Operating a local SEO campaign can be a challenging adventure in the marketing world, leaving many small businesses feeling like a fish out of water. Often times, local businesses miss out on potential online successes; simply because they are not sure on where to begin. There are a lot of on and off-site factors that play into a local SEO campaign’s success and it is important to implement them throughout the campaign. But what are these factors?
Let’s talk about these key factors that drive success within a local SEO campaign.
Name, Address, Phone Number (NAP)
One of the more important on-site tactics within a local SEO campaign is including the business’s NAP within every page of the website. It is vital that this information is displayed in the exact same format across the website. Including a consistent NAP within the website will allow Google to index the necessary information to include the website within the local pack in the SERPs.
Mobile Optimization
With the rise of technology within the recent years, nearly everybody has a smartphone or a tablet. Due to this, Google has finally updated their algorithm to include a website’s mobile optimization within their ranking factors. This means it is vital for a website to be optimized for viewing on desktop, smartphones and tablets. However, this study conducted by Rizolt shows that implementing mobile optimization can yield enormous online successes for a business.
Google My Business
Acquiring a Google My Business listing can give a local business an enormous leg-up in the competition. This allows a business to be shown within a variety of Google’s services (Search, Maps or Google+) when potential customers are searching for the services that business provides. Keep in mind that it is important to fill out the listing with very detailed information about the business.
Local Link Building
Yes, high-quality, authoritative links are always an incredible win for link building, but when running a local SEO campaign, acquiring relevant links on local websites that are engaged within your potential customers is just as important. Moz put together a directory of local citation opportunities, and earning these NAP citations on local websites will assist Google in understanding how to put the website in front of the individuals looking for its services.
Reviews
Earning local reviews is one of the more important local SEO tactics, since studies have shown they are a driving factor within Google’s carousel rankings. Aside from reaching out to existing customers for reviews, simply Including a link for a website’s viewers to quickly leave a review can be an easy way to acquire online successes, while building a positive image behind a business’s overall brand.
