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How To Improve Your Local SEO

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Local SEO allows for search engines to display relevant information to the searcher based on their location. Today, it is easier than ever to find the search result you need relative to where you are. For businesses, optimizing for local SEO has become a vital part to showing up in search results. Often in the SEO world we hear companies ask, “Why are we not displaying as #1 for [insert product and city]?" There are multiple factors that play into how Google reads your website for each local search result. Below, we've outlined a few ways you can optimize your online presence for users located in your area.

  1. Google My Business -  When a user searches a business within Google, results are displayed containing information about that business such as the phone number, address, and photos. This is done through Google My Business. Google My Business allows you to claim and verify any automatically generated business listings for your business. Claiming your listing gives you control of the information displayed within it. If your business is new and a listing has not yet been generated you may manually add your business via Google My Business; doing so gives both Google and searchers a better understanding of your business.
     
  2. Google+ - Once you've added your business via Google My Business, you'll unlock the social functionality offered by Google+. This will allow you to interact with your users, much like Facebook. You will have the ability to post information, have clients write reviews, and optimize your business profile for local visibility and relevant keywords. If you have multiple locations, be sure to add each location via Google My Business and then utilize the Google+ page for each. Furthermore, if you find that you have duplicate listings or profiles, delete them. Duplicates will only cause for user confusion/frustration for both Google and searchers.
     
  3. On-page optimization for local SEO - There are many factors that play into optimizing your website on-page for local results. The key areas that you can insert your location are as follows:
     
    • Title Tag:  Example - “Product Name | Ames, Iowa” or “Product Name in Ames, Iowa”
    • Meta Description: Give your readers reassurance that you are,  in fact, in the area that they are looking to purchase or use a service that you offer.
    • Content: Be sure to include locations within the content of your website, but only where it makes sense to do so. Be sure you do not over use the location, as this can come off spam-like to search engines. Only mention the location on pages where it sounds the most natural, for example, on the 'About' or 'Location' pages.
    • Dedicated Location Pages: Just like with Google My Business, it is a good practice to have a dedicated location page on your website for each physical location that exists. This way you can funnel your audience to the proper page and Google directly associates your service or product to that location.

Are you needing some assistance improving your local visibility? Contact us! Our Internet Marketing Team is ready to help you spread the word about your business to your community and beyond!

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