Starting and running a small business is no easy task, and one of the biggest challenges small business owners face is getting noticed in a crowded market. The use of local search, however, can help small businesses gain visibility quickly and easily.
Today, consumers want the best products and services nearby, and they spend more time researching businesses online before making purchases in stores. According to research, 4 out of 5 people use Google to find information about businesses in their local area. So, in the event that your business is not optimized for local search―you could lose up to 80% of your potential customers.
Briefly, local SEO is an essential aspect of a successful digital marketing campaign in this day and age. If you’re living in Las Vegas, here are steps you can take to improve your visibility locally and attract more customers to your business.
Claim your Google My Business listing
A business can reach new heights online with the help of Google My Business. Google My Business primarily drives local search packs. So, one of the first things you should do is claim your Google My Business listing. It will also allow you to manage your business’s information on Google, including your hours of operation, contact information, and location. It is important because Google is the most widely used search engine, and having a well-maintained listing will make it easier for customers to find you.
However, there is a lot more you need to do to optimize your listing than you think. In addition to your place of business, the strategies your competitors are using also influence your listing. In order to win this game, make sure you use the best strategies. However, if you’re not sure how to do it, you can hire a Los Vegas digital marketing agency that can assist you with optimizing your listings.
Optimize your website for local SEO
In addition to your Google My Business listing, you should optimize your website for local SEO. That means including relevant keywords and phrases in your website’s content and metadata and adding your business’s location to your website’s title and header tags. It will help search engines understand that your business is relevant to people searching for businesses in Las Vegas.
Get listed in local online directories.
Another way to improve your visibility is to get listed in local online directories, such as Yelp, Yellow Pages, and the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce. These directories often rank highly in local search results, so being listed in them can help drive traffic to your website. However, always make sure all directories have the same information.
Learn how to add the same information to Google, Yelp, Yellow Pages, and other directories. In all directories, it is recommended to maintain the same Name, Address, and Phone Number (NAP). Whenever any changes are necessary, make sure that you update all directories.
Create location pages
Be sure to have a separate location page for each office or branch if you operate in more than one part of Las Vegas. Using this strategy will help you with Las Vegas local SEO as well as SEO for all of your other sites.
Encourage customer reviews
Businesses rely heavily on reviews. In addition to providing feedback, they also increase the business’ SEO favorability. Approximately 80% of people reported relying on online and offline reviews. Customer reviews are an essential factor in local search rankings, so it’s important to encourage your customers to leave reviews on sites like Google, Yelp, and Facebook.
Responding to customer reviews, whether positive or negative, is also important as it will show that you value your customers and are actively engaged with them.
Publish local content related to your products or services
Creating and publishing local-focused website content can give search engines a better understanding of your location. Consider how your business fits into your local community when developing local content ideas. Inspiration for local content can come from a variety of different sources. If you have been involved with local events, consider writing about them. In addition to helping you expand your local content and improve your local SEO, this will give you a chance to show off what you’re doing in the community.
Optimize your social profiles
Also, by consistently interacting with your customers on social networking sites, you can improve your SEO rankings. Use social media to share content that makes sense for your business, such as tweets, posts, and likes. It is best to turn casual internet users into loyal customers by creating good, clear content related to your business.
Whatever you post on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn should be interesting, informative, and fun. Tell social media users about your business and why they should become customers. You can do this effectively by sharing compelling stories, videos, images, downloadable guides, etc.
Use solid and relevant keywords!
In order to determine what your business is about, search engines use keywords in your content. It is, therefore, important to choose keywords that have a broad reach while also being relatively low in competition. For local SEO, you should also use highly identifiable keywords in your region. In addition, consider researching LSI keywords.
Mark your words with Structured Data Markup
You should always edit your content according to Structured Data Markup when trying to get higher Search Engine Results Positions. Schema.org best demonstrates structured Data Markup. Schema helps Google bots understand information more easily. The more it understands, the easier it finds it to publish on web searches. Hence, Google always favors schema-based results. For laymen, writing such codes can be challenging. Due to this, getting the help of digital marketing experts is a good idea.
Ready to get local?
By following the above tips, you can improve your visibility in local search results and attract more customers to your small business. However, it can take a lot of time to put all of these things into practice ― and it can be a big task for a small business, especially if you lack experience or bandwidth. Fortunately, you can reach out to Las Vegas digital marketing experts for professional assistance. Being one of the most experienced digital marketing agencies in Las Vegas, we offer the highest level of expertise in making your business visible on local search results.
Let’s talk today ― we’re happy to help!
