Crush Local SEO in 2024: How to Dominate Your Neighborhood Online

Local SEO, or local search engine optimization, is a crucial strategy for businesses looking to attract customers within a specific geographic area. Optimizing your online presence for local searches is essential to ensuring your business is visible to potential customers in your vicinity.

Local SEO involves various techniques and strategies that improve your chances of appearing in local search results, Google Maps, and other location-based platforms.

For example, if you own a bakery in New York City, you want your business to appear at the top of the search results when someone searches for "bakery near me" or "best bakery in NYC." 

Implementing effective local SEO strategies can increase your online visibility, drive targeted traffic to your bakery’s website, and ultimately attract more customers from your local area. So let’s dive into top ways to kill it with local SEO.

What is local SEO?

Local SEO is the process of optimizing a website and online presence so it attracts customers in your local area. This way, when people search for businesses like yours in your neighborhood, you’ll show up at the top of the search results.

According to Think With Google, the number of searches for nearby places not using the term “near me” has increased by 150% in the past two years—a higher increase than searches that do include “near me.” That means more people search for “car mechanic near me” than just “car mechanic.”

To do everything you can to connect with people in your area, try different strategies like using local keywords, making sure your website has the right content, and managing your online reviews.

Claim and optimize your Google My Business listing, and make sure your business’s name, address, and phone number are all consistent across different directories. The ultimate goal of local SEO is to increase online visibility, drive targeted traffic, and boost conversions for businesses operating within a specific locality.

13 steps to optimize your business for local SEO

Local SEO involves several strategies and techniques to improve your online visibility and attract local customers. Here are the key steps to help you get started:

Step 1: Conduct thorough keyword research 

Keyword research forms the foundation of any successful SEO campaign. By identifying relevant keywords and phrases related to your business and location, you can optimize your website content accordingly. 

Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Semrush to find popular keywords with local intent. For instance, take note of hidden keywords you can target. Hidden keywords are the queries you might be getting traffic from, but they might not appear in Google Search Console. According to one study, 46.08% of clicks in Google Search Console go to hidden terms.

“One of the most common mistakes I see in local SEO is businesses trying to rank for too many keywords at once. This can lead to dilution and a lower likelihood of ranking for any keywords at all,” says Matthew Ramirez, founder of Rephrase. “Rather than trying to rank for 10 different keywords across a 10-mile radius, it’s much more efficient to focus on one or two specific keywords that are most relevant to and relevant in your local area.”

Keyword research is important because it also reveals where you should direct your efforts. Search for low competition keywords that are localized. 

“A common local SEO mistake that we often see is investing heavily in content writing around broader topics with high-competition keywords.” says Gatis Viskers, founder and CEO at Ambition Digital.“This is very unlikely to produce any kind of meaningful impact on local SEO. They should instead target highly localized ’city area + service’ keywords.”

Step 2: Build expertise

Optimizing your business for local SEO is a combination of various skill sets such as creating marketing assets, having a webmaster to manage web properties, etc. This goes to showcase the diversity required. 

To build a solid SEO strategy, you can hire an SEO Manager who can not only optimize your website but also track the necessary changes, then iterate on them.

Step 3: Optimize your website’s on-page elements

On-page optimization involves optimizing various elements on your website, such as meta tags, headers, URLs, and content, to make them search engine-friendly. According to Ahrefs, the top-ranking page gets the most search traffic only 49% of the time. That’s why optimizing it to get the maximum traffic is crucial.

Ensure your website is optimized for local searches. Include location-specific keywords in your page titles, meta descriptions, headers, and content. 

According to this study, 50% of traffic comes from mobile. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly, loads quickly, and has a clear site structure.

Step 4: Leverage Google Business Profile (GBP) listing

Claiming and optimizing your GBP listing is essential for local businesses. It helps you appear in local search results and Google Maps, and provides valuable information to potential customers. 

