5 top tips to rank in local search
Dear Jennifer,
New business owner here! I just opened a local shop in a quaint but growing town near Orlando with lots of beautiful lakes and rolling hills. I’m happy to be here, don’t get me wrong, but while it’s a smaller community, I’m still struggling to rank for my key products and services, especially in that Google ‘local pack’. I can appreciate a little competition but I’m on page 2 and you know no one is seeing me there. What’s a newbie to do? If you could give me 3-5 top tips to rank in the local search results, I’d be indebted.
Fondly,
Struggling newbie
Dear Struggling Newbie,
You had my heart at your reference to a ‘quaint but growing town’ near Orlando! Sounds a lot like where Digital Sergeant is located in Clermont, FL! Welcome, if that’s the case.
I hear you when it comes to landing a brand new business on Google. It’s a whole new territory and you feel a little uneasy. Totally understandable. While SEO is extremely complex, there are a handful of tips I can give you to make your entry into this local ecosystem a little easier. Let’s take it slow…
Google Business Profile is essentially the most critical part of your local SEO strategy. This tool allows you to create free business listings. And according to various sources and Digital Sargeant (because we’re in the trenches every day), it’s one of the top factors that Google will consider when ranking businesses in organic local search results.
Create a mobile-friendly website so mobile visitors have zero trouble navigating it or finding the information they need. A fascinating study found that 82% of respondents had used their mobile devices to conduct a “near me” search. Need I say more? Mobile phones are buzzing with popularity!
Pro tip: Don’t forget to add click-to-call buttons on your site.
Earn those reviews and keep earning ‘em! According to Moz & y’all know we love us some Moz…they said review signals play a critical role in your local searches. So that tells me that having plenty of positive, genuine reviews is gonna do wonders when boosting your online visibility. Plus, I’ve seen it with my own two eyes! I’ve been at this for over 10 years.
Those are some standout tips that come to mind. And newbie, don’t hesitate to reach out to Digital Sargeant. We know a thing or two about SEO and quaint towns (big towns too)!
Best,
Jennifer Sargeant
Digital Sargeant