To learn more, check out Motus’ article about Google Business Profile Basics.

Why You Cannot Ignore Bing

While Google dominates the search engine market, it’s important to remember that not everyone uses Google. In fact, some people may prefer other search engines like Bing, which is the second most popular search engine in the United States. Also, with Bing’s adoption of ChatGPT, there is now a race between Google and Microsoft to leverage these new AI Large Language Model technology. It is too early to guess how these technologies will affect local search, but changes will be coming. Regardless, this means that if you want to maximize your visibility in local search results, it’s a good idea to consider optimizing your website and online profiles for Bing as well Google. Bing’s algorithm also takes into account factors like proximity, relevance, and prominence when ranking websites in local search results, so many of the same local SEO strategies that work for Google can also be effective for Bing. One of the key differences is that Bing includes your social media following and ratings in their ranking algorithm. So if Bing continues to gain market share then your social media profiles will be more and more important. By optimizing your online presence for both Google and Bing, you can improve your chances of appearing at the top of local search results and reaching a wider audience of potential customers in your community.

Local SEO Basic Tips

Create and optimize a Google Business Profile with accurate and up-to-date information about your business, including your name, address, phone number, website URL, and hours of operation.
Identify and target local keywords in your website content, meta tags, and descriptions, including your city, neighborhood, and other relevant location-based phrases.
Build high-quality backlinks from local directories, industry associations, and other relevant websites in your community.
Encourage customers to leave reviews and ratings on your Google Business Profile and other review platforms like Yelp, Facebook, etc…
Use social media to engage with your local community and promote your business, including creating and sharing local content and events.
Optimize your website for mobile devices, as more and more people are using smartphones to search for local businesses.
Monitor and track your local SEO performance using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console, and make adjustments as needed based on your results.
Finally, be patient and persistent. Local SEO is a long-term strategy that requires ongoing effort and investment, but the payoff can be significant in terms of increased visibility, traffic, and sales.

Other Things To Consider

Consistency is key. Ensuring that your business name, address, and phone number (also known as NAP) are consistent across all online directories, listings, and platforms is crucial for local SEO success. Any discrepancies or inconsistencies can hurt your visibility in local search results.
Local SEO is not just about search engines. While search engines like Google and Bing are important for local SEO, it’s also important to focus on other online channels where potential customers might be searching for businesses like yours. This includes social media platforms, review websites, and local business directories.
Local SEO requires ongoing effort. Local SEO is not a one-time task that can be checked off a to-do list. Instead, it requires ongoing effort and attention to stay ahead of the competition and maintain your visibility in local search results. This includes regularly updating your website and online profiles, generating fresh content, and actively engaging with your local community online.
Local SEO can provide a high return on investment. While implementing local SEO strategies may require an investment of time and resources, the payoff can be significant in terms of increased visibility, traffic, and sales. In fact, studies have shown that businesses that appear at the top of local search results can see a significant boost in website traffic and sales.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, local SEO is not just an expense for small businesses, but rather an investment in their long-term success. By improving their visibility in local search results, businesses can attract more qualified leads, increase foot traffic to their physical location, and ultimately drive more sales. While implementing local SEO strategies may require an investment of time and resources, the payoff can be significant in terms of increased revenue and profitability. To get started with your local SEO efforts and ensure that your investment is optimized for success, consider partnering with Motus Consulting. Our team of local SEO experts can provide you with a free consultation to assess your current online presence, identify areas for improvement, and create a customized strategy to help you dominate your local market. Contact us today to learn more and take the first step towards growing your business with local SEO.

If you have any questions or would like a second opinion, do not hesitate to contact Motus.