Why Ranking Locally Is Key To Your Organic Success
Table of Contents
- What Is Local SEO?
- Why Local SEO Is Important
- How Do You Optimize a Website for Local SEO?
- Find the Right Local SEO Agency to Grow Your Business
Why Ranking Locally Is Key To Your Organic Success
With each search query, Google and other search engines try to understand the searcher’s intent to provide the best possible results. For instance, when someone searches for a mechanic, search engines understand that the searcher is most likely looking to find a mechanic near them. As a result, local results are triggered.
In most cases, these are high-intent searches and the searchers themselves are ready to transact with the businesses that appear within the search results—which makes it crucial to be sure your business is at the top of these results. In this article, we’ll outline exactly what local SEO is, why it’s important, and how you can optimize your site for local SEO.
What Is Local SEO?
Local SEO involves strategically building and improving your website to appear when local search results are triggered. To rank locally, you need to optimize specific aspects of your website and Google Business Profile so search engines understand what your business offers and when it should appear in search results or within the local pack.
The local pack is another important aspect of local search. When Google recognizes a search as having a local component, it often places the local pack in search results. The local pack includes an embedded map and in most cases, three businesses along with information about each business, such as reviews, hours of operation, and contact information.
Why Local SEO Is Important
For businesses providing local services or products, local SEO is crucial for generating business through organic search. For instance, let’s say you operate an integrative clinic in Detroit, Michigan. When someone located within 15 to 20 miles of your business searches for an integrative clinic nearby, search engines will show integrative clinics in their area—and if your site is optimized for local results, your business will likely appear.
In that example, the person that searches for an integrative clinic nearby is ready to find a clinic and go to it, which means they have high intent. Your business appearing in local search results can lead to more high-intent searchers finding your product or service, which can then lead to revenue.
How Do You Optimize a Website for Local SEO?
To optimize your business for local SEO, you’ll need to optimize both your Google Business Profile and your website. Google Business Profile optimization can be a straightforward process of filling out your profile and ensuring it’s as complete and accurate as possible, as this helps Google understand when to place your business in the local pack.
Optimizing your website for local SEO can be less straightforward, as you’ll need to optimize the technical, on-page, and off-page components of your site. This can involve conducting SEO audits and keyword research with a focus on local search results and local competitors.
As AI Overviews and other generative AI search results become more common, LLM optimization is becoming more important to ensure your business appears for the right search results. This makes off-page optimization crucial to your business’s visibility, which can include citations within Yelp, affiliate websites, or industry directories.
Find the Right Local SEO Agency to Grow Your Business
Getting local SEO right can be critical to ensuring potential customers find your business. At Higher Ground Digital Marketing, we have the experience and knowledge to ensure your business appears in local search results.
Contact us today to see how we can help you grow your business.
By Jason Demmon
Founder, Higher Ground Digital Marketing