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How To Make It Easier For Your Local Customers To Find You Online

How to Make It Easier for Your Local Customers to Find You Online

Local search is a hot topic at WSI agencies around the globe. Consistently a WSI Top 25 Revenue Earner and Top Gun since joining in 2004, Alison Lindemann leverages her decades of traditional and digital marketing experience in her Los Angeles agency. She also authored the Lead Nurturing chapter in our Digital Minds book. Alison recently hosted a webinar on how to make it easier for your local customers to find you online. Here’s what we learned during her presentation.

Define Local Search and Benefits

Local search means being found when someone is looking for something in the local market you serve. It is perfect for businesses that are geographically focused because local search:
  • Develops trust and loyal customers
  • Increases visibility, site traffic, leads, and foot traffic
  • Avoids wasting time competing with eCommerce giant

This is important because:
  • 46% of all Google searchers are looking for local information.
  • Of those, half result in an in-store visit (physical or online) within one day.
  • “Near me” searches grew by 900% over two years.

Four Types of Search Results

The areas of the Google local search results page where you can potentially get your business listed include:
  1. Google My Business maps. Despite being a free business profile on Google, a shockingly high number of businesses have not claimed their listings. 90% of consumers use GMB to find a local company.
  2. Local search engine optimization maximizes your online presence based on a set of ranking criteria – proximity, relevance, and prominence (the quality of your website) – so that Google returns your listing as one of the most relevant results.
  3. Paid search results start with “Ad”. Each time someone clicks on your search result, you pay a fee to Google. Contact your local WSI consultant for assistance with this viable, but complex, tool.
  4. Google Guaranteed listings have earned a rotation at the top of the page for local searches.

Seven Actions to Implement in Your Business

Get your business listed on one or more of these four prized spots of the first page of local search results.

1. Have a Mobile-friendly Website

Having a responsive design means that your website can adapt to any screen size and makes it easier for your customers to find you because most local searches are done on phones.

If your website does not pass Google’s test, get in touch with your web developer ASAP.

2. Include Your Address on Your Website

Duh! If you only have one location, add it to your contact page and website footer. If you have multiple locations, use a “Locations” page to list each address, and create a unique page for each.

Including Schema Markup to your site tells search engines precisely what your business name is, your logo, address, phone numbers, operating hours, and more.

3. Create a Google My Business Listing

By far the most important action for local SEO. It’s an easy way to get a first page search result on a local business with these steps:
  • Claim your listing
  • 100% complete all your business
  • Upload media
  • Embrace and respond to customer reviews – even the bad ones! Watch out for WSI’s webinar on customer reviews
  • Enable any suitable additional features, e.g. chat, social
  • Create Google posts on your profile
  • Take advantage of Google My Business’ reporting and analysis platforms

4. Add Local Oriented Content

Keep content fresh with regular blogs posts.

5. Use Business Citations

Online mentions of consistent NAP info – name, address, phone – boosts rankings. Check yours here.

6. Optimize for Voice Searches

Because most local searches are done by phone, people are increasingly using voice-activated search. Be specific and conversational.

7. Google Guaranteed

Apply for this certification that gives prospects additional confidence in your business. Used mostly in service industries.

For assistance on targeting local search to boost your bottom line, or any other digital marketing strategies, contact WSI without delay.

Laurie McCullagh

Laurie McCullagh, a digital marketing professional and a seasoned Montreal SEO expert, is the managing partner of WSI Digital Marketing Montreal. With over 20 years of extensive experience in the industry, Laurie specializes in propelling the online visibility and credibility of manufacturers, distributors, professional service firms, and organizations. Laurie’s holistic and client-centric approach, with a meticulous focus on website development and SEO specifically tailored to meet individual business needs, aims to generate more qualified leads to clients, boosting sales and establishing a strong online reputation and presence.

Her commitment to the business community is further exemplified by her role as the VP of Corporate Affairs for the West Island of Montreal Chamber of Commerce.

Laurie’s rich digital marketing portfolio and comprehensive web services in Montreal are sought after by diverse sectors seeking to enhance their digital footprint and market reach. Her reputation as an online marketing and website development expert is further exemplified by consistent results, many satisfied clients, and numerous Website awards.

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