If you operate a local business, you must be accessible via local search. After all, a lot of customers use Google to locate nearby companies or services. Hence, being in a local search result is essential for visibility, development, and continued relevance, regardless of the type of business you run, WordPress SEO tips will help your—restaurant, retail store, spa, dog sitting service, or any other that relies on local traffic.
You’re passing on a great chance for new clients to find you, if all you do to attract business is relied on word-of-mouth, billboards, radio spots, television commercials, or drive-bys.
Not only can local SEO increase your internet presence, but It also lowers your marketing budget, fosters trust, and draws more customers into your business.
We’ll provide you with the best WordPress local SEO tips in this post to help local clients find your website.
What do you understand by the term Local SEO?
Local search engine optimization (SEO) is a subset of SEO that aids in the visibility of nearby businesses to internet users.
Furthermore, optimizing your content to rank highly in relevant local searches is known as local SEO. When it comes to the location component, local SEO is comparable to organic SEO, if you are already familiar with it. These include searches with certain geo qualifiers, such as city, state, zip code, service area, etc. and ‘near me’ searches, where Google picks up the geo-location of the person and provides search results from that area.
Local search engine optimization is crucial, particularly for physical stores and businesses that offer services within certain geographic regions.
Also, WordPress supports a variety of SEO plugins and you can select one what fulfils your needs. Here are top 15 best WordPress SEO plugins.
How does Local Search work?
Certain Google searches, regardless of your location, return local results. We define local results as nearby locations, occasions, or establishments. Google recognizes that certain search queries require local options and takes your location into account.
These local queries include, for example:
- Vacuum cleaner
- Delivery of groceries
- Gets a taxi
- Wedding video producer
- Order pizza
Why is Local SEO important for Local businesses?
Because the majority of customers pick which companies to visit and make purchases from based on internet searches and reviews, local SEO is crucial. Local search represents a huge chunk of search engine traffic, and Google has invested a lot of effort into making this type of search a satisfying and comprehensive experience for its users. Even if you could be helping the same folks, your objectives aren’t the same.
Google wants to make sure that people can choose the best option to meet their unique needs. So your goal should be to present your business, product, or service as the best solution to their problem.
On Google’s side, they’ve developed a range of complimentary tools to facilitate connections between customers and local businesses. Alongside Google Search, there are also Google Business Profiles and Google Maps. These tools collaborate to ensure that your local business stands out when potential customers perform local-intent searches on Google.
But that’s merely the starting point. Apart from Google’s proprietary tools, there are additional techniques available to enhance your online visibility and attract local searchers.
Local SEO aims to enhance your position in search engine results pages (SERPs). As a result, when a potential customer searches for “bakeries near me,” your bakeries will pop up in the SERPs.
The importance of local SEO lies in its ability to boost your business’s visibility within your target region. The primary goal of local SEO is to secure a spot on the first page (top 10 results) of relevant Google queries.
Ranking beyond the first page, say at number 15, significantly reduces your chances of being noticed by potential customers. Research indicates that 75% of Google users don’t venture past the first page of search results. While it’s not impossible to find it on subsequent pages, the odds are stacked against your local business.
However, Google’s search engine results page (SERP) is just one component of the overall equation. It’s possible that you’ve noticed Google displaying search results before the organic SERP listings.
The Google Local Pack –
The Google Local Pack is the first section you see when you perform a local search; it is situated directly below the search bar. This section displays the top three businesses that Google believes are most relevant to your query, and it appears for queries with a local intent.
The Google Map Pack –
The Google Map Pack and the Snack Pack are other names for the Google Local Pack. It uses data from your Google Business Profile, which is tied to Google Maps, to decide when and where to display your company.
Here’s an example of a “bakeries near me” Google Local Pack
Any local business wants to be on the first page of search engine results, but more precisely, they want to be featured among the top three results. This is due to the fact that the snack pack gives your company greater exposure than any other placement on the search engine results page. Some Google users only ever scroll down to see the Google Local 3 pack, and when they do, they click the “more places” button right below the snack pack listing.
Strategy to optimize your Local SEO.
In order to appear in the Google Snack Pack and in the top 10 organic search results overall, how can you optimize your website and online presence? Let’s talk about that below.
1. Create your Google Business Profile
Google My Business Profile is a complimentary resource designed to facilitate local customers’ discovery of your company. Complete your Google Business Profile with WordPress SEO tips by adding all of your company’s details, such as your address, operating hours, and services provided. On your Google Business Profile page, you may even create events and coupons that you can distribute.
