By Jason Demmon, Higher Ground Digital Marketing
Why Local SEO Matters
So you’re open for business, but still not sure how to ramp up demand. You need customers searching online to actually find you—and not your competitors. When potential customers search for your products, services, or business, you should:
- Be at the top of Google results.
- Appear prominently in AI-powered search results.
- Consistently outperform competitors.
But what exactly does success look like in local SEO?
Here’s how to make sure your digital marketing and SEO efforts drive maximum success and revenue:
Get Your Website Indexed Properly
First thing first, your website needs to be indexed by Google. Consider these crucial points:
- Is your website indexed?
- Are pages rendering correctly?
- Has anyone submitted your new pages to Google?
- Do you regularly check indexing status?
Google may skip indexing your pages due to technical issues, costing you valuable organic traffic.
Recommended Image: Google Search Console indexing status page. Image Alt-text: Google-SearchConsole-indexing
Build Robust Citations and Directory Listings
Local businesses thrive on citations—also known as partner directory listings. Citations should include:
- Google Business Profile
- Bing Places
- Apple Maps
- MapQuest
Ther are other citations websites that can help visibility… the important thing is that you have a plan and are consistently building and cleaning up these citations.
Here are a few examples:
- HotFrog
- Yellowpages.com
- FourSquare
A comprehensive citation strategy ensures:
- Consistent business information.
- Correct business details.
- Attractive images.
Social media also counts here. Keep building citations continuously.
Recommended Image: Screenshot of a Google Business Profile dashboard. Image Alt-text: Google-BusinessProfile-listings
Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Your Google Business Profile needs consistent updates, including:
- Regularly posting new images.
- A clear, appealing logo.
- Defined products and services.
- Prompt responses to customer reviews.
A solid review strategy significantly boosts leads:
- Actively seek reviews through a structured review program.
- Encourage reviews across Google, Facebook, Yelp, and other platforms.
- Use an NPS scoring system for enterprise businesses to motivate local teams.
Don’t worry about occasional negative reviews. Great review volume outweighs a few negatives.
Recommended Image: Screenshot of Google Reviews on a Google Business Profile. Image Alt-text: local-reviews-Google
Strengthen Local Partnerships
Make sure you’re listed with:
- Local chambers of commerce.
- Community organizations.
- Local clubs.
Local affiliations enhance your credibility and visibility.
Create Engaging Website Content
Your website content must:
- Clearly articulate your offerings.
- Include blog posts, product pages, and helpful resources.
- Support customer decision-making.
Regularly publish foundational content—this establishes authority and keeps your audience engaged.
Recommended Image: Screenshot of an engaging blog post from a competitor’s website. Image Alt-text: local-SEO-content
Generate Local Demand
Actively promote your business locally through:
- Billboards
- Flyers
- Local sponsorships (e.g., bar coasters)
- Networking events
- Direct mail
- TV and radio ads
These activities increase brand awareness and drive online searches for your business.
Dominate Branded Searches
Ensure that when people search for your brand, you completely own the top results. If your company is “ABC Cleaners,” your website must dominate “ABC Cleaners” searches.
Recommended Image: Screenshot of a branded search result dominating Google. Image Alt-text: branded-search-results
Utilize Customer Insights and Personas
Engage customers directly to uncover their needs:
- Conduct regular surveys.
- Ask what they genuinely want from your business.
- Create detailed customer personas.
Customer insights refine your marketing messages, driving higher conversion rates.
Choose Keywords Strategically
Your SEO and paid ad strategies should target transactional keywords:
- Avoid overly broad, informational keywords like “depression” or “agoraphobia.”
- Focus on commercial-intent keywords such as “depression help near me” or “agoraphobia doctor.”
Informational queries are often dominated by AI and authoritative websites. Prioritize keywords that lead directly to transactions.
Recommended Image: Screenshot of keyword planner results emphasizing transactional keywords. Image Alt-text: SEO-keyword-strategy
Measure Success Clearly
SEO success means:
- Capturing a significant share of your market.
- Ranking highly for relevant industry terms.
- Clear visibility metrics from your SEO partner.
If your current SEO provider isn’t delivering clarity on how these efforts boost your visibility and revenue, consider finding a new SEO partner.
Next Steps
Ready to level up your local SEO?
- Visit: highergrounddigital.com
- DM me directly.
- Subscribe to our newsletter.
Higher visibility means more customers. Don’t leave money on the table for your competitors.