{"id":3868,"date":"2021-07-01T03:52:51","date_gmt":"2021-07-01T03:52:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/?p=3868"},"modified":"2022-12-21T18:21:11","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T18:21:11","slug":"local-seo-strategies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/local-seo-strategies\/","title":{"rendered":"Local SEO Strategies: 10 of the Best Ways to Beat Your Competitors"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Did you know that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.go-gulf.com\/blog\/local-search-engine-marketing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">46% of all Google searches<\/a> are seeking local information? Furthermore, another study revealed that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightlocal.com\/research\/local-consumer-review-survey\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">69% of users<\/a> search for local businesses online at least once every month. These statistics are a clear indicator of the importance of <a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/local-seo\/\">local SEO<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter is-resized\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Local-Search-Information-Local-SEO-Strategies.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Local-Search-Information-Local-SEO-Strategies.png\" alt=\"Local Search Information Local SEO Strategies\" class=\"wp-image-21511\" width=\"669\" height=\"517\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>Image via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.go-gulf.com\/blog\/local-search-engine-marketing\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">GoGulf<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether you\u2019re a restaurant owner or a plumber, local SEO is crucial for everyone. As a business owner, you need to work on local SEO strategies to promote your business. You could lose out on many potential leads if you\u2019re not working on it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"#46c8db-b86\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1100\" height=\"380\" src=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SEO-Quick-Wins-Inline-SEO.jpg\" alt=\"Shanebarker SEO Quick Wins Course\" class=\"wp-image-61606\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SEO-Quick-Wins-Inline-SEO.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SEO-Quick-Wins-Inline-SEO-768x265.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"sb-related-links-box\"><p style=\"font-weight:bold; color:#333333;\">HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT:<\/p><div class=\"sb-related-links-data\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/best-seo-audit-tools\/\">52 of the Best SEO Audit Tools to Improve Your Search Rankings<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/seo-tools\/\">SEO Tools: A Comprehensive List for Marketers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Before we get into the details involved in local SEO strategies, let\u2019s first understand what local SEO is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_60 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-65816d095df88\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"ez-toc-cssicon\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #333333;color:#333333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #333333;color:#333333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-65816d095df88\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/local-seo-strategies\/#What_is_Local_SEO\" title=\"What is Local SEO?\">What is Local SEO?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/local-seo-strategies\/#What_are_the_Best_Local_SEO_Marketing_Strategies_and_Techniques\" title=\"What are the Best Local SEO Marketing Strategies and Techniques?\">What are the Best Local SEO Marketing Strategies and Techniques?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/local-seo-strategies\/#1_Optimize_for_Medium-Tail_Keywords\" title=\"1. Optimize for Medium-Tail Keywords\">1. Optimize for Medium-Tail Keywords<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/local-seo-strategies\/#2_Create_Your_Google_My_Business_Listing\" title=\"2. Create Your Google My Business Listing\">2. Create Your Google My Business Listing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/local-seo-strategies\/#3_Get_More_Local_Citations\" title=\"3. Get More Local Citations\">3. Get More Local Citations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/local-seo-strategies\/#4_Encourage_Your_Customers_to_Write_Reviews\" title=\"4. Encourage Your Customers to Write Reviews\">4. Encourage Your Customers to Write Reviews<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/local-seo-strategies\/#5_Create_Local_Content\" title=\"5. Create Local Content\">5. Create Local Content<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/local-seo-strategies\/#6_Get_Quality_Backlinks\" title=\"6. Get Quality Backlinks\">6. Get Quality Backlinks<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/local-seo-strategies\/#7_Build_a_Mobile_Responsive_Website\" title=\"7. Build a Mobile Responsive Website\">7. Build a Mobile Responsive Website<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/local-seo-strategies\/#8_Research_Local_Keywords\" title=\"8. Research Local Keywords\">8. Research Local Keywords<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/local-seo-strategies\/#9_Focus_on_On-Page_SEO\" title=\"9. Focus on On-Page SEO\">9. Focus on On-Page SEO<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/local-seo-strategies\/#10_Add_Schema_Markup\" title=\"10. Add Schema Markup\">10. Add Schema Markup<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/local-seo-strategies\/#FAQs\" title=\"FAQs\">FAQs<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/local-seo-strategies\/#Ready_to_Beat_Your_Competitors_at_Local_SEO\" title=\"Ready to Beat Your Competitors at Local SEO?\">Ready to Beat Your Competitors at Local SEO?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-is-local-seo\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Local_SEO\"><\/span>What is Local SEO?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>What would you do if you were in a new city and wanted to find out a movie theater near you? If you\u2019re like most people, you\u2019d probably run a quick Google search. For Sacramento, the search results are as shown in the screenshot below.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Local-Search-Result-Local-SEO-Strategies.