how to promote your business locally online

Performing well online is a key objective for many businesses these days, but how can small businesses compete with the large? Making sure that you are prominent within your local area can be the difference between success and failure.

Local SEO

So what it Local SEO?

Local SEO (Local Search Optimisation) is a practice that aims to place your business’ website on Google’s coveted first page when people are searching from within your surrounding area. This tactic is particularly important for local service-based businesses such as accountants, solicitors, electricians, hairdressers, restaurants and many, many more.

Local Website Search Engine Optimisation
Local Business - Local Website

When Does Local SEO Come Into Play?

Google is able to evaluate the phrase entered into its search engine (e.g. “electrician Yeovil”) and recognise when it is appropriate to display local business listings.

It will then search the most relevant local businesses and display them accordingly.

Wouldn’t it be great for your business to be displayed to local customers?

This article will go through some of the ways in which you can make that happen.

Get Set Up With Google My Business

In order to make your website appear relevant, it is important to provide Google with the details it requires.

Firstly, you must first make sure that your business is listed to appear on Google Maps by claiming your Google My Business page.

At this stage, I won’t go into the details of how to do this; however, it is important to provide as much detail as possible including a long, unique description, plenty of photos, a local phone number and opening hours.

Receiving positive reviews via your Google account will also push you higher up the local listings. This is especially useful as, as once you have received five reviews or more, five stars will be displayed alongside your website showing your average score.

This really helps you to stand out from the crowd!

Local Website Optimisation. Let Google Know Where You Are
Promoting Local Businesses Online

Sign Up To Respected Directories

Signing up to respected directories is one of the most important ways to boost yourself locally. There are some well-known directories such as Yell.com and Thomson Local that are vital to be a part of, but it is also important to focus on smaller, niche-specific directories.

For example, we recently signed Gromedia up to Web-Development.com as it is specific to the market we operate in, therefore carrying extra relevance compared with the more generic directories above.

Starting with these tips, any small-medium sized business can begin to compete with larger companies.

David really can defeat Goliath.

Create area specific content on your website

What this means is to have content specifically targeted towards customers in your local area. Here’s a few ways you could do that:

  • Use location-specific keywords such as your postcode, town or geographic area.
  • Consider why local customers would search for your business and answer that.
  • Participate in and write about local activities.
Local Website Promotion
Local Website Promotion

Optimise your NAP

Here comes the technical part, ensuring your NAP (Name, Address and Phone Number) is wrapped in schema mark-up code throughout the website will allow search engines to crawl your website and find the information easily.

If you do this, google can provide snippets of key information (such as NAP) when your business shows up in search results. This is hugely beneficial to your online presence.

Why you should invest in Local SEO

  • It’s What People Are Searching For

    A massive 46% of all google searches are from people looking for local information.

  • Get More Relevant Traffic

    A major benefit of local SEO is that it generates traffic from a nearby audience that will actually be able to visit your business and even better – come back again afterwards. 80% of local searches convert compared to just 14.6% of overall organic search.

  • Reduce Ad Costs

    Local SEO is one of the most effective ways of generating organic traffic without spending any money on ads.

  • Improve Visibility

    While it may be difficult to rank globally, it’s much easier to rank in local searches. Through intelligent local SEO strategies, it will be easier for your customers to find you.

  • Gain a Competitive Edge

    And do you want to know what the best thing about it is? Less than half of local retailers aren’t even using it. 56% of local retailers are yet to claim their google my business listing, so through doing this alone you have an advantage on your local competitors.

Find out more about the service we offer

Soar Up the Search Engine Rankings With Gromedia

If your website isn’t getting traffic, you may have an SEO problem and Gromedia can help to fix that.

We’ll help to optimise your website, ensuring it is discoverable to your customers so you can beat your competition in search engine results.

Google will be at your mercy!

Contact Us

Contact us today and claim your free consultation!

  • 01935 420780
  • info@gromedia.com