Google – Local SEO top tips
Here’s quick list of factors that will help your business rank as a “Local Business” with Google. These are all important points that will help you rank at the top with Google local searches.
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General Local SEO information
- What are customers looking for?
- Use Long tail keyword expressions along with Keyphrases
- Avoid Jargon
- Create posts for questions asked locally
- Check what your competition are doing
- What is your users’ intent? What is the purpose of their search term?
- Informational Intent – just more information
- Navigational Intent – user wants to get to your site quickly (e.g. contact page)
- Purchase Intent – Looking for pricing and comparisons
- Transactional Intent – Ready to Buy! Make sure you page offers purchase
Website – what do I need to do on my website for Local SEO
- Check your “user experience” scores with Google
- Put your name, address and telephone on your footer (every page)
- Hyperlink logo to home page
- Create easy navigation – what are people looking for?
- Other links in the footer
- Sliders are ‘old school’ and no longer useful – AVOID them!
- Contact information is easy to find in multiple places
- Put contact link in main navigation
- Include google map
- Add visual elements (images, videos, etc.) – optimise for mobile devices
- Make sure your “Meta Description” (describe the page) and “Title Tag” are optimised on every page for relevance to the content on the page
- Keep title tag to under 60 characters and no keyword stuffing
- Do not use company name in title tag (waste of space!)
- Break up posts and pages with Headings (H1 – H4)
- Break up posts and pages into small paragraphs
- Add Call to Actions
- Add meta data to images and videos (titles, alt tag, etc.) – describe the image and do not keyword stuff
Link Building for Local SEO
- Get backlinks from quality websites (Quality is better than quantity)
- Focus on related content websites
- Get backlinks from suppliers, contractors, etc.
- Offer to write an online testimonial for a backlink
- Check backlinks that go to competitors
- Build relationships with other businesses that rank with Google on page 1
- Setup “Google Alerts” for your company mention
- Write press articles / releases
- Search “Your full business name” -site:yourwebsite.com – see which other businesses are linking to you and reach out to them for backlinks
User Experience with Local SEO
- Make sure your website is “mobile first” and responsive – check with google tools – https://search.google.com/test/mobile-friendly
- Make sure you have an SSL certificate
- Make sure you website loads quickly – Chrome Browser Lighthouse test and report
- Add ‘Schema’ markup to your website (or get your web developer to ensure that your site is optimised for Schema).
GMB Google my business
- Google My Business profile
- Make sure you have your business name, address, telephone number correct
- Get Reviews from customers – ASK!
- Reply to ALL reviews
- Add review link to your email signature
- Setup your GMB “shortname” (@ name)
- Make sure reviews are created away from your address
- Make sure profile is up to date with GMB
- Find local search expressions for your services
- Use some “Long tail” search terms
Directories / Citations for Local SEO
- Find best directory services for your business
- What directories are your competition using
- Claim your business and setup key accouns
- Make sure your address / Tel is consistent
- Apple maps
- Facebook profile
- Linkedin business profile
- BrightLocal
Build Authority
- Try guest blogging for non competitive websites
- Link back to your website
- Be a “guest” on top ranking podcasts – make sure your BIO is up to date
- Make sure they issue show notes
- Follow and build relationship
- Find a topic you want a back link for
- Mention keyword phrases and your location in the podcast
- Talk about posts on your website and links
- Promote when the podcast is broadcast
- Tag podcast and the hosts
- Expert roundup post – get answers to questions from experts in your area
- Curation – related content from experts and add snippets – make sure you have their permission and give them credit
- Expert Q&A – reach out with questions in your area and publish – add their backlinks
Tools for building a better website for Local SEO
- LSIGraph: https://lsigraph.com/ – affordable and easy-to-use keyword research tool
- keywordtool.io (free tool – https://keywordtool.io/)
- Link Assistant Backlink Checker: https://www.link-assistant.com/seo-spyglass/free-backlinkchecker- tool.html
- AnswerThePublic: https://answerthepublic.com/ – Find keywords and questions people are asking about a particular topic
- Google!
- Google Ads Keyword Planner: https://ads.google.com/
- Google Guide to Using Google Ads Keyword Planner: https://ads.google.com/home/resources/using-google-ads-keyword-planner/
- Google My Business Signup/Dashboard: https://business.google.com
- Guidelines for Representing Your Business on Google: https://support.google.com/business/answer/3038177?hl=en
- Google My Business Help Forum: https://support.google.com/business/community?hl=en
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps
- Google Marketing kit: https://marketingkit.withgoogle.com/intl/en-GB/r/GB
- PageSpeed Insights: https://developers.google.com/speed/pagespeed/insights/
- Google Alerts: https://www. google.com/alerts
- Google SEO Starter Guide: https://developers.google.com/search/docs/beginner/seo-starter-guide.com
