Semalt: 6 Local SEO Tactics For Small Businesses

It is up to the small business owner to let Google know where the business resides, and what it offers. It is in line with helping the company appear on the search engine ranking pages, as well as increase visibility to the relevant audience in that area. It is known as local SEO optimization, and it can be quite a confusing topic especially with the introduction of the Pigeon algorithm by Google. It makes it easy to understand the ranking factors that will help local SEO services.

Ivan Konovalov, the expert from Semalt, specifies what one should include in their local SEO objectives.

1. Create Local Places Pages

It ensures that the owner has a local business page for the three top search engines. In total, there are three listings and dashboards in total to manage. All one needs to do is to fill out all the information regarding the business, and that will be all for the account.

2. Optimize and Categorize the Page Correctly

Optimization includes uploading high-quality photos, detailing the working hours, and a list of all the available services. Categorization, on the other hand, is to help the search engines understand what the business does. They should offer 2-5 categories to give you the ability to place your business in any of them. Search engines tend not to display businesses with no categorization or categorize incorrectly.

3. Accurate Business Citations

Always ensure that the NAP (Name, Address, Phone) details of the company are consistent throughout all the listings on search engines. There is a high chance that the business is already listed somewhere by somebody else. All one needs to do is to claim that listing to avoid conflicts. Claiming the citation requires the owner to conduct some research on whether there is another business with the same name and location. Continue to verify ownership through any possible means. Use resources such as Yext or Localize, or Google MapMaker to speed up the process.

4. Online Reviews

Google also looks to online reviews to rank a website. However, it is only the customers that get to view the site on the search results page that do reviews. Reviews determine if visitors want to click on a link or not. One can easily add a "post review" button on the website to make it easier for visitors, prompting them to leave a review after making a purchase.

5. Quality Photos

When people search for anything, they like to see pictures of it. The Google+ Local allows the user to upload up to ten pictures. Having as many pictures uploaded to the account is key to attracting many customers. Make sure to take actual photos of the building, both in and out. To add photos, visit the local listing created, and find the link that reads "add photos".

6. Optimize the Website

Part of the local search is the website and what people say about it. The website should have some contact information, preferably a phone number. An added advantage is to include local keywords wherever possible and then build upon them by creating relevant content to the target audience. The connections one makes with the local audience determines if they will make return visits.