What Local SEO Is, How It Works, And How It Can Help You

What Local SEO Is, How It Works, And How It Can Help You

76% of consumers searching for local information on their mobile phones visit stores that day (Google).

So it’s clear that local SEO services are a big part of his SEO world. And the more you can show local businesses before these searches, the more likely they are to walk through your door minutes later.

How Does Local SEO Work?

SEO works like a “regular” Google search.  When someone searches, Google searches its index to provide the best results for that person’s query.  Local SEO is unique in that Google uses a different set of ranking factors to rank local search results.

Local SEO has many unique ranking signals, including:

  • where people are searching
  • NAP citation
  • Presence of a Google My Business listing
  • Keywords used in Google My Business Profile
  • Online review impressions
  • Keywords used in online reviews
  • Number of check-ins at this location
  • social media sharing
  • Google Maps star rating for this business

Google Local Package

Over the past decade, it has become increasingly important for a local business owner to build and expand his presence online. This is mainly because increasing brand awareness online can lead to a rapid increase in sales in the offline world.

One of the best ways for your business to gain exposure and stand out from the competition is to rank in the Google Local Pack.

What Is A Google Local Pack? 

Local packs appear at the top of search engine results pages (SERPs) when a user performs a search query with local intent. Also known as the Local 3-pack, the Google 3-pack, and the Google Maps pack.

How Does Google Recognize Local Searches?

Google recognizes that users are conducting local intent searches in the following ways:

  1. The user inserts the name of the desired region in his search terms. For example: “A hair salon in Michigan”.
  2. Users include “nearby” in their search queries. For example, “Beauty salon near me”. Google uses GPS tracking to know exactly where you are searching from.
  3. The user enters a search query without additional information. B. “Hair Salon”. Google assumes that this person is likely looking for a hair salon to go to, and uses your location to determine the most relevant results.

How Do I Improve My Google Maps Pack Ranking?

To improve your Google Maps pack ranking, you first need to create a Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business).

Once you have your Google Business Profile (GBP), you need to optimize it with the right information. This includes filling out all relevant sections and including a photo of your business.

When determining which GBP results to return for a search query, Google primarily considers:

Awareness – how popular your business is

Relevance – how well your business matches your search query

The algorithm also prioritizes listings that maintain accurate, up-to-date details or contain useful information about your business.

The majority of consumers look beyond the first page of search results, so your business must rank well for a variety of search terms. Once your listing has been submitted and optimized, local map SEO is the next step in increasing your online visibility.

Keywords For Local SEO

Luckily, local SEO keyword research is a one-time process. Unlike blogging, you usually don’t need to constantly find new keywords.

This does not mean that keywords are not important for local searches. they are. But most of the time, the first thing you need is a short list of keywords people are using to find local businesses.

Local keywords are keywords that contain location-specific phrases that produce results related to the same geographic location. These keywords play an important role in driving people in your area to your business and optimizing your local search engine optimization (SEO) strategy.

In general, for local searches, you should use phrases like Los Angeles

  • [industry/product/service]
  • [Industry/Product/Service] Los Angeles
  • Los Angeles [Industry/product/service]
  • The best [industry/product/service] in Los Angeles

So, if you’re a bakery in LA, these keywords might look like this:

  • Bakery in Los Angeles
  • Cakes in Los Angeles
  • Planning a Party in Los Angeles
  • Best bakery in Los Angeles

By doing local SEO keyword research, your business will appear in geo-aligned search results and more local leads will find your business.

Conclusion

If you’re looking to get some of the help of the best Local SEO Company in town, you can count on SI Global to have your back. SI Global has been providing top-notch service to its customers, ensuring they maintain their rank on google SERPs and get the business they want.

For more information, contact us via our mail at info@sigbl.com

Also Read: What International SEO Is And How It Can Benefit Your Business