Get Seen Online by Local Shoppers
What is Local SEO?
SEO (search engine optimisation) is a technique used to improve the visibility of your website in search engine results pages. SEO, often called organic SEO, optimises a website to rank high for popular search terms instead of paying for promotional ads.
In Local SEO, however, rankings are heavily influenced by the geographical location of the searcher, with results listing local suppliers nearby, in your suburb, town, or city.
A website optimised for Local SEO gets seen by more shoppers looking for a local supplier.
Why is Local SEO important?
A Local SEO strategy will enable a business to promote their products or services to people nearby at the time they are looking to buy them. Google displays local search results near the top of the search engine results page, above websites listings, so searchers will see local search results first, along with a convenient map showing the location of the business.
Being seen online is easier with Local SEO
Competition to rank in local search results is lower than competing for popular search terms across a wider region, so it’s easier for your business to be seen in local search results. We ensure our websites include location-specific information which helps improve visibility of the business to searchers looking for a local supplier.
Local SEO results happen quicker
Improving visibility in local search results generally happens faster than for an equivalent investment in organic SEO. On average, it takes 4.76 months to see a positive return on investment from Local SEO (source). By comparison, it can take 12 months, or more, before better rankings appear with an organic SEO strategy.
Local SEO is really important for small businesses. Call John if you want to implement a Local SEO strategy for your business.
Local SEO Christchurch
A Google search for “electrician christchurch” will produce a result showing a Google 3-Pack (3 electrical services businesses) and a map showing their locations.
A more refined search, for “electrician riccarton”, lists different electricians only in the Riccarton area.
Being listed in these localised search results can attract more buyers who are looking to purchase from a local supplier.
As you see from the examples above, a Local SEO strategy can target to a few suburbs or an entire city. Depending on your needs, we can implement a Local SEO strategy for your business. Call John to learn more about our local SEO services for Christchurch businesses.
What's involved in a Local SEO strategy?
An effective Local SEO strategy includes the following elements:
- Google Business Profile (previously called Google My Business)
- Localised content information on the website
- Consistent listings across local online directories
1. Google Business Profile
A Google Business Profile is a powerful tool that small businesses can use to increase their visibility in Google, and build credibility from customer reviews.
During 2022 in New Zealand, almost 99% of searches on mobile devices were done using Google (source) but, to be listed in the local search results, a business must have a Google Business Profile .
A Google Business Profile, like this one for Laser Electrical Riccarton, displays a range of information including reviews, photographs, business address, business hours, phone number and website address.
Although free to create, 56% of businesses do not have a Google Business Profile (source). These businesses will not appear in Google’s local search results and won’t be seen by people searching for a local supplier. We can fix that.
Don’t miss out. Contact John if you want a Google Business Profile for your business.
2. Adding Localised Content to the website
Some additional improvements we make to optimise a website for local searches include adding;
- specific local keywords into web pages
- local information to existing articles
- adding local tags to images
- a geographic service area
3. Consistent listings information across local online directories
One factor that influences success in local search results is prominence which relates to how well known a business is, online. Google gathers information about businesses from a wide variety of sources across the web, including mentions in directories, articles and links. We help businesses improve their prominence to improve rankings in Local search results.
We ensure that the name, address and phone number (NAP) information is accurate and consistent across all online directories. Doing so means that Google associates all those directory listings with the business, giving it more prominence. It’s important that it’s totally consistent across all listings, otherwise Google will interpret slight differences as being a different business, resulting in reduced prominence. We also help by creating additional directory listings for businesses.
As more and more people use mobile devices to find local suppliers, having a Local SEO strategy becomes increasingly important. If don’t have a Local SEO strategy in place, get in touch immediately. We’ll set you up so you get seen online by nearby shoppers looking for a local supplier.