Partner Article

The Importance of Local Searches

To improve your online business your website needs to be optimised for local searches. The reason is simple. Google is on a mission to deliver a better service to their customers – you and every other Google fan – and by doing so are focused on turning out the most relevant results based on the end-users keyword search. The search engine giant say that at least 20% of searches typed in by end-users is a local search and are therefore encouraging local business to raise their hands and be identified.

This is where your SEO knowledge comes into play. For Google to identify what type of business you are and the location of your local region your website has to be specifically ramped up to attract local searches. For example, if you are looking for an expert SEO Company and live on the Tyne you would probably type your keyword search in as “SEO agency in Newcastle.” The keywords here are obviously SEO agency, but as far as Google is concerned the search term “Newcastle” is equally as important for you to connect with a local business.

How to set up your website for Local SEO

There are various methods you can use to set your online store for search engines to identify your locality. That´s the easy part, but you also want to make it as easy as possible for prospects to find you as well – nit just online, but physically. If you own a small business that relies solely on the local customers, such as a hairdresser, mechanic or butcher, gearing your website for local searches is imperative for the future growth of your business.

If you know anything about keywords you will know they need to be positioned in key areas specified by search engines algorithms – in yet another tactic Google are using to establish trusted sites. If you are unaware of correct keyword placement speak to your local SEO agency or SEO copywriting expert.

SEO local contacts page

Needless to say but your contacts page is a prime page to identify the location of your business and the area in which your business operates. Given that 55 per cent of searches conducted with a mobile are always local searches by people on the move specifically identifying your location or a map so that it is easy to find or inserting your address into GPS offers a quick and easy solution.

Therefore include your full address and postcode in your contacts page and as a visual aid set up a custom Google Map to go in your contacts page also as this gives prospects an instant fix on the location of your place of business. It is likely in an area they are familiar with or at least have a rough idea, thus will be more inclined to visit. The Google map will also appear in the search page identify your location without the end-user needing to go into your website to retrieve an address. Local searches are for local people and that is why local SEO is important to your future business growth.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sarah Atkinson .