What is Local SEO?

If you own a website, you may have heard of search engine optimization, or SEO. (If you haven’t, make sure to check out our article covering it!)

To summarize quickly, SEO is the process of improving your website’s content so that search engines (like Google) will show your website as one of the top results when web users search for certain keywords.

Local SEO is a more specific type of optimization‒namely, it’s a strategy to be more visible in web searches that are local to your business’ location.

For example, if you own a local, hometown diner, you want your business to pop up first when someone in your town googles “restaurants near me.”

Why Do I Need It?

Local SEO allows you to reach your company’s target audience in your geographical area. It enables your business to land on the first page of Google search results rather than being buried in the depths of the internet.

Ranking high in search results can drive online traffic to your website and encourage local customers to do business with your company.

How Do I Utilize It?

There are all kinds of strategies to make sure your company’s website is properly optimized for local SEO. Below, we’ve included a few to help get you started.

1. Use Local Keywords

Incorporating specific keywords into the content of your website can help change your ranking in search engine results. 

Google has a useful online tool called Keyword Planner that lets you see what keywords are trending in your geographical area. This can give you ideas for what words and phrases to include in your website’s copy.

Additionally, it’s important to work in words that describe your company’s location. For example, if your business is located in Nashville, TN, including phrases like “downtown Nashville” or “located on the Cumberland river” can benefit your local SEO.

2. Make Your Site Mobile Friendly

Give web users a taste of your church’s Sunday morning. No one wants to attend a church where they don’t like the pastor’s preaching style. Including previous sermons on your website allows them a sneak peak of the types and styles of sermons your church has.

Sermon recordings are also great for current members who simply missed a Sunday. Whether your members accidentally slept in, are sick, or are out of town, they’ll be able to catch up.

3. Create a Google Business Page

A Google Business profile is the handy tool that appears on the side of search engines when someone looks up your company. It can display your location, hours of operation, contact information, reviews, and much more.

Simply create an account and verify that you own your business. From there, you can start personalizing your company’s profile. It’s guaranteed to attract more local clients and increase activity for your website.

4. Get Local Reviews

Reviews can benefit your business in more than just one way. Positive local reviews can improve your search engine rankings and make your site appear higher than your competitors.

Good reviews show that your business is trustworthy and likable. This can encourage local web users who view your site to take the jump and start doing business with your company.
 

To Review

Optimizing your local SEO is essential to ensuring your website stays at the top of any and all search results made by potential local customers. 

Strategies like optimizing your website’s content, making it mobile friendly, and utilizing helpful Google tools can ensure your company stays relevant in your geographical area.

We’re Here For You

Tackling local search engine optimization can be a big job, especially when you don’t have the time or experience to handle it yourself.

Luckily, here at Lemmtec, our team is ready and willing to take your website to the next level. Check out our SEO services, shoot us an email, and let us know how we can help!