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Local-Search-Result-Local-SEO-Strategies.png\" alt=\"Local Search Result Local SEO Strategies\" class=\"wp-image-21512\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>Image via Google<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In these results, you\u2019re mostly likely to check out the first few listings. If a business owner can get their listing to the top, it can make a lot of difference to their business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Along with boosting awareness, a top listing can also increase the likelihood of getting a conversion. In a nutshell, it can be a key factor in growing any business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to succeed at marketing in the digital age, local SEO strategies should be your focus. They can be an indispensable tool to get more conversions.<a rel=\"noopener\" data-toggle=\"modal\" data-target=\".fusion-modal.web-traffic\"><br><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"sb-related-links-box\"><p style=\"font-weight:bold; color:#333333;\">HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT:<\/p><div class=\"sb-related-links-data\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/modern-day-seo-techniques\/\">17 Top SEO Techniques to Boost Your Website\u2019s Rankings in 2022<\/a><\/li>\n<li><span data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;15 of the Major Benefits of SEO that Every Business Owner Needs to Know&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:1321473,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:1136076},&quot;16&quot;:10,&quot;21&quot;:1,&quot;23&quot;:1}\" data-sheets-hyperlink=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/benefits-of-seo\/\"><a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/benefits-of-seo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">15 of the Major Benefits of SEO that Every Business Owner Needs to Know<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-what-are-the-best-local-seo-marketing-strategies-and-techniques\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_Best_Local_SEO_Marketing_Strategies_and_Techniques\"><\/span>What are the Best Local SEO Marketing Strategies and Techniques?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>To thrive in local rankings, you\u2019ll need to come up with a killer strategy that can help you in the long term. Of course, it requires a lot of planning, perseverance, and time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To make things easier for you, I\u2019ve done all of the background research for you. Here are some local SEO strategies that you should work on:<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"sb-related-links-box\"><p style=\"font-weight:bold; color:#333333;\">HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT:<\/p><div class=\"sb-related-links-data\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/backlink-analysis-tools\/\">15 Backlink Analysis Tools to Improve Your Backlink Profile<\/a><\/li>\n<li><span data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;How to Integrate SEO and Email Marketing to Improve Your Ranking&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:1313281,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:1136076},&quot;21&quot;:1,&quot;23&quot;:1}\" data-sheets-hyperlink=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/integrate-email-marketing-seo\/\"><a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/integrate-email-marketing-seo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">How to Integrate SEO and Email Marketing to Improve Your Ranking<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-1-optimize-for-medium-tail-keywords\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Optimize_for_Medium-Tail_Keywords\"><\/span>1. Optimize for Medium-Tail Keywords<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Until a few years ago, all SEO experts emphasized the need to use <a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/long-tail-keywords\/\">long-tail keywords<\/a>. That was before Google announced they were using a Machine Learning algorithm called Google RankBrain to enhance search results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you delve a little deeper into how <a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/optimize-google-rankbrain\/\">RankBrain<\/a> works, you\u2019ll notice that it favors medium-tail keywords. When a user searches for \u201cbest spas\u201d and \u201cbest spas near me,\u201d you\u2019ll end up getting similar or the exact same results. That\u2019s because Google understands that in both scenarios, you\u2019re essentially looking for the same thing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Earlier, Google used to display results after matching the exact keywords you entered. Now, if you want to rank, you need to <a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/optimize-content-better-conversions\/\">optimize your content<\/a> for RankBrain. That means medium-tail keywords should be an important part of your local SEO strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What are medium-tail keywords?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the name suggests, medium-tail keywords are somewhere in between short-tail keywords and long-tail keywords. They\u2019re literally in the middle of the pack. They are more focused than short-tail keywords and they typically get more search volume than the average long-tail keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, to develop a solid local SEO strategy, you need to optimize your content for medium-tail keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-2-create-your-google-my-business-listing\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Create_Your_Google_My_Business_Listing\"><\/span>2. Create Your Google My Business Listing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you own a business, it\u2019s almost an unsaid rule that you need to create a Google My Business listing. According to <a href=\"https:\/\/moz.com\/local-search-ranking-factors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Moz\u2019s Local Search Ranking Factors<\/a>, it was also listed as the top ranking factor for local SEO as well as Google Maps.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Local-Ranking-Factors-Local-SEO-Strategies.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"147\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Local-Ranking-Factors-Local-SEO-Strategies.png\" alt=\"Local Ranking Factors Local SEO Strategies\" class=\"wp-image-21513\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>Image via <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/moz.com\/local-search-ranking-factors\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><em>Moz<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Google is more likely to share your content if it can verify the details of your business. The best way to do it is through a Google My Business listing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>How do you create your Google My Business listing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, make sure you add the correct address and contact information for your business. Choose the categories that are relevant for your business and include a few photos when you\u2019re listing your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All of these details will help you establish credibility. It is also recommended that you use relevant keywords when you\u2019re filling out your business description.