A detailed guide for local SEO in 2022

1. Add updated and consistent name, address, and phone number on the internet

You need to make it easy for people and search engines to find you effortlessly; for this, you need to set a NAP.

What does NAP mean in local SEO?

NAP (the name, address, and phone number of a business). Your NAP should be a crawlable HTML text for your website for Google search spiders to display it better as per the location-based searches.

Image Source :hubspot

Here is an additional tip for you, avoid the usual mistake of including the NAP in an image; it is a disaster and a waste. Search spiders cannot crawl the image text.

The most common place for NAP details is at the header or the footer of the website. Also, you must add NAP details on the “Contact Us” page, too.

2. Remember to optimize your Google My Business.

Google My Business has become a dominant trait in local search. As Google supports, verifies, and shares its data big-heartedly, Google My Business is the best tool for optimizing local SEO.

To make sure you are optimized for Google My Business, you will need to follow these steps:

1. Start and verify your Google My Business page.

2. Use Google Posts in your account.

3. Appeal to your customers to share their reviews online.

4. An authentic response to these reviews are necessary, which is a specified location. For instance, “We appreciate your response on [product/service] in [city, state]. We value your input and look forward to working with you again. Thank you from the [full companyname] team.”

If Google verifies your business, the search engine can easily reward your business with a coveted sidebar space in Google's local search.

Image Source :hubspot

However, do not do this for SEO only. If you are having reviews and keeping all your business information up to date, you are increasing the chances of potential customers searching you on Google. Getting relevant and latest information is essential to customers now, more than ever. It all began when the pandemic stopped the world and shopping went digital.

3. Optimize online directories and citations.

Below given four map data aggregators provides map details to Apple, Yelp, Bing, Google, Trip Advisor, etc:

• Express Update

• Neustar Localeze

• Foursquare

• Factual

Therefore, consistency is the key, make sure to verify the citations are consistent and complete on all the data aggregators.

Inconsistencies like misspellings, abbreviations, lack of suite number, or wrong phone number can create unnecessary problems.

If Google cannot determine, which information regarding your business is relevant, it may not show your website on the search pages.

Make sure to eliminate all the duplicate listings you find in online directories. While doing this, get membership of the Chamber of Commerce in your community to gain an external inbound link that is specific to your location.

4. Be active on social media and add posts to GMB

According to Google, content that is shared on social media is more important.

So, after the completion of the Google my business page, share it on social media for aligning the social and Google searches.

5. Perform a local SEO audit.

Once you are done with important tips, we know now you want to put a brake on this process. However, SEO is an ongoing and volatile process. Instead of stopping there or simply making some changes and seeing what works consistently, it helps for performing a complete audit to study where your website and products stand and what goals you need to work on. A local SEO audit should include:

• Google My Business Audit - How does your Google My Business appear in SERPs? Is the information accurate?

• Google Console Audit - Is your website easily crawlable? Does it hold any errors that would damage the indexing?

• On-Page SEO Audit - Does your site have all the on-page SEO elements to boost ranking?

• Citation Audit - Are all of your citations correct in the ranked business directories?

• Competitor Analysis – Is your website matching with your competitors? Does your website have any gaps that you need to fill in? How do you match up in terms of inbound links, content, design, and ranking?

• Website Audit – How good a website is ranking on search engines?

6. Optimize URL, headers, meta description, title tags, and content

When discussing your content, your new blog post is your new indexed page for your website. It is a new page, which targets a geographic search, and a new chance to get found in SERPs.

Every time you create a unique piece of content, you need to optimize the content, as per the search engines by adding high-volume keywords in the URL, title, header, Meta description, and body. If you are facing trouble ranking up with geo-targeted content, try highlighting customer success stories and case studies.

The higher specifications you add to these assets, especially for every location of your business, the better you will optimize your local SEO search.

7. Improvise your internal linking structure.

However, external links that point to your website are ideal; modifying your internal linking structure will surely boost your SEO rankings.

Why is internal linking essential? It helps to:

• Support website navigation

• Assist with information architecture, including website hierarchy

• Allocate page management and ranking power among pages

If you are working to change your internal linking structure but are not sure how and where to start, you can use Kissmetrics' The Seven Commandments of Internal Linking for Top-Notch SEO.

8. Add location pages to your website.

If you have more locations, create location pages. Location pages offer more information regarding your business such as promotions, and reviews from happy consumers.

You must avoid duplicating content across several location pages. For single-location businesses, generate a local description like about us. You can even attain brownie points if you add a Google map to your website on your respective location page(s).

9. Create local content.

Day by day Google is reaching new heights of being smarter. Content creators can create content based on customer perspective users and less to conciliate search engines. When writing about general topics, it will attract a huge range of crowds; sometimes it is essential to focus and write about your business to attract new customers.

Be the local authority for promoting industry gatherings, news, employees, and other educational content on your blog. Always think of out-of-the-box ideas for content that goes beyond what your business has to sell.

For instance, if you are a local security company that is new to the location, generate a helpful resource for these businesses well-acquainted with your city. A map of local service providers or a calendar city-wide could generate high levels of local SEO signals.

10. Get inbound links with authority and better relevancy

Inbound links hold high potential to increase traffic with SEO — every inbound link will tell Google you are a legitimate company, and inbound links will also increase your domain authority. Here are a few ways to generate inbound links:

• Sponsorships or Partnerships

• Guest Blog Posting

• Scholarships

Began with your network and include the Chamber of Commerce, business improvement districts, licensing bureaus, trade associations, resellers, vendors, manufacturers, and other affiliates.

Also, try to arrange a webinar or meet-up, host a community event, promote something local that you like, and build relationships with professional influencers. In addition, try to become comfortable reaching the partners to see if they can feature you in the partner directory.

In addition, guest blogging can attract lots of links. Positively communicate with other people in your industry, and act as a resource for the community. If you are an active participant in community communications, the increasing buzz generates more inbound links, social media growth, and media coverage.

11. Your website must be mobile-friendly.

Local and mobile searches are closely connected. Around 61% of all Google searches are carried on mobile.

Some of the most common ways people will use your website in a mobile environment are to check your customer reviews, directions to your office, and search for contact information. In fact, "near me" searches have boosted by 250% since 2017.

Therefore, increase your business more mobile-friendly to increase your SEO traffic.

12. Participate in your local community.

The higher the participation in the local community, the more digital PR you will receive. Partnering with a non-profit on a campaign, arranging a volunteer day in your organization, sponsoring an event, or appearing in the local media as an authority in your industry are good ways to gain press, brand awareness, and inbound links.

For instance, .edu links are the bee's knees for domain authority, earn such links by featuring a scholarship in your geographic area. However, it must be relevant for your industry, send the right signals to your domain and make you feel good!