Businesses with an optimized GBP listing are 2.7 times more likely to be considered reputable by consumers, according to Google.

The BrightLocal search industry survey of 550 local marketers found that 8.59% of respondents said that Google My Business improved their business in the past year. In 2022,87% of people used Google to research local businesses (up from 81% in 2021). People trust Google over Yelp or Facebook when it comes to reviews.

“Many businesses treat GBP optimizing as a one-off task, but it’s a treasure that keeps on giving,” says Nina Clapperton, CEO of She Knows SEO.“Keeping it updated with the latest info, engaging with customer reviews, and adding fresh photos consistently can keep you shining bright on the local search map.”

Step 5: Encourage customer reviews

Encourage customers to leave reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, or Facebook. Monitor and respond to reviews—both positive and negative—promptly, to demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction.

Positive customer reviews play a crucial role in building trust and credibility for your business. According to BrightLocal, 98% of consumers read online reviews for local businesses, and 72% of them trust businesses more based on positive reviews.

“You wouldn’t believe the impact customer reviews can have on local SEO rankings,” says Michael Donovan, co-founder of Niche Twins. “More positive reviews often lead to better rankings, attracting more traffic and, you guessed it, more customers and reviews! It’s a cycle of positivity!”

Step 6: Create high-quality local content 

Producing localized content is a critical aspect of any content marketing strategy, since it can help you establish relevance and authority in your target area. It includes a wide range of content types such as blog posts, articles, and resources that address local topics and interests.

For instance, you can create videos or podcasts that discuss local events and trends, interview local experts, or provide helpful tips and advice to your audience in the area. 

Additionally, producing local content can help you build relationships with other businesses and organizations in the area, which can offer many benefits such as collaborations, partnerships, and referrals.

“We assisted a local fashion boutique struggling to maintain a steady stream of customers. We followed a comprehensive local SEO strategy, which included optimizing their website for mobile, and creating engaging local content,” says David Ciccarelli, founder and CEO of Voices.ai. “They experienced a 50% increase in foot traffic and a 70% rise in online inquiries within six months. It was a real game changer for them!”

Step 7: Optimize for mobile users

With the increasing use of mobile devices, optimizing your website for mobile users is imperative. Mobile optimization not only improves user experience but also influences search engine rankings.

Mobile apps are increasing in popularity—nearly half (48%) of small businesses had an app in 2022, compared to one-third (32%) in 2021.

According to Statista, mobile devices accounted for more than 54% of global website traffic in 2021.

Step 8: Build quality local backlinks

Seek opportunities to earn backlinks from local sources, such as local organizations, influencers, or news publications. This can enhance your website’s credibility and improve its visibility in local search results. 

Earning backlinks from reputable local sources can significantly impact your local SEO efforts. Focus on building relationships with local influencers and getting featured in local directories. 

Backlinko found that the number of domains linking to a page correlates with higher rankings. According to Ahrefs’s SEO Statistics 2023, the more backlinks a page has, the more organic traffic it gets from Google.

Step 9: Ensure consistent NAP information

NAP (name, address, phone) consistency across all online directories and platforms is crucial for local SEO. Inaccurate or inconsistent information can confuse search engines and potential customers. 

According to Brightlocal, citations are identified as one of the top five ranking factors for both the Local Pack and organic search results. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining consistency and accuracy in your citations to ensure that search engines and human readers can benefit from the information.

Step 10: Implement schema markup

Use schema markup to provide search engines with structured data about your business, such as your address, phone number, business type, and customer reviews. This will improve your chances of appearing in rich snippets and local search results.

Schema markup helps search engines understand and display your business information more effectively. According to Schemaappsurvey, 40% of respondents are doing schema markup for small companies with fewer than five employees. The second largest group is large enterprise, comprising 13.3% of respondents. What does this tell us? Everyone is doing schema markup—from SMBs to enterprises.

Building a schema hierarchy requires logic and excellent technical knowledge of SEO. Here are some technical SEO experts you can consider.

