Boost Your Small Business with Local SEO

In the ever-evolving digital landscape, small businesses face unique challenges when it comes to gaining visibility and attracting local customers. This is where Local SEO for small businesses can make a significant difference.

Local SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) is a powerful strategy that focuses on enhancing a business’s online presence in local search results. It is an indispensable tool for small businesses looking to thrive in their respective communities.

Let’s take a look at various ways local SEO can help small businesses increase their local search visibility and drive more local traffic.

Create and optimise your Google Business profile

One of the first and most crucial steps in boosting your local SEO is creating and optimising your Google Business profile.

Google provides an easy to use dashboard that allows businesses to manage their online presence across Google, including Google Search and Google Maps. Google also provides an app so you can manage your profile, respond to reviews and questions whilst on the go.

By providing accurate information, adding high-quality images and videos, and regularly updating your business profile, you increase your chances of ranking higher in local search results.

This information is prominently displayed when users search for local businesses, making it a critical part of your local SEO strategy.

Get started with setting up and optimising your Google Business profile

Create a Bing Places profile and sync it with your Google Business profile

While Google is the dominant search engine, Bing still holds a substantial market share, and neglecting it can mean missing out on potential customers.

Bing Places for Business is similar to Google Business and enables you to manage your online presence on the Bing search engine and Bing Maps. By creating and optimising your Bing Places profile, you expand your reach and improve your local search visibility.

Instead of having to input all your business information, branding and photos again, Bing does provide an option for you to sync the profile with your Google Business profile. This is very useful as it means you only need to update one listing each time you need to make an edit.

You will need a Microsoft account to create a Bing Places profile. Get started at www.bingplaces.com

Utilise Apple Business Connect for Apple Maps

Just over half of all smartphone users have an iphone, so if your business is not showing on the Apple map app, which is the default map on all iphones, ipads and Apple watches, you will be missing out on a lot of potential local traffic.

Small businesses can leverage Apple Business Connect to manage their business listings on Apple Maps. This ensures that your information is accurate and up-to-date, making it easier for local customers to find you.

Apple will only accept businesses who have a commercial premises, so if you run a business from home, you will not be able to add your business to Apple maps.

Implement Local Schema Markup

Schema markup is a code that you add to your website to help search engines provide more informative and relevant results for users.

Local schema markup is a specific type of markup that provides search engines with structured data about your business, such as your location, hours of operation, reviews, and more.

By implementing local schema markup on your website, you can enhance your search results and increase your local search visibility.

Read more about Structured Data Markup for SEO.

Geo-Targeting through website content

Creating website content that is tailored to your local audience is another effective way to boost your local SEO. This includes using location-specific keywords, mentioning nearby landmarks or attractions, and providing content that addresses the unique needs and interests of your local customer base.

Geo-targeted content helps search engines understand the relevance of your business to local users, improving your ranking in local search results.

Add your business to local business directories

Being listed in local business directories is an essential part of local SEO.

These directories, such as Yelp, Yell.com, and TripAdvisor, provide valuable backlinks to your website and increase your online visibility.

Ensure that your business details are consistent across all directories and that you actively manage your profiles to encourage customer reviews and engagement.

Local SEO is an indispensable tool for small businesses looking to increase their local search visibility and attract more local traffic.

By optimising your Google Business profile, creating a Bing Places profile, utilising Apple Business Connect, implementing local schema markup, geo-targeting your website content, and adding your business to local directories, you can significantly improve your local SEO efforts.

In a world where consumers increasingly turn to the internet to find local businesses, harnessing the power of local SEO is no longer an option—it’s a necessity.

Small businesses that invest in these strategies can increase their online presence, attract local customers, and ultimately thrive in their communities. So, take the first step and start optimising your local SEO today!

At Whizz Marketing, we provide dedicated, affordable SEO and marketing support to small local businesses. We also share lots of tips, guidance and resources to help small business owners to better understand SEO and how to apply it. If you are in need of some extra support, please get in touch. Call Louise at Whizz on 07814 391221 or visit whizzmarketing.co.uk to find out more about how Whizz can help your business.

If you are eager to get started with learning more about SEO and how to adapt your SEO Strategy to the new AI search landscape, please explore our SEO Hub for Small Businesses. This is your go-to SEO toolbox! Here you will find lots of guidance, tips and tools that are bang up-to-date and will give all you need to get started on creating your 2024 SEO Strategy.