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"sb-related-links-box\"><p style=\"font-weight:bold; color:#333333;\">HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT:<\/p><div class=\"sb-related-links-data\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/seo-marketing-strategy\/\">6 Reasons Every Brand Needs to Implement an SEO Marketing Strategy<\/a><\/li>\n<li><span data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;Is Email Marketing Dead? Here Is The Answer&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:1313281,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:1136076},&quot;21&quot;:1,&quot;23&quot;:1}\" data-sheets-hyperlink=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/is-email-marketing-dead\/\"><a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/is-email-marketing-dead\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Is Email Marketing Dead? Here Is The Answer<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-3-get-more-local-citations\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Get_More_Local_Citations\"><\/span>3. Get More Local Citations<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>A Google My Business listing is only the first step to solidify your local SEO strategy. Apart from this, users also check sites like Yelp and FourSquare to discover new businesses. So, it\u2019s crucial to maintain your visibility on these sites. That\u2019s where local citations come into play.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Get-Local-Citation-Local-SEO-Strategies.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"491\" src=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Get-Local-Citation-Local-SEO-Strategies.png\" alt=\"Get Local Citation Local SEO Strategies\" class=\"wp-image-21514\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>Image via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yelp.com\/search?find_desc=Best+Bars+in+Downtown&find_loc=San+Francisco%2C+CA&ns=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Yelp<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What is a citation listing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the uninitiated, local citations refer to the mentions that your business gets on the internet. A local citation may either include your business name, videos, images, geo-coordinates, reviews, or other information related to you business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>First, list a few forums and websites where you need to get listed. Then slowly work towards building up your local citations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-4-encourage-your-customers-to-write-reviews\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Encourage_Your_Customers_to_Write_Reviews\"><\/span>4. Encourage Your Customers to Write Reviews<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Do reviews affect your SEO?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to a survey by Bright Local, 86% of all consumers read online reviews when they\u2019re researching businesses. Moreover, 57% of people said they only choose a business if it has a rating of more than 4 stars.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Write-Reviews-Local-SEO-Strategies.png\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"485\" src=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/05\/Write-Reviews-Local-SEO-Strategies.png\" alt=\"Write Reviews Local SEO Strategies\" class=\"wp-image-21515\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>Image via <a href=\"https:\/\/www.brightlocal.com\/research\/local-consumer-review-survey\/?SSAID=314743&SSCID=41k3_cl63j\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Bright Local<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reviews are a way of getting social proof. And they can be a crucial factor in attracting new leads. So, you should encourage your happy customers to write good reviews for you on social media and in other forums.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you get negative reviews, don\u2019t worry. Respond to them in a professional manner and try to address their concerns offline. Taking criticism gracefully shows that you care for your customers\u2019 issues.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"sb-related-links-box\"><p style=\"font-weight:bold; color:#333333;\">HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT:<\/p><div class=\"sb-related-links-data\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/off-page-seo\/\">Off-Page SEO: A Reliable Guide To Boost Your Website Authority<\/a><\/li>\n<li><span data-sheets-value=\"{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:&quot;5 App Store Ranking Factors You Need to Know&quot;}\" data-sheets-userformat=\"{&quot;2&quot;:1313281,&quot;3&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:0},&quot;12&quot;:0,&quot;14&quot;:{&quot;1&quot;:2,&quot;2&quot;:1136076},&quot;21&quot;:1,&quot;23&quot;:1}\" data-sheets-hyperlink=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/app-store-ranking-factors\/\"><a class=\"in-cell-link\" href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/app-store-ranking-factors\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">5 App Store Ranking Factors You Need to Know<\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-5-create-local-content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Create_Local_Content\"><\/span>5. Create Local Content<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Content is a major part of any local SEO strategy. If you want more people in your area to know about you, you need to create content that they are looking for. Identify some pain points that people in your area face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What is local content marketing?