Local SEO success checklist – Tick them off as you go!

Local SEO trends are constantly evolving and changing. So, before you bid adieu to 2020, NHANCE Digital has compiled a checklist that will guarantee local SEO success for your website. The list of must-dos that we have rounded up will go beyond this year and if you tick them off as you go, you are bound to become the master of this game. Here, take a look. 

Is your website mobile-friendly?

It has been almost two years since mobile searches surpassed desktop searches for the first time. Even Google has rolled out the mobile-first index to give more importance to mobile-friendly websites. Also, since local SEO is all about connecting with your target audience in real-time, you cannot afford not to have a website that works on desktops, as well as, mobile phones. 

If your answer is no for this question, we highly recommend that you connect with us. A responsive website is the need of the hour. With a responsive website, you will be able to connect with your audience across any device and screen size. 

Have you added links to Google Map directions?

Today, there are more than 5 million websites making use of Google Maps. If you are not one of them, you are losing out on a lot of potential customers. Being on Google Maps is the easiest way to exactly pinpoint your customers where your business is located. What’s more, it is not just done for the convenience of customers, but it is also an important ranking factor. 

By linking to Google Maps in your ‘about us’ section or ‘contact’ page, you are giving the search giant more information about your business. As you enable geolocation, you can expect your website to show up in location-based searches. 

Is your NAPE information accurate?

NAPE is an acronym that stands for name, address, phone number and email address. This sums up the basic information that a customer would want regarding a brand or business. Even though this may sound like obvious information that any business would provide, it is important to monitor and make sure that all the details are accurate, correct and consistent across all the online platforms. NAPE plays a critical role in the local search result rankings. 

You must know that Google is constantly trying to give searchers a good user experience. This is why incorrect information is not tolerated by the search giant. If you keep NAPE updated, Google would feel that your business is legitimate and it can be trusted. 

Is your phone number clickable?

Nobody wants to copy and paste phone numbers from a webpage when they wish to contact that business or organisation. It seems like too much work. As a modern website, you need to allow your customers to get in touch with just a click of a button. 

Without a surprise, Google rewards business websites that have clickable phone numbers and this is considered to be a positive ranking factor. You will find Google openly advising websites to convert their phone numbers and also email addresses into links. 

Are there reviews on your website?

Positive reviews truly encourage people to trust a brand and the success of your local SEO efforts depend on customer reviews. You need to encourage your customers to leave a review so that others can read it and if the review is positive, they can also come to your store. 

Also, remember that customers are not the only ones who care about reviews. Even Google cares deeply. This gives the search engine an idea about which businesses are trustworthy and which ones are not. 

Is your website optimised for local listings?

Getting listed on online local directories is one of the biggest strategies to get noticed. You also need to have a GMB account so that it is easier for potential customers to find you when they are looking for products or services near their specific location. 

Apart from these, you also need to work on creating pages targeting specific locations and crafting interesting guest blogs. You can consider local SEO as the online version of word-of-mouth advertising and you need to keep working hard to achieve results. 

If you need any help, NHANCE Digital is the leading local SEO company in Manchester. Get in touch.