It’s a very competitive online market for small businesses. That’s why small businesses are finding new ways to use the power of local SEO to stay ahead of the competition. Customizing strategies to target a specific geographic area is one of the keys to winning in your community.

In this blog, we will talk about 10 practical and effective local SEO tactics that can bring your small business online presence to a higher level.

1. Clean and optimize your Google Business Profile (GBP) listing

Google My Business—now called Google Business Profile listing is the online source for local visibility. Make sure your business is claimed and all information, including contact details, business hours, and categories, is accurate. It is a good best practice to update your listing with engaging content, such as posts and photos.

2. Local keyword optimization

Sprinkle local keywords naturally into your website’s content, meta tags, and headers. Think about what your target audience is likely to search for in your specific geographic area. This helps in local searches but also establishes relevance.

3. Online reviews are important

Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on platforms such as Google, Yelp, and other relevant review sites.  Respond promptly and professionally to both positive and negative reviews. Positive reviews can significantly impact your local search rankings.

4. Local citations

Consistency is important when it comes to local citations. Your business name, address, and phone number should be consistent across all online platforms, directories, and social media profiles. The consistency builds trust with search engines and local consumers.

5. Develop local content

Create content that resonates with your local audience. This could include blog posts, articles, or even videos that highlight local events, news, or customer success stories. Content that’s localized strengthens your connection with the community.

6. Mobile optimization

Given that most people often search through their mobile device, optimizing your website for mobile is very important. Google prioritizes mobile-friendly websites in local search results. A seamless mobile experience enhances user satisfaction and can positively impact your local rankings.

7. Build local backlinks

Establish a network of local backlinks by partnering with other businesses, sponsoring local events, or participating in community projects. Quality local backlinks enhance your authority in local search results.

8. Use social media

Make sure to keep your audience engaged on social media platforms. Share updates about your business, participate in local conversations, and use location-based hashtags. Social media signals contribute to your local search rankings.

9. Apply local schema markup

You can enhance your website’s visibility by applying local schema markup. This structured data helps search engines understand your content better and may result in rich snippets in search results, providing more information to users and increasing click-through rates.

10. Monitor and adapt

You should regularly monitor your local SEO performance using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console. This helps you analyze the effectiveness of your strategies, stay informed about local search trends, and adapt your approach accordingly.

By incorporating these 10 local SEO strategies, your small business can excel in targeting a specific geographic area. The goal is to establish meaningful and lasting relationships with your local audience.

Marquee Project provides businesses with digital marketing consulting services, which include SEO support. We conduct a thorough analysis of the client’s current site and plan what needs to be done to optimize the website to gain more online visibility.  Throughout the entire process, we are in constant communication with our clients to ensure our efforts align with their overall goals.