How to Optimize Your Business for Local Search: The Importance of Location Data!
Mobile search and social media have given businesses innumerable new ways to find qualified leads and attract new customers.
However, today, brands must harness the power of their locations for more potent business listing management.
Location data is now a scalable asset that should be made more accessible. Businesses that fail to leverage the power of location simply fade away in the background.
But why is local SEO important?
If you’ve run queries similar to “how to optimize your business for local search” and “guide to local SEO” in the past few weeks, you’re on the right track.
We’ve broken down the basics for you so you can get a clear picture of just how much this matters and why it’s important to get it right.
What’s The Fuss About?
Mobile consumers use their smartphones for searching mostly because they need whatever it is they’re looking for to be close to them, and they need it now!
This significantly increases the importance of location data. If your website or online shop doesn’t have a location listed with Yelp or Google Local, how will local searchers find it?
Your brand needs to be available the very moment someone starts looking for it through a search.
It’s important that these companies optimize their online presence for all their locations using location data to be visible as and when people look for them. This can also help encourage potential customers to quickly follow up on their search, i.e. call for more info, book an appointment, redeem vouchers or start shopping online.
Why Online Businesses Need To Sort This Out… Quickly!
Customers move from research and exploration to consideration and purchase quickly. And as a brand, your job is to make sure that your products and services are available only a click away, the second they come looking.
Be visible. And let them know that you’re near them.
Arrange, categorize, and distribute your location data to make sure your locations are findable. This includes ensuring the accuracy of name, address, phone, and hours of operation, etc.
The problem is that a majority of small businesses are so focused on audience data that they completely overlook the importance of their own local data. As a result, they can’t command the attention of mobile searchers, who instead go to other, more mobile savvy competitors.
It’s important for the modern American small business to create local landing pages that are also optimized for search and mobile.
These optimized landing pages can significantly accelerate the path from search to service for customers who looking for exact products and services.
Build a Sustainable Local Marketing Strategy
Location data used to be a passive phenomenon for SEO company purposes. But with development of specialized local search services, it has become more relevant than ever.
A consumer enters a search query, and Google can quickly display your brand at or near the top of search results thanks to good location data.
According to Google’s Mobile Search Moments Study, 75% of all mobile searches end up in the user taking some sort of action.
When it comes to local searches, the data is very compelling. Technology has made it very convenient for everyone to shop online, so much so that nearly 50% of online visitors of a store buy online, or call their nearest branch within an hour of the search.
So how do your customers find your local storefronts?
What do they see when they search for products and services similar to yours online?
If your location data and website are nicely optimized for local search, potential buyers will see exactly the information they need to see to make buying from you a priority.
Struggling to navigate the complexities of improving your local search presence? Call us at 855-444-4777 and let’s get your business seen everywhere you want it be!
Our innovative team of digital marketers and local SEO experts develops cutting-edge and effective ways to improve local SEO to ensure our clients are on top of their game.
