What is local SEO and why do you need it?
Have you ever searched the nearest xyz shop on google?
Of course you did even blind people do. So when you search something like that you get a result like this 👇 
Here is the “Definition of local SEO”
Local SEO is the process of optimising a website for a specific location or geographic area. It is a subset of search engine optimization (SEO) which is the practice of optimising a website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs).Local SEO aims to make it simpler for customers to find your business when looking for goods or services in their neighbourhood.
Local SEO is important for businesses for several reasons:
Local SEO helps businesses in attracting more customers from their surroundings. Customers looking for products or services in your area are more likely to find your business if it ranks well for local search queries. Local SEO makes businesses stand out from the competition. Your company is more likely to stand out from the competition and draw in more customers if it performs well for local search queries. Building credibility and trust for a company is made easier by local SEO. Customers are more inclined to believe that your company is reputable and reliable when they see it listed at the top of local search results. Businesses can improve their online visibility with local SEO. You can improve the visibility of your company on search engines and drive more traffic to your website by optimising it for local search queries.
In conclusion, local SEO is crucial for businesses because it enables them to stand out from the competition, grow their online visibility, and draw more local customers.
Organic search results vs. local snack pack
On Google’s home page, a variety of search results are displayed, including paid advertisements, local snack pack results, and organic results.
Organic search results:
Organic results are typically displayed just below the local pack results. These results, like the 3 pack, are generated based on the search terms entered. Unlike the 3 pack these listings lack useful information such as business hours and contact information. Organic results are what most people envision when they think of SEO and they are not mistaken. Organic results are linked to SEO fundamentals such as a user-friendly website engaging site content and an active blog.
Local snack pack:
Local pack results, also known as “3 pack” results due to the presence of three listings , appear at the top of Google’s search results, above organic listings. Based on the Google search term, the 3 pack section contains local businesses. The results are displayed on a map, and the listings include specific information about each business, such as contact information and business hours. Notably, each listing includes a star rating, making this section crucial for attracting customers.
Both the local pack and organic search results have prime real estate on Google’s first page – right at the top – a highly sought-after position. So, in terms of “which should you care about,” the answer is both. Ranking in the local pack and organic results sections are not mutually exclusive. It is entirely possible to rank in both sections, which is a fantastic double-whammy in terms of unpaid search ranking.
While local pack and organic search ranking are supported by different strategies, they are both critical for your local business.
Ways to boost your local SEO strategy
There are several ways to boost your local SEO:
Claim and improve your Google My Business listing so you can control your company’s online presence on Google. This is a free service provided by Google. You can increase your visibility in local search results and make it simpler for customers to find your business by claiming and optimising your listing. Use local keywords on your website: Ensure that the metadata and content of your website contain local keywords. This can increase your visibility in local search results by assisting search engines in understanding the location and focus of your company. Get listed in online directories: Yelp, Yellow Pages, and the Better Business Bureau are just a few of the many online directories that list local businesses. You can increase your visibility and reach potential customers who are looking for companies like yours by registering in these directories. Encourage customers to leave reviews: By enhancing your credibility and trustworthiness, positive customer reviews can help your local SEO. Request reviews from your clients on Yelp, Google My Business, and other review websites. Use social media to market your company: To reach a local audience, you can advertise your company’s products and services using social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To reach and engage customers, you can use social media to share updates, deals, and other pertinent content.
Claim and optimise your GMB listing
Enter full details in your business listing Add keywords to your content Mention your opening hours
Include images Respond to customer reviews Make sure your site and content are optimised for search Follow the steps above to optimise your Google My Business record.
Mobile device optimization
Mobile optimization is becoming increasingly important as more users access websites via mobile devices. Here are some recommendations for optimising your website for mobile devices:
Make Your Website Responsive – A responsive website design means that the theme of your website automatically adjusts to the size of the screen being viewed on, whether it’s a desktop, tablet, or mobile device. This improves your mobile search rankings while also providing a better user experience for your mobile visitors. Use a mobile-friendly layout – Make sure your site is mobile-friendly with big fonts, obvious calls to action, and simple-to-click buttons. Avoid using flash or pop-up windows, as many mobile devices do not support them. Image optimization is important because large images can harm mobile users’ experiences by slowing down your website. Use the right file format and compress your images to make sure they are optimised for the web (eg., JPEG, PNG, etc.). Use a URL structure that is mobile-friendly – Ensure that your website’s URL structure is simple to read and use on a mobile device. Use short, simple URLs instead of lengthy ones that are challenging to type on a mobile keyboard. By taking these actions, you can enhance your mobile optimization and increase traffic and engagement from mobile users.
Collect plenty of customer reviews
A business may be impacted by customer feedback in a variety of ways. It can help the business grow while also informing the organisation’s operations and product development. Customers can provide feedback on a wide range of subjects, such as the calibre of the goods they purchase, how their order or service was delivered, and even how they felt when calling or visiting a physical location.
Here are five examples of how customer feedback has influenced businesses:
1. To improve products or services.
2. To find issues with currently offered goods or services before they cause customers serious problems.
3. To find new opportunities that the companies might not have otherwise thought of, which might inspire them to create fresh products in order to meet shifting customer demands.
4. To emotionally connect with customers.
5.To stay up to date on market developments, ground realities, and changing trends.
Plan on local link building
Local link building is essential because it influences how Google ranks web pages. “In general, webmasters can improve their site’s rank by increasing the number of high-quality sites that link to their pages,” Google says.
1. Become a member of your niche business association
2. Useful, insightful guest posts on local websites
3. Utilise social media to create backlinks
4. Produce content for your local audience.
Focusing on obtaining high-quality backlinks from reputable local websites that are pertinent to your business and target market will help you improve local SEO rankings through link building. More qualified traffic may be directed to your website as a result, helping to increase its visibility and ranking in local search results.
Optimise NAP/citation consistency
One of the most important aspects of local SEO is NAP consistency.
NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone. You could produce outstanding results through your local SEO with the help of NAP. Keep your NAP accurate and consistent throughout the optimization process. It assists you in improving your online presence and enables you to attract a targeted audience for your company.
Tips and tricks for maintaining NAP across all websites
1) The company name
Even if your company or business is well-known for using the short forms, use the full name instead.
2) Complete Address
Choose the method you’ll use to let people know your street address. Therefore, use the same words on every page where you want to solicit business.
3) Phone No.
Similar to how a company’s address can be written in a variety of ways, so can a phone number. Just stick with one type throughout and be consistent with it. These recommendations may seem very straightforward, but they are crucial to positioning your website for a local SEO boost.
Invest in social listening
Social listening is when you see what your audience is saying about you, your competitors, or a topic related to your brand, and then analyse that data. Social listening provides the following advantages to businesses: – Campaign analytics provide information about how a specific marketing campaign is performing on social media.
Based on social media conversations, competitive analysis provides insights into competitor activities.
Event tracking enables a company to see how an audience reacts to a specific event, such as a virtual conference, in real time.
When a company listens to conversations that mention their industry using social features like hashtags, industry trends emerge. This is the main reason to invest on Social listening .