In the online world, excellent visibility and reach are akin to having a giant neon sign for your business in the real world. A strong SEO and online marketing strategy can help your business obtain a highly visible position while ushering relevant audiences in your direction.
However, optimizing your local search strategy and increasing your reach in your neighborhood can feel like a daunting process. But with the right tools and tricks up your sleeve, any business can attract a healthy stream of consumers while elevating its position on the digital ladder to success.
Here, we’ll highlight the value of local reach for SME businesses and provide a selection of industry-approved tips for amplifying it in simple, easy, and accessible ways.
Let’s jump in!
What Is Local Reach, And What Makes It So Valuable?
Let’s start with a definition.
Local search optimization is a marketing strategy that involves targeting customers from a specific geographical area.
At face value, the idea of local reach might seem only applicable to brick-and-mortar stores. While it’s true that in-person shopping has a great need for local appeal, online stores have just as much to benefit from this particular marketing strategy. In fact, here’s a brief list:
- Faster market penetration
- Higher client acquisition
- Improved customer loyalty
- Enhanced competitive edge
Utilizing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) to amplify your search engine rankings and gain the attention of consumers in your local area can put you on the map. It’ll show consumers that you’re a competitive business and help you break into your industry more effectively.
1. Research, research, research
An enormous part of local search optimization involves simple, thorough research. SEO only works when you have accurate, relevant sources of information. This information must cover the behaviors that your audience is exhibiting and the keyphrases they’re searching for—something that tends to change and evolve over time.
Performing deep, consistent research on who your local audience is and what kind of listings, product keywords, and phrases they are searching for can provide you with a very clear idea of how to optimize your site. The better you know your local audience, the easier it is to accommodate their needs.
2. Include the right keywords
Keywords are the lifeblood of any SEO strategy, local or not. So, let’s shine a spotlight on them for a moment. Keywords are specific words and sentences that consumers enter into search engines like Google, which will then provide listings based on the relevance and volume of those exact keywords.
The more popular a keyword is, the more important it is that your site include it in its web copy, blog posts, and any written text that might be on your website.