Local SEO makes your business more visible in the local search results. About 97% of people learn about local businesses online than anywhere else. Local SEO exactly does the job by putting you in front of the local consumers who need your products or services. Today, consumers prioritize local businesses when it comes to purchases. So, if you do not appear in the local search, you are missing out on a large number of potential leads. Local SEO gets you more calls and in-store visits, establishes your business as a thought leader, and enhances credibility. In other words, your business gains more competitive advantage.

To improve your local search rankings, you must optimize your Google My Business listing, generate local citations, optimize your website for mobile devices and tablets, receive local inbound links, get listed on review sites, and manage your online business reputation.

Your local SEO journey begins by creating a GMB or Google My Business profile. It is your online business profile that exhibits information about your company or brand. From business description and location to contact details, a GMB profile displays all the necessary details a user wants to know. Since a GMB profile is verified by Google, it denotes the legitimacy of your business. Local audiences find businesses with GMB profiles more reliable and reputed. By using relevant keywords and retaining your NAP (name, address, and phone number) consistency, you can make your GMB listing more visible, boosting local search rankings.

Local SEO applies to businesses of all sizes. However, generally, B2C businesses require more local SEO as they need to reach more individual consumers or make instant sales. So, real estate agents, plumbers, restaurants, salons, and other such businesses are more in need of local SEO.

Local SEO acts as a lead generation tool, helping prospects and consumers find you. By increasing your visibility in the local search, your target audiences can easily discover you. For a small business, establishing authority in the local market is substantially essential to beat your competitors. When you have an effective local SEO strategy, you attract more leads, resulting in higher conversions or sales. Naturally, your business generates profit, leading to steady growth and expansion.

Local SEO comprises multiple practices. These are- Google My Business optimization, listing in local directories, creating relevant localized content, using local keywords, focusing on local link building, managing online reviews, enhancing mobile responsiveness, using structured data, and tracking and monitoring results.

A location page is a web page where you put details of your business at a specific geographic location. If you have services at other locations, add separate location pages to each area.

The key metrics to track the success of your local SEO efforts include organic rankings, local pack rankings, web traffic, local search traffic, GMB insights, local citations, local backlinks, conversion rate, and customer reviews and ratings.