3 Local SEO Tips For Small Business Websites

If you run a small business, digital marketing becomes extremely important for getting your name out there. You want to reach your target audience, keep a trustworthy image, and save money. Taking care of your local SEO (search engine optimization) is a great way to do all of this.

What exactly is local SEO?

This type of SEO focuses on ranking in search engines for local searches. The goal is for your website to show in the top results, but also for your business to show up in the map features of search engines.

As technology progresses, the way people conduct searches changes too. When people are looking for just about anything, they take to their mobile devices. Voice searches are becoming more popular than any other, so your local SEO should reflect this. For example, if you run a pizza restaurant and someone does a voice search for “pizza near me,” your goal should be to rank well.

Steps you can take to improve your local SEO

There are many things you can do to increase your local ranking in search results. Here are the steps you should do first to get started.

1. If you don’t already have a Google My Business(GMB), create one! This will be the very first thing you need to do to rank locally.
2. If you have a GMB or have just created one, your next move will be optimization. This involves making sure all of the information is complete and accurate, verifying your location(s), and adding images.
3. You will want to embed Google maps on your website. This can be done by a website professional or by making an HTTP request.
4. Pay attention to your website’s on-page SEO. Your site should provide information about products, services, and anything location-specific. Title tags, page content, images, and other factors will affect your SEO.
5. Pay attention to reviews online. If you have some, respond professionally to them, whether they are positive or negative. If you don’t have any, ask for some! You can do this by linking to review sites and social media or asking happy customers to leave a rating.
6. Build your local listings. Websites like Yelp are great for getting your name out there and collecting reviews. But, they also allow Google to see what you are all about and confirm information with other websites you appear on.

Using social media to build local SEO

Using social media for SEO purposes is different than taking the steps above. This is because staying in touch with your fans doesn’t necessarily affect your SEO on its own. Rather, when paired with a strong SEO strategy, it can enhance your search rankings.

The benefits of social media start with the presence of current and potential customers and clients. There are many social media outlets, so it doesn’t hurt to join each one you think hosts your audience. Once you have accounts set up on each of these websites, you can start reaching out to them. Your fans can work as brand advocates and you can work on building and maintaining trust.

One of the best ways to integrate social media into your SEO strategy is to write content for your website and share it. You can answer questions, elaborate on how to use your products, focus on local events, and more. Just make sure what you write about is relevant to your business and helpful to the readers. Then, you can share it across your social media accounts and get interaction and website views from people. Ultimately, this shows search engines that people value your website.

Do you need help with your website’s SEO?

Running a business can be time-consuming, so it can be helpful to work with a digital marketing company for your SEO needs. At UCI Digital, our Team knows the importance of having a strong presence across the web. We offer a variety of services including Social Media, Content & SEO, Advertising, and more. You can reach us at (806) 553-5332 or Send Us an email for more information.