The concept of local SEO revolves around getting the highest search rankings for your business or website for a localized area. This is extremely important for users that are searching a local area by using a keyword or searching based on their location data.
Getting your website or business to rank on the first page of search engines starts with covering some simple basics to get more information about you on the internet and available to search engines. Of course your website already has great content about your business and serviceable locations. However putting that information on more websites will reinforce the value and popularity of the content.
Citations
A citation, as it relates to SEO, is a reference to your business name, address and phone number (NAP). Most citations also include website link, descriptions or even images that get submitted to search engines. Citations should only be used for physical locations of the business.
To start, creating profiles for your business on websites like Google My Business, Yellow Pages, Canada411 Business or Yelp and filling them with information about your business, builds the popularity of the content. Having a Google My Business page is especially crucial and is something we set up for each of our clients because Google feeds the information into search results, making it easier for users and potential customers to find you or contact you.
Positive Reviews
Reviews are great indicators for users to get a better understanding of your company’s history and essentially how you have helped others. For local SEO reviews have become a major ranking factor that can boost your website’s search rankings. Of course we are talking about positive reviews. Negative reviews will still be shown and can lead users to quickly dismiss your website. So getting your customers to leave you positive reviews on your Facebook or Google My Business page is an easy way to increase your website’s SEO.
Website Content
The content on your website should include the local keyword you want to rank for. Having the keyword in a heading and paragraph, or a few paragraphs, will help concentrate the keyword density to associate the locale with your website’s topic.