Local Search
Your competitors have a big advantage over you if you have not set up your local online presence. There are a few must do's that are required including claiming and setting up your Google My Business profile, getting listed on the major business directories, setting up your Bing account and getting your business on Apple maps.
Google is the number one search engine and it appears that is going to be the way for a while yet. So it is crucial to get your small business set up correctly on Google. Currently Google has Google My Business which feeds of points of interest that are shown on Google maps. This service is completely free and is the first step to getting your business online.
You will see the benefits of setting up a Google My Business account very quickly and these benefits include an increase in traffic and sales, your business showing up in Google Map searches, you location made available to potential customers and the possibility of being included in Googles Local 3-pack.
Google also offers a free web-site that you can set up in minutes. It uses your business profile to create a professional looking site with contact and quote details. It is good for a simple short term website however doesn't offer anything like the control and professionalism of a dedicated, business domain name related website or blog.
Google will highlight three local business listings for a search query in what they call a Local Pack. The Local Pack will appear in the search results below any paid advertising for a search term and before the organic search results. The local pack listings are taken from the Google My Business Directory. It goes without saying that it would be an enormous benefit to get your business displayed in the local pack. A well optimised, accurate and consistent Google My Business listing will go a long way to get your business in the local pack. The Local Pack also includes a map of the relevant search area based on the search query and a link to More Places which displays the complete list of relevant local businesses.
Once you have set up and optimised your business listing Google will provide you with information that will allow you to refine and optimise your Google My Business listing going forward. You can access this information from the Insights tab of your Google My Business dashboard. You will need to maintain your listing to ensure accuracy, post updates for your customers and make sure people are aware of sales and specials by posting to your account regularly.
Bing
You start by claiming your business, completing your listing profile and verifying your listing. If you already have a Google My Business account you can import the details directly into Bing and skip the verification process. Your listing profile includes photos of your business & services, hours of operation, services offered and the various ways customers can reach your business.
Bing offers a set of results similar to Googles local pack, where five listings are displayed along with a map. Each listing has a website link, a Facebook page link and a directions link along with an address, phone number and opening hours. The local results display below paid ads and above the organic search results. There is a 'see more results' button below the five listings which links to a larger map with a full list of results.
You need to have your business listed in Bing Places for Business to be displayed in the Bing local results. Note that while listing with Bing is worthwhile it only commands around 4% of the search market compared to Googles 95% in Australia, so most of your effort needs to go into your Google listing.
Apple
To set your business up on Apple maps you'll need to set up an Apple id and password. You can then use Apple Maps Connect to add a new business page with your business details. Apple will call the number you supply to verify your business. Apple id's can be created throug the App Store for mobiles and iPads and through iTunes on PC's and laptops. To set up Apple Maps Connect you can follow this link: mapsconnect.apple.com.
Apple Maps Connect doesn't have associated business photos or customer reviews. They get these from other sources like Yelp and Tripadvisor.
local search tasks
setup
The starting point is your web site setup and optimised. A GMB account needs to be set up correctly and is probably the most important step you need to complete for local search. A Bing Places for Business account should also be created as well as setting up an Apple Maps listing. Search directories also play an important role in your setup - you should list your site with as many directories as possible. Ensure you are listed with Yellow Online, True Local and Yelp as a minimum.
local search terms
Local search terms are keywords that focus on your location as well as the services and products you offer. These keywords help drive people in your area to your business. Some research needs to be done to determine the best keywords to use to attract local customers to your business. You shouldn't restrict yourself to a single location but you also shouldn't cast your net too wide. Competitor research can help as well as Google's Keyword Planner.
local content
Producing content is an effective way to rank for local keywords. To supplement the setup process and keywords you need to include local content to perform better in your search results. If you have multiple locations or want your business to attract customers across multiple locations (e.g. different suburbs), a different web page for each location allows you to concentrate specific location keywords on each page. Content could take the form of local promotions, news and industry trends, depending on your industry.
local SEO
Many local SEO tasks are the same as general SEO tasks so if you have your website optimised you are well on your way. An important part in this process is your NAP (name, address, phone). It needs to be displayed consistently across all accounts and directories as well as on every page of your website. Look at creating individual location web pages on your site so you can target location-based local keywords to each page. Look at creating a number of blog pages with local content.
manage reviews
Part of the process of having your local business on Google is that people can write reviews about your product or service. There are also a number of review sites including the main local directories and sites like Product Review. You need to be across all of your reviews and if you have time, respond to as many as you can, especially the negative ones. There are review management companies available that can help generate reviews and possibly negate bad reviews with a volume of good reviews.
track your results
Google Analytics will provide you with nearly all the information you need to track your SEO results. It will show your search traffic, time on page, bounce rate and many more metrics. It will show where your traffic is coming from, the device types used, page speed, and how visitors interact with your site, from entry to exit. Other metrics that you need to track are your keyword rankings, number of backlinks, your main competitors' traffic and your social media and advertising campaigns.
Get started today
complete our request form or ring us on 0493 106 323