What is local SEO and why do you need local SEO?

Do you want to attract new customers in your local area? Local SEO is what you need. This is one of the most crucial facets of digital marketing, especially for businesses that have a physical store and want to connect with customers near them.

However, we, at Nhance Digital, have come across several businesses in Manchester and other parts of the UK, who do not understand the difference between local SEO and SEO. If you are amongst those businesses that think that investing in a long-term SEO plan will get you the attention of your local audience, you are mistaken. This is why we wish to break down the information for you and give you a clear idea of what local SEO is and how it impacts your business.

What does local SEO mean?

Local SEO refers to the practice of optimising a product/service or business for a search query that is specific to a location. Google and other search engines make use of the location of a user based on geolocation (for mobile) and IP address (for desktop) to determine what results will be relevant to the user. So, when someone searches for a restaurant, car wash, dentist or a locksmith, the search engine is going to display businesses that are relevant to the user’s location.

What is the importance of local SEO?

Local SEO is crucial to businesses that have a physical store or provide services in a specific location. When people are searching for a business near them, it means that they would most likely visit the store right away or within a few hours. With the help of local SEO, businesses can reach out to customers at the exact time when they are looking for their products or services. Several surveys have revealed that 50% of people who carried out a local search on their smartphone and 34% of people who searched on their desktop or tablet, went to the store on the same day.

What are the basics of local SEO?

Now that we’ve told you what local SEO means, let’s take a look at the basics of local SEO.

The first thing that you need to understand is that local SEO is for location-based searches. This means that your business must have a physical address so that it can show up on local search results. If the address of your business is not updated in GMB (Google My Business) and other online directories, your business will not show when your customers run an in *locality name* search or a “near me” search.

The second thing that you have to make sure is that the name, address and phone number of your business are accurate and consistent across all the digital platforms that you are using. The slightest discrepancy might make Google ban your business from getting listed in the local 3-pack. You must keep checking and updating the NAP of your business so that your customers do not feel misled with a wrong phone number or address.

Citations are another important part of local SEO. A citation is when a third-party website lists your website as a point of reference. This may contain your business’ location, name or contact information. It does not require a backlink to the website of your business. Example of a citation would be a food blogger mentioning your restaurant in his/her blog as a good place for meals in your locality. Citations let Google know that a business is trustworthy and this increases the chances of a business getting in the local 3-pack.

Last, but not the least, reviews. Testimonials or reviews is an important part of local SEO and this helps Google in ranking businesses. If you receive positive reviews, you should always remember to thank the reviewer and if there are negative remarks, you must also address them. This will show Google that you care about your customers.

How will local SEO impact your business?

• Help potential customers in discovering your business
• Give your potential customers the information that they are seeking so that they can make their way to your business
• Provide you with qualified leads with a high chance of converting into an actual sale
• Local SEO helps potential customers in deciding in favour of a business. The more information that one has of a business, the more trustworthy the business seem.

So, it is time for you to boost your local SEO so that your target audience can easily find you. Moreover, a strong local SEO plan will help enhance your organic search ranking and also positively impact your long-term SEO plan. Schedule a consultation with NHANCE Digital to find out about our local SEO services in Manchester and how we can help you grow your business.