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Local content marketing is often an overlooked approach to boost rankings. It entails developing content that is relevant to your local audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you have a website in the travel niche, you could suggest things to do and places to eat in a particular neighborhood. Aim to answer questions that users might be searching for. If you provide quality content that people want to read, you\u2019ll automatically get traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"#46c8db-b86\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1100\" height=\"380\" src=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SEO-Quick-Wins-Inline-SEO.jpg\" alt=\"Shanebarker SEO Quick Wins Course\" class=\"wp-image-61606\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SEO-Quick-Wins-Inline-SEO.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SEO-Quick-Wins-Inline-SEO-768x265.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-6-get-quality-backlinks\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Get_Quality_Backlinks\"><\/span>6. Get Quality Backlinks<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>How do backlinks help SEO?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If you want to tap into a large audience, you can\u2019t only rely on your website\u2019s audience. You need to tap into other\u2019s audiences as well. That\u2019s what link building can help you with.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To build your link profile, you\u2019ll need to find high domain authority websites in your niche. Sure, you can get as many <a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/pr-case-study\/\">backlinks<\/a> as you want on random websites.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But unless they are of quality, they won\u2019t help with your local SEO strategies. Focus on finding local websites that have a good domain authority and allow <a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/guest-posting-sites\/\">guest posting<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Reach out to them with ideas for guest posts. Keep in mind that link building is a long process. You\u2019ll need to be consistent in your efforts for the results to reflect on your local SEO strategies.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"sb-related-links-box\"><p style=\"font-weight:bold; color:#333333;\">HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT:<\/p><div class=\"sb-related-links-data\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/seo-affiliate-marketing\/\">A Complete Guide to SEO Affiliate Marketing to Help You Make More Money<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-7-build-a-mobile-responsive-website\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Build_a_Mobile_Responsive_Website\"><\/span>7. Build a Mobile Responsive Website<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>52.2% of the total website traffic in the world was generated by smartphones in 2018. That makes one thing clear \u2014 you can\u2019t ignore mobile phone users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The shift from laptop to mobile phone is no longer subtle. You need to keep up with the changing trends in the market.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The first step is to build a mobile responsive website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What does a responsive website mean?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It means that the webpage\u2019s layout, images, and design work well on mobile or any other device. When you\u2019re designing your website, you should keep these two elements as your priorities: convenience and responsiveness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If your website is not optimized for mobile phones, smartphones users may find it difficult to use your website. They may have to zoom out or zoom in to view certain elements of your web pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A mobile responsive website solves this issue as it is accessible from different devices. The size of the screen does not make any difference to the web pages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Till now, we\u2019ve talked about it only from the point of view of the user. Now let\u2019s take a look at how a mobile responsive design can affect your local SEO strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Google uses mobile-first indexing. That essentially means that it picks up a website\u2019s mobile web page for the purposes of indexing and ranking. So, it is one of the most important factors for your local SEO strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/developers.google.com\/search\/mobile-sites\/mobile-first-indexing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Google<\/a>, here is what you can do for your website:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Your desktop and mobile site should contain the same content in both indexable and crawlable formats. This applies to text, photos, and videos.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>You should use structured data on your mobile and desktop sites.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Write the same titles and meta descriptions for both versions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-8-research-local-keywords\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Research_Local_Keywords\"><\/span>8. Research Local Keywords<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The keywords that you choose to rank for should be relevant to your local audience. You need to pick the keywords that have a high search volume in your location. You can use the Google Keyword Planner to find popular keywords in your region and create a list based on what you find.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you know the local keywords that you want to target, it\u2019s time to take action. Include these keywords in your meta descriptions, content, as well as URLs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to this, it\u2019s also advisable to mention popular hotspots and landmarks in your copy. For instance, if you run a shop in downtown Seattle, you may want to write something on the lines of \u201cnear the Space Needle.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"sb-related-links-box\"><p style=\"font-weight:bold; color:#333333;\">HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT:<\/p><div class=\"sb-related-links-data\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/small-business-seo-tips\/\">10 of the Most Effective SEO Tips for Small Businesses<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-9-focus-on-on-page-seo\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Focus_on_On-Page_SEO\"><\/span>9. Focus on On-Page SEO<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>What is on-page SEO and why is it important?