Local SEO helps people find business locations through search engines mainly on mobile devices. If your business has several locations, it can seem difficult to follow best practices for SEO. Here are a few good rules to help you get started.
Separate Pages for Each Location
At first, this may seem counterintuitive. You might think, “Isn’t it better to include business information on one master page?” The reality is that search engines are driven by fresh, recent, and relevant content. If customers are searching for a store in their neighborhood, your site may not show up if you don’t have a page that includes the area or neighborhood its keywords. Build a link to each location and display them clearly on your main site.
Take Advantage of Google’s Business Tools
Google is still the leader in search engines because it’s friendly to both users and businesses. They provide a tool called “Google My Business” that anyone working in local SEO should utilize. Google My Business allows you to verify locations and hours, add photos, respond to reviews, and provide you with analytics.
Be Consistent with Citations
This seems like a no-brainer, but it does require some diligence. If the name of your business is “Jim’s Eastside Hardware,” you need to make sure that all search engines cite your business name correctly. Even a slight variation is enough to tank web traffic. This is especially critical if your business has changed names. If you find inconsistencies in your citations, subscribe to a tool like SEMrush to clean them up.
Monitor and Manage Reviews
Reviews pop up quickly in local SEO searches, and a bad review is a major turn-off. Always be aware of what people are saying. Follow up with customers who complain to make them feel better, and thank the ones who give you praise.
Contact Avery James for assistance with local SEO.
