Local SEO: A simple But Complete Guide
Search for a local audience to find your business online? So you need to understand local SEO.
What is Local SEO?
Local SEO (Local search engine optimization) is the practice of growing your website in a way that will increase the visibility of your business when your customers or local users are looking for it or looking for it online. This can be achieved in a variety of ways including content, technology, also page design, link building, and web page design for an intent to target a specific area, location, etc.
What is LocalSearch?
Local search is simply a search engine optimization for a product or service available in your area. Let’s say, you forget the birthday of your loved ones and now you’re looking for someone to bring you a cake right away or you search a query like how to fix a blocked drain. In both cases, you will search for a “cake shop near me” and “plumbers near me”. This type of query, when you are looking for something in your area, known as Local Search.
DID YOU KNOW? According to Google, 46% of searches have a ‘local purpose’.
Why is Local SEO Important?
Many people look for products or services that are available nearby. This could be a cake shop, a tourist, a restaurant, a hospital, or a copy shop (xerox). Therefore, for local businesses, it is important to have a site designed to inform people about their product or service, their locations, and other relevant information.
According to a recent study:
71% of people who want information about local businesses look online.
46% of all searches performed are for local results.
50% of people who want the Internet at a local store visit one within a day to do a Google search.
34% of those who did local searches on their tablet or PC did the same.
These are the reasons why Local SEO is important because you don’t want to miss out on local search queries that are right for you.
Which Algorithms Affect Local SEO?
Although Google releases hundreds of algorithm updates daily, some of them have had a profound effect on local search results. The following are very important to the local SEO:
- Possum
There have been major changes to Google’s local search algorithm for 2014. Disrupted Local Pack and Local Finder results. Although the update call Possum, Google has not confirmed it. It has affected the SERPs in such a way that before it introduced if you were looking at a business that was just outside your city limits, it did not appear in your SERPs. However, after the renewal of the Postum, this happened. Now, you can search for any business even if it falls outside your city limits.
- pigeon
Launched in July 2014, the Pigeon update focuses on providing users with a more accurate and accurate local listing while considering parameters such as distance from user location. While earlier the local package showed up to seven lists, it reduced three times to Pigeon. Changes were reflected in Google Maps and Google web SERPs.
What is the local SERP?
The local SERP is a result of the SERP (search engine results page ) that appears when a search query is performed. Eg. if you search for “restaurants in Delhi” then the search results appear in the form of GMB(Google my business) or organic results are known as local SERP.
Before we continue further, we help you understand a few local SEO words:
Local Pack
Local Pack is just a box from the SERP of local search terms; contains three local search results.
Local Finder
Local Finder is an extended version of Local Pack. In the Local Pack, you will see three search results with the ‘Multiple Places’ option, known as Local Finder.
Local ABC Package
Local ABC Pack is a box that appears with marked search terms. Suppose you search for the nearest restaurants from your mobile device or desktop. You will see ‘A’, ‘B’, and ‘C’ after which they appear to the left of each result and the absence of review stars or ratings. This type of Local Pack is the Local ABC Pack.
Local Snack Pack
The Local Snack Pack often comes with questions about restaurants or hotels and entertainment. Such results will contain only the available images and no phone numbers or links to the website.
Google my Business
Google My Business is a tool to help businesses and organizations manage their online presence on Google Search and Maps. It helps businesses attract local customers and help them with the products and services they offer.
You can manage your business information on Google. This includes business name, address, phone number, and photos.
You can contact customers and answer their questions or reviews.
The organization can understand and expand your presence with GMB Insights. You can also find out how customers searched for your business, and where those customers came from.
Google My Business Ranking Factors
Naturally, Google doesn’t exactly share the exact ranking factors, but it does provide some basic information here.
Proximity: firstly, How close is your business to search?
Importance: Secondly, How do your products and services relate to your search query?
Prominence: Thirdly, what do other purchasers or consumers state about your items and services.
What is the Future of Local SEO?
Current statistics, data, and styles suggest that local SEO aims to shift from paradigm to advanced content and understanding.
The proliferation of devices, such as smartphones, Amazon Echo, and Google Home, suggests a tendency to build devices with multiple mechanisms such as conversations that are equal or beyond human comprehension.
It can even be suggested that these devices use high-quality, fast, and advanced technology to enhance voice search results for the user. Google is constantly adjusting and updating its algorithms.
Conclusion
Local SEO incorporates a lot of technical specialized,on-page, and page work that needs commonality. If you are just starting, it best to seek the help of skilled professionals who can hire you as part of an in-house team or reach out to us through local SEO services.
