With almost everyone on the web now, including your grandma, Search Engine Optimization is the go-to marketing tool when trying to reach potential customers. SEO is great for driving traffic and raising awareness, but what about the small businesses that want personalized campaigns to better target their community? That’s where Local SEO comes in.

Local SEO Defined

Local SEO is a unique form of SEO that caters to small businesses and offers a better targeted online marketing approach. Using a variety of strategies, Local SEO targets customers by promoting your business and products at the exact moment they are looking for them. For example, if someone is searching for a plumber near their location, local search will optimize their results to show local plumbers in their area. With more on the go mobile users in today’s digital age, you should implement a digital marketing strategy that will bring attention to your business when users need it the most.

Local SEO Strategies

If you’re new to SEO, a lot of factors make up whether your business makes it on the first page of a Google search. Local SEO tactics along with optimized meta titles and descriptions can help your small business reach that highly sought after number one spot.

1. Online Directories and Citations: Encompassing sites such as Yelp, CitySearch, and FourSquare, online directories display key information such as your business’ name, contact info, and sometimes a short description. Online directories often dominate the first page of local search results. Having an accurate listing is important to getting your small business noticed.
2. Structured Data Markup: Often referred to as a schema markup, structured data can be added to your website’s code to provide search engines with more information about your business. This gives Google a better understanding of what your content relates to and could, in turn, translate to higher rankings.
3. Online Reviews: Today’s users are often very trusting of online reviews. They care about what previous customers have to say, so having a strong network of recommendations and reviews is key to attracting new customers.

While these are only a few of the capabilities of Local SEO tactics, they can be essential to improving your online visibility and getting your small business noticed. Millions of users use online local search every day to find the best local business for their needs. Target these customers by implementing Local SEO into your marketing plan.

At Red Shark Digital we can help you generate valuable website traffic and reach your target market. Being a small business ourselves we understand your goals and know how to reach them. Visit our website to learn more about our digital marketing solutions and contact us to get started today!