Make sure you completely fill out your Google Business Profile, answering all the questions. When someone searches for your business name on Google, your site will typically appear with your profile on the right side of the results page. It will essentially look like this.
When I search for “wicked goodness,” a business profile for a nearby bakery bearing that moniker comes up.
2. Gain Search Engine Prominence
How is local ranking determined by Google? According to Google’s local SEO article, “relevance, distance, and prominence” determine results.
According to the firm, “these factors are combined to help find the best match for your search.” “Google algorithms may determine, for instance, that a business located further away from your location has a higher probability of possessing what you’re looking for than a business located closer, and as a result, rank it higher in local results.”
You have no control over location (how far away you are from the person looking) or relevance (your Italian restaurant won’t rank highly in “Chinese restaurant” searches). But you have power over your notoriety.
According to Google, “prominence” is “the degree of a business’s recognition.” Search results attempt to account for this in local ranking by giving preference to locations that are more well-known offline.
3. Earn trust of your Customers with Reviews
Creating a remarkable customer experience should be your first goal. Dazzle your clients with the caliber of your offerings in terms of goods, services, and support. When you have happy consumers, both online and offline, they will talk about and suggest you. This generates both new and returning clients. It also improves your SEO because it is referred to as “citation building” when customers mention your company online. They also provide you with favorable internet reviews.
WordPress SEO tips increase local companies with better ratings appear higher in searches than those with lower ratings.
Once your Google Business Profile has been verified, you can obtain reviews for your company. Google takes into account a number of elements when determining your position in the search engine results page (SERP), including your Google Business Profile and your Google reviews.
Thus, when it comes to local SEO optimization, favorable evaluations are quite important. Motivate your satisfied clients to write reviews. You can get reviews by customers on your Google Business Profile and instructions provided in an email you send them. Additionally, pay attention to your Google Business Profile’s review section. Whether a review is favorable or negative, it’s critical to reply to it professionally. This is due to the fact that prospective clients are constantly on the lookout and will utilize this data to determine whether or not they wish to work with you.
4. Optimize your Website for Local Searches
Mobile devices are the primary source of most local searches. It is imperative that your website be responsive to mobile devices, just for this reason. Being one of the primary ranking variables makes this another excellent SEO tactic.
Make material for your website that is tailored to the interests of your local audience. Write articles about news and noteworthy events related to your city, state, or neighborhood. Create content targeting your target audience’s search queries, such as “Top 10 Restaurants in Your City” or “15 Things to Do With Kids in Your State,” in order to improve your SEO. This presents an opportunity and WordPress SEO tips for you to seamlessly integrate your business into the roundup.
Make sure to include the name of your city or metropolitan area in your text to target local keywords. This can guarantee that Google displays your material in search results with a local intent.
It’s a good idea to include your location on other static pages on your website, like your “Contact Us” or “Reviews/Testimonials” pages, in addition to blog entries. Google Maps can easily be integrated into your “Contact Us” page.
What is NAP & why it’s important?
Name, Address, and Phone Number is referred to as NAP. It alludes to the most crucial data about a company that is available through internet directories.
Search engine optimization, or NAP SEO, is the process of carefully disseminating and updating this information to have your company show up higher in results.
NAP data is one of the most crucial aspects of local SEO to get correct to prevent clients and search engines from becoming confused.
Actually, according to Think with Google, 50%-60% users just obtain the necessary NAP information from the SERP (search engine results page) and never visit a company’s website. A single misspelled character in your phone number or previous location might lead a prospective client down a frustrating dead end, costing you their business.
Final thoughts
One of the most crucial actions to expand your company’s online presence is to optimize your website for local searches. You may accomplish that online by using your website, your local directory profiles, and Google My Business, among other channels.
When it comes to local SEO optimization, bear the following short WordPress SEO tips checklist in mind :
- Click here to Claim your Google Business Profile
- Fill out your Google Business Profile completely.
- Ensure that your website is mobile-friendly.
- Add local keywords to your website.
- Get listed in relevant local directories.
- Ensure that you’re using the same NAP across all sites.
- Encourage your customers to leave reviews on Google.
- Observe reviews and reply to each one.
Local SEO doesn’t have to be complicated if you check everything on the above list. It all comes down to producing content that interests your target audience and giving local clients an outstanding online experience.
If you need any professional help with SEO for your WordPress Website, book for consultancy with our WordPress SEO Experts.