Are you struggling to get more traffic from your local area? If so, you may be making common local SEO mistakes preventing you from obtaining higher rankings in the Google search engine.
In this article, we will discuss the top 5 local SEO mistakes many business owners make that may be costing their business traffic and customers. We’ll also provide tips on how to fix these mistakes and start getting the results you want!
Importance of Local SEO for Small Businesses
Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy. They create two out of every three new jobs in the country and account for more than half of all private-sector employment.
Small businesses also play a vital role in the local community, providing jobs and support to their neighbors.
Small businesses can reach more customers and grow their business by optimizing their websites and Google Business profiles for local searches.
Local search engine optimization is a process that helps you rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) when people search for terms related to your business.
By ranking higher, you can attract more traffic from your local area and generate more traffic, leads, and sales. Local SEO also strongly focuses on generating inbound calls and foot traffic to your store.
But local SEO is not without its challenges. Businesses often make several common mistakes that end up costing them valuable traffic and customers.
This article will discuss the top 5 local SEO mistakes and how to fix them.
Not using a local SEO tool.
A common local SEO mistake that small business owners make is not utilizing a local SEO tool to optimize and manage their GMB listings.
If you’re unsure how to optimize your website for local SEO, it can be helpful to use a local SEO tool.
These tools provide valuable information about your website and the competition in your area, including keyword rankings, backlink profiles, and local search results.
Suppose you’re serious about growing your business with local SEO. In that case, you must use a local SEO and Google My Business management tool, such as local ranking to help guide your efforts and ensure success.
Not focusing on location-based keywords.
One of the most common mistakes businesses make with local SEO is failing to focus on location-based keywords.
Simply using generic keywords like “plumber” or “dentist” may not be enough to get your website and Google Business listing ranking for local searches.
Instead, you should focus on including geographic terms and keywords in your content that are relevant to your business and its location.
For example, if you are a local plumber based in New York City, you should add keywords like “New York City plumbers” and “plumbing services in NYC” to your Google My Business profile and website.
This tells search engines that your business is located in the area and helps to rank you higher when people search for related terms.
Ignoring Google My Business listings
Another common mistake that businesses make is ignoring their Google My Business listing. Your Google My Business listing is essentially a mini-website for your business, and it’s one of the most important factors in local SEO.
To get started with your Google My Business listing, you must create an account on the Google My Business website.
From there, you can fill out all the necessary information about your business and upload photos to help customers find and learn more about your company.
Since GMB is a free product from Google, local business owners should take advantage of this tool. Your business won’t be able to show in the local map pack without having a Google Business listing.
Not getting location-based links.
One of the best ways to boost your local SEO is by getting links from highly authoritative sources on relevant topics.
For example, if you have a blog post about plumbers in New York City, you should aim to get links from local publications and newspapers that are based in New York City and that write about topics in the city.
By getting links from authoritative, local sources, you show search engines that your content is trustworthy and valuable.
This helps to improve your ranking in SERPs and attract more potential customers.
Not keeping NAP details consistent.
NAP consistency, which stands for Name-Address-Phone, is an important factor for local SEO.
Consistency in your NAP information means that the details you provide about your business (name, address, phone number) are displayed accurately and consistently across all digital channels all over the web.
Having consistent and up-to-date NAP information ensures that customers can easily find and contact your business, which helps to improve your local SEO rankings.
To avoid this local SEO mistake, you must keep your NAP information up-to-date and consistent across all platforms, such as Google My Business, Yelp, Bing Places, Yahoo, Better Business Bureau, etc.
You can do this by using a citation management or local SEO tool to ensure that the details displayed on your website, Google My Business listing, and other online channels are always accurate.
If you find any inconsistencies, be sure to update them immediately to avoid any negative consequences for your local SEO rankings.
Conclusion
Are you making any of these common local SEO mistakes? If so, it’s time to take action and start optimizing your website and Google My Business profile for more traffic and customers.
Small business owners make a lot of common mistakes when it comes to local SEO.
By avoiding these mistakes and using the tips we’ve provided, you can improve your business’s ranking in SERPs and attract more potential customers.
Keep in mind that SEO is an ongoing process, so be sure to revisit your strategy regularly and make changes as needed.