What is Local SEO Optimisation?

With mobile searches on the rise, “near me” searches have become popular. Local SEO helps you reach users that are searching for products and services you provide in your geographical location.

Why is Local SEO Optimisation Important?

When your kitchen sink is leaking in your home and you need a plumber urgently, how do you find one? Gone are the days of the Yellow Pages that would be delivered on your doorstep. Today, you need to do an online search. These searches have a local intent, you only want the results near your home. A plumber a couple of counties away is not going to be any use to you and it's a waste of your time to make your way through the hundreds of plumbers throughout the world, to find the one that is within easy distance of your home.

Businesses offering services in specific locations need to focus on local SEO, ensuring that when someone does a search, they are one of the top results. Local SEO offers excellent benefits, including:

Boost Brand Visibility in Local Results

When a person does a search for a product or service you provide in your location, you want to be at the top. When you appear in the first search results, your visibility is automatically boosted. If you haven't optimised your website for local SEO, then you are missing out on valuable opportunities.

Local Audience Targeting

Creating high quality content with general keywords will drive traffic to your website, though they may not be able to use your services as they are in another county. Targeting your keywords for your local audience, using local keywords, can ensure you increase your ranking in local results, helping you target your local audience.

Improved In-Store Sales and Foot Traffic

Local search results show a Google 3-pack just below the sponsored ads. This is the coveted real estate you are aiming for, it's at the top of search results, showing your location, making it easier for potential customers to ask directions or visit your website. This improves your chances of having more foot traffic through your door, increasing in-store sales.

In fact, fifty percent of “near me” searches result in a visit to the store, while seventy two percent of consumers doing a local search went to visit a store within five miles of their location. Eighty eight percent of mobile local business searches resulted in a call or visit within twenty four hours, while seventy eight percent of location based mobile searches resulted in an offline purchase.

Increased Conversion Rates

Every business wants to see a rise in conversion rates. Who wouldn't want to turn visitors into customers? When you stay in the mind of potential consumers by constantly appearing in relevant local results, sharing quality content, and offering an user friendly website, you generate interest in your business, helping you improve your conversion rates to achieve online success.

Conclusion

These days just about every business, no matter the size or industry, should be focusing on local SEO optimisation, helping you reach a local audience, boosting your brand visibility, and driving qualified and local traffic to your website and store.