For small businesses, no longer is there the option to rule local searches; it’s a necessity. In the vast world, wherein “near me” searches are going up ever so higher, local search visibility can spell either business norm thriving or business miss. For those small businesses looking to capture more local customers, here are the top local SEO hacks that they need to have for 2024.
1. Optimize Your Google Business Profile (GBP)
Your Google Business Profile is your golden ticket to achieving high rankings in local searches and maps. Here’s how to make the most out of it:
Fill All Fields: Ensure that you add your name, address, phone number (NAP), website, and business hours.
Post Photos and Videos: Images and videos showing off your storefront, products, and team members nurture trust.
Post Routine Updates: Keep GBP posts updated with new offerings, events, or important news to stay current.
Encourage Reviews: Ask for positive reviews from satisfied customers, and respond to them to show you’re a caring business.
Pro Tip: Use keywords in your business description and listing of services to increase your visibility for targeted searches.
2. Use Location-Based Keywords
Using location-based keywords can help improve the visibility of your business in searches by its target area.
Use location-based keywords in meta tags. Insert the location name into your title, meta description, and header tags.
Include the Name of Location in the Meta Tags: Include the project’s name or location in the title and meta description, as well as in the header tags.
Post Hyperlocal Content: Posts may include “Top Coffee Shops in [Your City]” or “Best Haircuts in [Your Neighborhood].”.
Update Copy on the Website: Make sure to put in their city, neighborhood, and recognizable landmarks on their homepage, service pages, and contact pages.
Example: Say “best bakery in Downtown Miami,” not “best bakery.”
3. Build Local Citations and Backlinks
Since citations and backlinks are relevant and critical for improving local ranking signals, do get businesses listed on trusted sites such as Yelp and Bing Places. Find other local organizations with whom to cooperate and offer sponsorship. Local events should promote back-end linking from their page.
Be Consistent: The same NAP should be exercised across various platforms to avoid confusing search engines.
4. Leverage Local Social Media
Social media can drive foot traffic and stimulate your local presence.
Geotag: Tag your posts and stories on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok with geographic locations.
Engage Local Content: Hit with comments, share, and perhaps collaborate with the other businesses or influencers present in your area.
Run Local Giveaways: Give away discounts or free products to followers who tag your business along with their location.
5. Optimize for Mobile and Voice Search
More than 60% of local searches happen on mobile via voice commands. Here’s how to prepare:
Site Speed: Use responsive design and image optimization so that your pages load faster.
Conversational Keywords: Voice search queries tend to be framed as questions (such as “Where is the nearest Italian food?”). Formatting your content in that manner ought to help.
Use FAQ Pages: Create an FAQ page with answers to commonly asked questions through voice search.
6. Create Local Landing Page
If your business operates in various locations, allocate a landing page to each of them. Include other relevant information like:
- Specific services offered in that area.
- Testimonials from customers locally.
- Directions or a map to your storefront.
- Optimize the page for local keywords as a way to ensure visibility.
7. Get involved within your community.
Google appreciates the businesses that actively participate in their community.
Sponsor Local Events: Have your name listed on event websites and press releases.
Host Workshops or Events: Drive foot traffic and get mentions in local blogs or news.
Kiwibird: Make local forums work for you by getting into public discussions across platforms such as Nextdoor or local Facebook groups.
8. Track Your Work and Iterate
Make use of analytics to understand what works and how best to improve:
Google Analytics: track website traffic and user behavior.
Google Business Insights: View how users are finding your profile and what actions they are taking.
Local Rank Tracking Tools: track local keyword rankings through tools such as BrightLocal or Whitespark.
The 2024 Local SEO Takeaway
When it comes to local SEO, it’s not enough simply to be found—you have to be the first choice. By optimizing your Google Business Profile, strategically incorporating location-based keywords, and building a strong presence in the community, your small business can move ahead and thrive in 2024 and beyond.
Start to adopt these tangible tips now and observe your local traffic swell!
Are you interested in working on optimizing local SEO strategy? Let’s connect and get your business on everyone’s lips!
