Why should you be Interested ?
Local SEO is a different form of search engine optimization that focuses on helping small businesses operating in one or more local areas rise to the top of the search engine results for geographical searches. Though many of the tactics are the same compared to general SEO, the strategies for local SEO are different. At TG Connect Media Services we understand the complexities of local SEO, and is ready to assist you. It’s a lot of work to take on as a small business owner who’s already wearing multiple hats over the course of any day. We’re here to help take the pressure off, and put you on the path toward growth.
A 2010 study revealed that 97% of customers are using the internet to research local products and services. Though the information is a bit dated, back then the numbers showed 90% of consumers were using search engines, and 42% were using shopping comparison sites. As we’ve become more advanced and reliant on technology, search engines have made changes to ensure consumer needs are met.
Focus On Citations and Reviews ?
In “standard” SEO, there’s talk about building links to your website from other reputable sources. While those certainly won’t hurt your local SEO efforts, there’s more focus on building citations first, and links second.
To do this, we focus on three core areas :
- Name, Address, Phone Number (NAP) Citations : We make sure you have your full NAP on every page on your website. And, however it is listed there, is how we’ll mention it on other websites. It is essential that each citation be done in the exact same format, and include all the same details. We’ll use the org markup on your NAP, to make it easier for search engines to display your company information correctly. Your address needs to be a real, physical business location. This means it cannot be a virtual office, as Google requirements state it must be staffed.
- Local Reviews: Since Google launched the Local Carousel feature in June 2013, they’ve had influence on how a business is ranked. According to Moz, they account for about 10% of how the search engines decide to rank results. When we focus on reviews, we don’t craft reviews for you – we help make sure your business profiles are claimed on all the popular review sites like Google Reviews, Yelp, TripAdvisor, and others specific to your business services. This way, all the NAP information stays consistent, and you can start encouraging customers to leave honest reviews for you.
- My Business Signals : We’ll make sure you’ve created or claimed your business in Google My Business, and assist with the verification process. We’ll include the correct category data for what your business is, rather than what it does. We’ll scan for duplicate listings and get rid of as many as possible. If we can’t get rid of them, we’ll minimize the listing. We’ll add as much rich data as we possibly can, such as your hours, photos, and a business description. If your business has multiple locations – more than 10, there’s a bulk option, too.
Our team will handle crafting the citations for you, which will save you time and effort. Plus, we’ll take it one step further to look at all the citations your competitors have gained, so we can be sure you are wherever they are.
Just how much do online reviews matter to your business? One survey shows before deciding whether or not to conduct business with a company the majority of people research reviews. Whether or not those reviews are trusted depends largely on the demographic, with 70% of Millennials believing customer reviews (compared to 85% of them believing personal recommendations from friends and family. However, overall, nearly 1/3 of people trust reviews they believe to be authentic.
Are you a local small business that’s struggling to make progress with your online marketing efforts? Give TG Connect Media Services a call to learn more about how we can build the right strategy for you.