What Is Local SEO?
Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization)Local SEO is the process of optimizing your website and business to rank highly in local organic search results. Search engines want to deliver the best content and results related to the search term and location as possible. By implementing location-based algorithms Google and Bing are both able to present local results that best fit the end-users search terms and geographic location. In order for a given business to rank highly within these local organic search results they must implement proper search engine optimization or SEO standards directly within there website.
With that being said there is literally hundreds of metrics that Google and Bing look at to determine if a business is local, what there service or product is and if presenting that given business when a specific search term is entered will benefit the end-user. By pulling the I.P. (Internet Protocol) address for the user searching combined with there key term, and the validity of the businesses website Google and Bing then renders the best choices to be listed as the top results.
Google and Local SEO
Above and beyond the normal on-page local SEO requirements such as rich original content, proper Meta tagging, image optimization, valid coding, site load speeds etc. Google also utilizes a combination of Google Plus and Google My Business to help determine a businesses validity, and quality to rank them within their Local Search Pack.
The Local Search Pack is a pack of 7 possible listings that will pull up on page 1 at the very top of the search results for a given term that targets local businesses and presents them to the end user as the best results. The Local Search Pack contains information such as the business Google Plus star rating, address, phone number, and website URL, and is even presented on the Google map to the top or the side of the listings. These listings are determined by over 150 different variables.
Bing and Local SEO
Bing uses a similar concept for presenting local businesses within given local search results. Of course again we have the on-page and off-page SEO factors, but they also use a business submission resources as a determining factor as well it is called Bing Places For Business and is an essential tool for ranking in Bing’s local organic search results.
How To Ensure Your Local SEO Is Up To Google and Bing’s Standards
Our first recommendation is to hire a dependable and proven Local SEO firm such as us to handle this for you so you can focus on your business and less on learning the complex structure and science of Local SEO. But if you are bound and determined to learn Local SEO on your below are a few resources and pointers.
Get familiar with Google My Business and utilize it to the fullest.
Setup your Google Plus account and develop your business page.
Ensure your on-page SEO is up to par to with current Local SEO requirements.
Utilize Google Webmaster Tools to target possible issues.
Submit your site/Business to Bing Places For Business.
Educate yourself utilizing such resources as Moz’s Blog; they have a lot great material on local SEO.
Utilize social networks to build out your local business pages and get engaged with the community.
A Final Note On Local SEO
The majority of all search results completed from mobile devices, laptops, and desktops alike produce local results first so it is imperative that your business website has established local search engine optimization and presence to be truly successful. SEO is a marathon not a print so keep in mind that as you update your sites SEO it will take time to have a true impact, again you can reduce this time frame by hiring a professional team of local SEO gurus
