It is no secret that local SEO has gradually become one of the biggest buzzwords in the world of digital marketing. In fact, studies have found that nearly 50% of all Google searches are local. With more and more businesses starting to recognize the importance of adapting to these searches, the competition for top ranking intensifies.
SEO changes by the hour, and there are very few guarantees you will be as high up in SERP tomorrow as you were today. Fortunately, there are a number of key factors that can help you keep and build on your online presence. Here are three you should keep in mind.
I. The Future Is in Voice Search
Unless you have been living under a rock, you will know how increasingly popular voice search is becoming. Voice search combines advancements in virtual assistants, voice activated home devices, and, of course, mobile technology. It is estimated that by 2020, nearly half of all searches will be done via voice queries.
This rising trend carries a number of takeaways. There will be a greater emphasis on long-tail keywords and hyperlocal searches. But, how will voice search look like?
For example, let’s say you run an electronics repair store in Denver, Colorado. If someone needs your service because their coffee maker broke down, a text query would look something like “coffee maker repair Denver”. On the other hand, a voice query might look like “Where can I get my coffee maker fixed in the LoDo neighborhood?” Having this information, you can build customer profiles based on the questions they ask so you can deliver more accurate content.
II. Local Searches, Local Keywords
While increased competition may be a downside in doing business today, having access to so many information resources is certainly something our ancestors would envy us for. The Internet gives people a voice that can be heard, and if that voice comes from a current or prospective client of yours, you can harness this information and use it in your favor. Monitoring relevant online conversations and interactions around local keywords is a crucial factor to consider in your local SEO strategy. It will help you understand how people interact with your brand and content online. That way, you can identify issues, get some insight into consumer behavior, and spot rising trends.
In other words, monitoring social interactions and reviews enables you to pinpoint the local keywords and topics creating the biggest buzz in your business/industry. You can then take this knowledge and craft your content in accordance with these local keywords.
III. Consistent Reviews
Everyone knows how powerful reviews are when it comes to people’s purchasing decisions. It may not seem fair, but it is true that prospective clients base their decisions on these bits of biased information. Unsurprisingly, search engines factor local reviews into your rankings. As their primary goal is to place the best possible content for users to see, by now you should know user-generated content, a.k.a. local reviews, hold a lot of weight in local searches. A higher number of positive reviews adds to your credibility as a business, while negative ones do the opposite.
As you can see, the world of SEO has a lot to give to your business. If done poorly, however, it has the power to take a lot as well. If you want to be in the group of businesses that only reap the benefits, consider hiring an SEO company. Our team at 411 Locals will gladly take over the management of your online presence for you. Stay tuned for our next topic!