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/on-page-seo\/\">On-page SEO<\/a> refers to the process of optimizing your site\u2019s web pages. It\u2019s a crucial part of your local SEO strategy. The first step to improving your on-page SEO is to make sure that your content is free from any errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Focus on publishing content that is high-quality and original. While using keywords is important, it\u2019s advisable only to use them in a natural way. Do not stuff your copy with keywords.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To give Google\u2019s crawlers a better idea of what\u2019s on your webpage, optimizing your content isn\u2019t enough. You also need to make sure you\u2019re using relevant meta descriptions and title tags. If you use keywords optimally in them, you can solidify your local SEO strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Additionally, make sure that all of the images on your site also contain keywords with alt texts. Do not let your image files have random names. If you don\u2019t add appropriate titles, it will affect your SEO.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Page speed is another crucial factor for your overall local SEO strategy. If your page takes too long to load, your site visitors may simply just abandon your website. A longer page loading time also affects your search rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can use <a href=\"https:\/\/pagespeed.web.dev\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Google PageSpeed Insights<\/a> to check how long your page takes to load.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-10-add-schema-markup\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Add_Schema_Markup\"><\/span>10. Add Schema Markup<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Schema markup is another way to enhance your local SEO strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>What do we mean by schema markup?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For the uninitiated, schema markup is a technology that allows search engines to find out and show information that is related to your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This could include anything from your address to your prices and reviews. It\u2019s a good idea to showcase this information on your website. Displaying these details can help you improve your click-through-rate. This, in turn, can give a boost to your local SEO strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To add schema markup, you can use <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/webmasters\/markup-helper\/u\/0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Google\u2019s Structured Data Markup Helper<\/a>. Additionally, you can check how your web page will be seen after you add the schema markup using the <a href=\"https:\/\/search.google.com\/structured-data\/testing-tool\/u\/0\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\">Structured Data Testing Tool<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"sb-related-links-box\"><p style=\"font-weight:bold; color:#333333;\">HANDPICKED RELATED CONTENT:<\/p><div class=\"sb-related-links-data\"><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/seo-practices-for-machine-learning\/\">Is Machine Learning the Future of SEO? (And 6 Ways to Stay Compliant)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/blog\/seo-clickbait\/\">SEO Clickbait \u2013 How to Create Titles to Get Unbelievable Results<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-faqs\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"FAQs\"><\/span>FAQs<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Q1. What is local SEO?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A.<\/strong> Local SEO (search engine optimization) is the process of optimizing your website and content for local search results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If, for example, you have a Mexican restaurant in Detroit, Michigan, you want your website and social media profiles to show up first in the search results when someone searches for \u201cMexican restaurants in Detroit Michigan\u201d or \u201cMexican restaurants near me\u201d (if they\u2019re in the Detroit area).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Local SEO can help your website and social media profiles rank higher for local searches like this, thus helping you attract more customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Q2. How do I do local SEO?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A.<\/strong> There are many ways you can do local SEO, including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Optimize your content for medium-tail keywords.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Get more local citations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encourage your customers to write reviews.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Create local content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Get quality backlinks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Build a mobile responsive website.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Research local keywords.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focus on On-Page SEO.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Add Schema Markup.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Q3. What are the best ranking strategies to improve local SEO?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A.<\/strong> The best ranking strategies to improve local SEO include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Optimizing your content for medium-tail keywords.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Claiming and optimizing your Google My Business listing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Getting more local citations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encouraging your customers to write reviews.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Creating local content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Getting quality backlinks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Building a mobile responsive website.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Researching local keywords.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focusing on On-Page SEO.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adding Schema Markup.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Q4. Why is using a local SEO beneficial for business growth?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A.<\/strong> Local SEO helps local customers searching for the type of products or services your business offers find your business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Q5. What are the top local SEO tools?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A.