Local search engine optimization (SEO) has proven to be an effective digital marketing technique for promoting local businesses and their corresponding services to their local communities.
According to Forbes, 95 percent of smartphone users have used their device to perform local searches. At least 60 percent of these users have contacted the business, and 59 percent visited. Another recent study found that about 70 percent of smartphone users click to call a business directly from Google search results using their mobile devices. This a considerable slice of business you may be missing out on if you haven’t yet engaged with a quality local SEO agency.
Investing in local SEO will help you put your business in front of these searchers. This is especially true if you own a brick-and-mortar store. Let’s look at several other great reasons to invest in Local SEO.
Local SEO Converts Searches to Purchases
Statistics show that at least 75 percent of local searches lead to offline purchases. The good thing about Local SEO is that it targets consumers who are searching online for businesses within their locality. If you can put your business in front of these consumers, then you have a much higher chance of converting them into buying customers.
Local SEO Provides Relevant Information to Customers
With Local SEO, you can ensure that prospective customers get the information they are looking for, at any given time. If your store offers some after-sale services with a product purchase, for example, you should display that information as part of your SEO. This way, you’re bound to attract customers who’re looking for just that.
Local SEO Can Influence Consumer Decision in Your Favor
Local SEO is useful in making consumers choose your business over your competitors. The more information that potential customers have about your business, the more credible you are in their eyes. This presents a solid foundation upon which you can establish a mutually beneficial customer relationship. Get free SEO tips from seo montreal expert.
Most Local Businesses are Yet to Claim Their Google My Business (GMB) Listing
While Google My Business (GMB) is a free listing that virtually any business can leverage to boost their marketing efforts, only about 44 percent of companies have claimed their GMB listing.
Adding a GMB listing for your business can help boost the chances you’ll appear high in Google local search results. If you haven’t claimed your listing yet, this is an opportunity to get a head-start before your competitors discover the power of GMB listing.
Many of the Effective Local SEO Tools Are Free
We’ve already seen that you won’t pay a dime to claim your GMB listing. Getting listed on Bing Places for Business and numerous other online business directories is also free.
That means you’ll be promoting your business to the local community for free. It’s essential, however, to working with professional SEO companies to get the most of your local SEO efforts with their SEO consulting.
In Conclusion
Leveraging Local SEO is a critical step in building a solid online presence for your local business. It’s an effective way to stay ahead of your competitors in today’s digital economy.
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