Step 11: Optimize for local voice search

With the rising popularity of voice assistants, optimizing for local voice search is becoming essential. Optimize your content for long-tail, conversational queries and consider the context of voice searches.

Voice shopping volume is expected to grow from $2 billion to $40 billion globally by 2022, driven by voice assistants that offer personalized recommendations, voice-integrated appliances, and conversational advertisements.

While current usage focuses on lower-value items, reordering, and checking order status, the evolution of voice technology will unlock even more possibilities for an immersive shopping experience.

Step 12: Use online business directories

Listing your business in popular online directories such as Yelp, Yellow Pages, and TripAdvisor can enhance your online visibility and improve local SEO. 

A survey by BrightLocal found that while Google is the most trusted review platform across all industries, TripAdvisor still has its place for accommodation businesses, Yelp maintains a strong share of trust for food and drinks businesses, and BBB (Better Business Bureau) is trusted for businesses in professional trades and real estate industries.

Step 13: Social media engagement

Engage with your local audience on social media platforms. Share local news, events, and promotions. Respond to comments and messages promptly, fostering a positive online presence. According to Datareportal, the amount of time internet users spend on social media is now higher than ever—151 minutes per day.

Remember, local SEO is an ongoing process, and it requires consistent effort and monitoring to maintain and improve your online presence. By implementing these strategies, you can enhance your visibility in local searches, attract targeted customers, and stay ahead of your local competition.

SEO vs Local SEO: What’s the difference?

Local SEO and SEO are two different approaches to optimizing a website for search engines. Local SEO targets a particular geographic area, aiming to attract local customers and drive foot traffic to physical stores or service areas. 

You can do this through optimizing the Google Business Profile, managing online reviews, creating localized content, and targeting keywords with local intent. 

SEO, on the other hand, aims to increase organic visibility and attract relevant traffic from a wider audience through keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, content creation, and technical optimization.

The objective of SEO is to improve a website’s rankings in search engine results pages (SERPs) for relevant queries, thereby increasing visibility, organic traffic, and overall website authority.

Benefits of local SEO

Local SEO offers several advantages for businesses targeting a specific area:

Increased visibility

Local SEO helps your business appear prominently in local search results, Google Maps, and other location-based platforms. This ensures that your business is easily found by potential customers in your target area, improving your chances of attracting local foot traffic and generating leads.

Targeted traffic and conversions

By optimizing your website for local keywords and targeting specific geographical locations, you attract highly relevant and targeted traffic. This means that the people finding your website are more likely to be in your local area and actively seeking the products or services you offer. This targeted traffic has a higher potential for conversion, resulting in increased sales and revenue.

Competitive edge

Local SEO allows small and local businesses to compete effectively with larger national or global companies. By focusing on your specific locality and optimizing for local searches, you can carve out a niche in your community, attract local customers, and build a strong customer base that values the convenience and personalized service you provide.

Enhanced reputation

Local SEO strategies, such as managing online reviews and optimizing your Google My Business listing, help build a positive online reputation. Positive customer reviews and ratings instill trust and credibility in potential customers, increasing the likelihood of them choosing your business over competitors. A strong online reputation also leads to more word-of-mouth referrals and repeat business.

Improved user experience

Local SEO involves optimizing your website for mobile devices, ensuring fast loading times, and providing accurate and up-to-date business information. These improvements enhance the user experience for visitors, making it easier for them to navigate your website, find the information they need, and ultimately engage with your business. A positive user experience can lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

Hire a local SEO expert

By implementing local SEO strategies, businesses can effectively connect with their local audience, drive more foot traffic, and ultimately grow their customer base and revenue. 

But this is a time-consuming process and requires unique skill sets, such as creating schema hierarchy and marketing materials, or optimizing local keywords. Hiring a freelance SEO expert on Fiverr can help you achieve great results on a budget. Sign up for Fiverr today.