<\/strong> The top local SEO tools include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Google My Business<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Google PageSpeed Insights<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Google Keyword Planner<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Google's Structured Data Markup Helper<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Q6. What is local SEO, and why do we need local SEO?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A.<\/strong> Local SEO (search engine optimization) is the process of optimizing your website and content for local search results. Local SEO can help your website and social media profiles rank higher for local searches, thus helping you attract more customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Q7. Is local SEO dead? And what is local SEO?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A.<\/strong> Local SEO is in no way dead. Local SEO (search engine optimization) is the process of optimizing your website and content for local search results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Q8. What are local SEO\u2019s benefits?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A.<\/strong> The benefits of local SEO are increased visibility, website traffic, and conversions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><b>Q9. What is the difference between local SEO and general SEO?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A.<\/strong> Local SEO (search engine optimization) is the process of optimizing your website and content for local search results. General SEO, on the other hand, the process of optimizing your website and content for all search results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Q10. How do I dominate local SEO search rankings?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A.<\/strong> The best way to dominate local SEO search rankings is with an effective local SEO strategy that includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Optimizing your content for medium-tail keywords.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Claiming and optimizing your Google My Business listing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Getting more local citations.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Encouraging your customers to write reviews.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Creating local content.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Getting quality backlinks.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Building a mobile responsive website.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Researching local keywords.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Focusing on On-Page SEO.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Adding Schema Markup.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-ready-to-beat-your-competitors-at-local-seo\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Ready_to_Beat_Your_Competitors_at_Local_SEO\"><\/span>Ready to Beat Your Competitors at Local SEO?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Regardless of whether you run a big company or are a small business owner, you should pay attention to local SEO. If you want to increase your visibility and get more leads, local SEO is the best way to do it. I hope the local SEO strategies mentioned above help you boost your local search rankings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Which other local SEO strategies do you think are effective for boosting visibility? Please share your insights in the comments section below.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"#46c8db-b86\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1100\" height=\"380\" src=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SEO-Quick-Wins-Inline-SEO.jpg\" alt=\"Shanebarker SEO Quick Wins Course\" class=\"wp-image-61606\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SEO-Quick-Wins-Inline-SEO.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/SEO-Quick-Wins-Inline-SEO-768x265.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1100px) 100vw, 1100px\" title=\"\"><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Did you know that 46% of all Google searches are seeking local information? Furthermore, another study revealed that 69% of users search for local businesses online at least once every&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":21517,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[5456,1582],"table_tags":[],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":3,"label":"SEO"}],"post_tag":[{"value":5456,"label":"keyword research"},{"value":1582,"label":"SEO marketing"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/08\/Local-SEO-Strategies-10-of-the-Best-Ways-to-Beat-Your-Competitors.jpg",768,379,false],"author_info":{"display_name":"Shane Barker","author_link":"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/author\/sbsuperx\/"},"comment_info":8,"category_info":[{"term_id":3,"name":"SEO","slug":"seo","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3,"taxonomy":"category","description":"SEO is always changing - that's why our blog section is dedicated to bringing you the latest and greatest information on all things SEO. Check it out for insightful posts on the latest SEO trends, tools, tips, and tricks.\r\n","parent":0,"count":89,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":3,"category_count":89,"category_description":"SEO is always changing - that's why our blog section is dedicated to bringing you the latest and greatest information on all things SEO. Check it out for insightful posts on the latest SEO trends, tools, tips, and tricks.\r\n","cat_name":"SEO","category_nicename":"seo","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":5456,"name":"keyword research","slug":"keyword-research","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5456,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":16,"filter":"raw"},{"term_id":1582,"name":"SEO marketing","slug":"seo-marketing","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1582,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":175,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3868"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3868"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3868\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":68310,"href":"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3868\/revisions\/68310"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21517"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3868"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3868"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3868"},{"taxonomy":"table_tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/shanebarker.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/table_tags?post=3868"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}