Local SEO – Definition and Optimization Tips

The internet environment does not only appeal to those who want to compete with their competitors in the national or international arena. In fact, search engines like Google do not always prefer to put the “world’s leading brand” in front of users looking for a service. So, as a business, what will you need to do if you are serving locally and you want users in a particular region to see you in their service searches?

Let’s say it right away: The secret of this job is obvious, Local SEO! Nowadays, people who use Google, Bing, Apple Maps, and other local search engines in various product or service searches are basically looking for places where they can receive this service or product at the highest quality. But this does not mean that they are considering all options.

Studies say that when it comes to local results, users are focusing on the top three search results in the SERP and subsequent results get a fairly small share of the cake. So as a local business, it is very important that you value SEO. But this time the SEO we are talking about is a little different from the others: Local SEO!

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What is Local SEO?

Researches reveal a very important fact: 46 percent of the queries on Google are based on finding local results. Are you aware of what this means?

Unfortunately, find many local businesses are not aware. According to the most recent global research, 56 percent of local businesses are not registered with Google My Business. Therefore, even a user on a sub-street may not be aware of the service you provide. Because in the chaotic urban world, people are walking to reach the addresses they find on Google, not by observing the streets in detail.

Starting with Google My Business Optimization

Hey, if you want to know what local SEO means, we have to start with this. Having a Google My Business account and strengthening your place in the listing by filling in the necessary information is one of the most important steps of local SEO.

You are now ready to discover more.

Representing Your Business on Google

The information you define about your workplace through your Google My Business account must comply with the basic requirements of the platform. If you violate the guidelines, you run the risk of losing your rank on related searches. For this, it is very important that you examine Google’s general provisions.

1. Your main goal should be to provide accurate information. For example, your opening and closing times, your location must be presented correctly. Otherwise, Google My Business will not be a good traffic source for you.
2. Second, Google My Business targets businesses that serve face-to-face. If you do not provide face-to-face service, you may not be a good member of GMB.
3. Remember that only one profile can be found for a business -don’t create your fakes, dude!
4. Choose your overall core business. You can choose more than one category for this. Click here to learn more.

Enter Business Information Correctly

There is one thing Google is asking you for Local SEO: getting the information right.

Google wants your business to have the same name online as it is in the real world. However, many corporate local businesses do not follow this rule. Many people add a phrase describing the service of the institution to the end of the institution name, thinking that it will contribute to local SEO.

For example, consider a brand named “Claria Comfort” selling home furniture. If this business uses a name like “Claria Comfort Home Furniture” when registering with Google, Google is not going to like it. In short, whatever you are in real life, you have to be in Google My Business.

Hey, this is a pretty accurate recommendation on paper. So what’s really the situation? In reality, the situation is this: Although this is true, it is possible to say that Google has not strictly enforced this issue lately, so adding “home furniture” may have a positive effect on the ranking. But you know, we don’t know when Google will decide to increase controls.

On-Site SEO Studies for Local SEO

So, what do you need to do if you want your website or other virtual areas where you sell services to be optimized with local SEO and get more hits? Let’s start with the keyword study if you wish.

Do Keyword Work Correctly

If you have a home furniture store serving locally, it is extremely important that you appear on all searches for your shop.

For example, imagine local searchers doing the following queries:

• Claria Comfort phone number
• What time does Claria Comfort close
• When does Claria Comfort open
• How to get to Claria Comfort
• Claria Comfort walking route

In order to make such searches in SERP, you need to identify long-tail keywords related to your business and target them.

In addition, you need to target some keywords that are not directly related to the name of your company, but that will allow you to be shown to users who search in the area you specify. For example, examine the words below:

• best home furniture store
• home furniture store near me
• home furniture gift store

Imagine that individuals in your neighborhood who search for these keywords first see you. Wouldn’t it be perfect?

Hey, that’s not all. You need to add semantic versions of certain keywords, keywords of your sub-categories, and product groups to your searches. For example;

• home furniture stores near me – the plural form of the keyword
• home decoration store
• decoration stuff near me
• home decoration ideas

How to find keyword ideas for local SEO?

So how can you learn these versions?

First of all, let’s say that you can use many digital tools to scan keywords. But we will talk about a method that will allow you to get keyword ideas for free.

Go to Google and type in your two or three word keyword. Google will give you some suggestions.

Okay, then go to “Searches related to home furniture near me” at the bottom of the SERP and review the list found here.

You can search for different keyword combinations on Google and examine what you come across. It always helps to set long-tail keywords and others this way. For other question-style keywords you have in mind, you can use the “people also ask” section of Google. This part is frequently seen in SERP.

Search for your business name on Google and review frequently asked questions. Your goal should be to be able to respond to these.

Other On-Page Optimizations for Local SEO

It is very important to search for keywords within the content optimization processes. Remember, by adding your website to Screpy, you can track how you progress on multiple keywords. The keywords that you have developed or lagged behind in terms of ranking can give you important clues about how you want to manage the local SEO process. So, what are the other optimizations you should do on your site?

1. First of all, remember that you must include the main keyword in the H1 tag of your content. This part will also appear on SERP, allowing Googlebots to better understand the issue. This is important.
2. The title tag is another part where you need to have the main keyword. These are basic SEO rules.
3. Make sure each content you post or any page on your website contains the relevant keyword.
4. Turn URLs into accessible and Google-loved structures: opt for shorter and catchy URLs.
5. Do not forget to create a meta description and include the keyword here.

Want to have more information about Technical side of on-page SEO? Clicking the relevant link will be enough!

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