Local SEO is a crucial part of your marketing strategy if you have a brick-and-mortar location. It helps search engines understand that you are a relevant business in the eyes of the user.
It also increases the likelihood of your business appearing in searches with local references such as ‘electronics store Liverpool center.’
What is Local SEO?
Local SEO is a form of search engine optimization that helps companies, and service-area-based businesses rank higher on Google’s Search Engine Results Page (SERP) when someone searches for relevant keywords within the company’s area. Local SEO aims to make your website stand out against competitors and demonstrate why you are the best choice for the searcher’s needs.
Local searches are a great opportunity for businesses with brick-and-mortar stores and those who serve a specific geographic area, such as a home cleaning business. It is also a great opportunity for those who manage both a physical store and an online presence, such as e-commerce websites that sell a wide range of products or services to a geographic audience. Developing a strong local SEO strategy will improve your chances of ranking higher in the Map Pack for both types of searches.
When people enter a search query with local intent, like [men’s shoes near me], Google recognizes the user is looking for a product or service and displays a Map Pack of three nearby locations – the local 3-pack – above organic search results. Appearing in the 3-pack is a significant advantage for local search rankings and can be a powerful driver of traffic and new customers for your business.
In addition to making sure your NAP (name, address, and phone number) is consistent across the web and in your Google Business Profile, local SEO includes optimizing the content on your site with target keywords that are searched by users in your geographical area. It also involves leveraging social media and review sites to promote and encourage positive reviews of your business.
Google’s algorithm for organic search is a closely guarded secret, but they have been open about what they look for in a local Business Profile. The most important factors are relevance and prominence. Relevance means the Business Profile is optimized with the right keywords and matches the searcher’s intent, while prominence is determined by how well your Business Profile stands out among other nearby business profiles.
Local search engine optimization is not a one-size-fits-all approach; you need a comprehensive approach that considers your target market, keywords, and competition. If you are unsure how to proceed, contact us, and we can help you develop a strategy that will drive more traffic to your website and local search results.
What is Organic SEO?
When people conduct organic searches, they are looking for content that answers a question or provides valuable information. This could be a recipe, the latest news on a particular topic, or tips and tricks on how to perform a certain task. Organic SEO involves optimizing website content with relevant keywords, creating quality backlinks, and engaging in social media marketing. The result is a higher search engine ranking that attracts more organic traffic.
Local SEO is a subset of Organic SEO that focuses on optimizing content with location-specific keywords. It also requires ensuring that all business information, including name, address, and phone number, is consistent across the web and in directories. This includes Google, Facebook, and other online listings. The goal is to increase the visibility of a local brick-and-mortar business and make it easier for potential customers to find.
The central difference between Local and Organic SEO is that organic is broader in scope, while local SEO is more targeted to specific geographic regions. Organic SEO is more suitable for businesses that offer products or services nationally or globally. This is because the content on a national or international website can be easily tailored to appeal to different audiences, whereas local SEO needs to focus on what is relevant to the target audience.
Healthcare organizations are a good example of an industry that can benefit from both Local and Organic SEO strategies. To rank highly on organic searches, they need to ensure that all of their locations and individual physicians have accurate and consistent business information. This will help them build trust with patients and appear more prominent in search results.
While local SEO can be more difficult to implement, it is important for all businesses, especially those that have physical locations in a specific region. The benefits of implementing a robust local SEO strategy can be far-reaching and should be considered as part of any digital marketing strategy. By focusing on local SEO, businesses can tap into a highly targeted audience that is actively looking for the products or services they offer.
What is the Difference Between Local SEO and Organic SEO?
Today, more than 90% of consumers begin their quest for products, services, and businesses with a quick online search. And if you want your brand to be the one that meets these consumers in their journey, search engine optimization (SEO) is essential. However, the world of SEO can be confusing and intimidating. From keywords to SEO checkers, there are many different methods and tactics to consider when optimizing your website for search engines.
It’s particularly important for healthcare marketers to understand the difference between Local SEO and Organic SEO so you can decide which strategy is right for your brand. Local SEO is a critical element of any healthcare marketing plan because it allows you to connect with consumers who are looking for your specific type of services in their area. This type of traffic is highly valuable, as it tends to convert into in-person visits and leads.
Local SEO is similar to Organic SEO in that both are based on building signals of relevance and achieving high search engine ranking positions. However, Local SEO has a more restricted geographical focus that only targets areas around your business’s physical location. Organic SEO, on the other hand, is more flexible and focuses on ranking for keywords that are not tied to geography.
The main goal of Local SEO is to appear in Google’s local pack and on the map results pages when people perform searches that include relevant geographic terms. To achieve this, you’ll need to have your business’s name, address, phone number, and other key information listed consistently across all online sources. It’s also important to keep up with your local listing management and engage in effective Reputation Marketing.
The main goal of Organic SEO is to rank higher in organic search engine results for a wide range of keywords that are not linked to any particular location. You’ll need a well-optimized website that includes quality content, proper page titles, internal links, and keyword research to achieve this. This type of traffic is less targeted and more general in nature, but it still has the potential to drive significant amounts of new traffic and leads for your healthcare organization.
Which Strategy is Right for Your Business?
Whether you own an e-commerce store, a brick-and-mortar business, or a local service provider, every company can benefit from increasing its online presence. Search engine optimization, or SEO, is one way to do that. But how do you know which type of SEO is right for your company? And what is the difference between local SEO and organic SEO?
Local SEO is a form of SEO that optimizes your website content for searches in a specific geographic area. It is ideal for businesses with a physical location, or only serving customers in a certain geographical area (such as law firms and insurance agencies).
Local SEO aims to get into Google’s local pack, which consists of businesses that show up at the top of SERPs when someone searches for a specific type of product or service. This means that you’ll need to optimize your website for keywords that are popular in your geographic area, such as “best oil change St. Louis.”
Organic SEO, on the other hand, focuses on optimizing your content for keywords that people are searching for in your industry. This includes keyword research, creating valuable website content that targets these keywords, and generating high-quality backlinks to your site.
Local and Organic SEO are both important components of a holistic search marketing strategy, but each requires different techniques and strategies. If you’re unsure which type of SEO is right for your business, consulting with an experienced digital marketing agency is a good idea. They can help you identify the best keywords to target and create a plan for how to rank for those keywords in both local and organic searches.