7 Ways to Improve Local SEO & Attract New Business
Learn the latest SEO techniques to increase and boost your business’s visibility.
Local SEO The actual product may differ in several ways. Organic Optimizations We link to our websites. You have to know how to make your business more relevant to local consumers if you work in a company where you rely on being found by them.
You’ll find seven methods to improve your local SEO, increase visibility and win new customers in this column.
Google My Business (GMB) has a significant function that can make it easy to grow new businesses – the questions & answers feature.
It is possible to convert people on the fence if you use it effectively in your organization.
You don’t have to stop there. It would support if you also spent some time looking at the Q&As from your competitors. Learn what potential customers ask others in your industry.
GMB Q&A – How it Works
Your Google My Business profile may have an “Ask for a Question” link. Users click the button to be taken to a screen that will allow them to ask a question.
This last bit is crucial. It does not go to the profile owner. It is submitted to profile. This means that it is visible to all who view a Google My Business Listing.
Once a question is posted to Google My Business, your competitors will see it.
After the question is answered, the information and engagement are available for future reference.
How does this help build new businesses?
These questions are a great tool to get new business from local searches. These questions are most likely to ask people who have not visited the company before but are within your target market.
They are already engaging with brands, but they need more information before deciding to go.
Create your listing
You can also use this opportunity to communicate with a potential local customer via your GMB profile.
If they are at the stage of finding you and are interested enough to ask questions, a thoughtful answer may be all they need to let them pass your doors.
In a Competitor’s Listing
Take a look at the questions being asked by your competitors and other potential customers. You can use this information to improve the information you provide on your website and profile.
If you’re getting lots of questions about gluten-free options at local pizza places, such as in your neighborhood, make sure you have a listing and a page highlighting your gluten-free products.
This type of research can help you to stay one step ahead of local competitors, mainly if the questions are somewhat negative.
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Semrush’s keyword-intent metric makes it easier than ever to align keywords with the correct audience and create the right content.
Consider the following question: “Does loud music still bother you?”
When another business asks a potential restaurant-goer that question, it prompts them to think about where they’ll be eating their meal.
This may lead them to wonder if it is possible to have the same fun with their friends over dinner as they planned.
You can answer any questions that competitors ask on your website or GMB profile. Your description should state that customers enjoy a relaxing meal with ambient music.
This can give you an added benefits over your competition for winning new business in the area.
You demonstrate your understanding of potential customers when you proactively answer their questions before they have to ask.
- You can modify a Google Product Listing to increase its exposure.
Google allows companies with GMB profiles to upload details about their products. Potential clients can view this information on both desktop and mobile search results.
These listings can be found in the GMB profile under the Products tab on Search.
Users can click on product cards in both formats to see more details, call or visit the site.
GMB Product Listings: What Does it Look Like?
Uploading products to your Google My Business profile can be done in a few steps. Log in to Google My Business, click Create a Product, and follow the steps.
Logging in to the Google account associated with your GMB profile will allow you to click on your listing in SERPs and Add the Product directly from there.
It’s easy to add products. However, you cannot control their order in the carousel.
Google will display the Products in the order that they were uploaded. It is important to be strategic when changing the order of Products.
You can edit a product to bring it up on the carousel, even a small one. Make a small edit to a product if you want to make it more prominent in your offering. The carousel order will be modified accordingly.
How does this help build new businesses?
You may choose to show some products because they are more appealing than others. One example is a stock surplus in one of the locations.
It will make it easy for local customers to find the stock by putting it in front of their GMB listing. You can target certain products to specific audiences depending on their location.
It may be that seasonal products are better served first. Your shop may be in a place that is prone to snowstorms. You can edit your snow tires listings to get them to the start of the carousel.
This could help increase visibility for your product in the right place at the right time to allow new customers to view them.
2. Google’s Business Messages are available while you can
Google My Business profiles can be customized with functionality to allow businesses to interact directly with customers from the SERPs.
GMB profiles are activated by displaying a Message link that allows users to send direct messages to the company.
How does it work
This functionality has existed since 2017 in (GMB) Google My Business and since 2018 in Google Maps. It was only recently added to the desktop.
If you own a GMB account, you will see the option in your desktop dashboard To enable messaging from the messages tab.
An initial auto-responder can be set up to be sent when a visitor contacts you through this service.
Google recommends that you reply to all messages within the next 24 hours to ensure timely service. Google can deactivate your account’s messaging service if you don’t.
How does this help build new businesses?
Potential local customers can message you right from your GMB profile to speed up their conversations.
You have a greater chance of your potential customer converting if you respond quickly.
This is especially useful for local businesses that may not use central call centers or messages. It can be used as a touch-point to personalize the company depending on the consumer’s location.
Consider what offers, services, or tone of voice might be most relevant to your customers in the particular location. This is your chance again to demonstrate how well you know customers.
You can use the local name to identify the location of your business. Talk about the local charities and events that you support.
Any additional information that shows your business serves the local community can strengthen your relevance to any potential customer who has contacted your company.
You can connect with your potential customers from so many different places online.
3. Make sure to update your GMB with all relevant and new attributes
Google is constantly updating its Google My Business properties with new features. You should ensure your listing has all the necessary attributes as soon as they become available.
How does it work
Google My Business frequently receives new functionality from Google that your business may be eligible for.
Accessing new updates depends on the category you set as your primary GMB.
Google’s GMB announcements will keep you up-to-date on new features and who is eligible.
How does this help build new businesses?
Google My Business is frequently changing, so getting on board early is essential. These attributes will not affect your rank in the map packs, but they can make your business more appealing to local customers.
Google has made it possible for companies to add safety and health attributes in September 2020.
Customers will require masks, and temperature checks must be performed.
These attributes can help customers feel more confident about COVID-19 safety while visiting premises.
This could help your business win the customer if it displays these attributes better than a competitor.
This is particularly helpful for local businesses that may have experienced a decline in their visitors recently due to lockdowns, pandemics, or other concerns.
Your store may have safety precautions, and you can encourage people to visit your stores. You might be able to satisy them to return to your store because they feel safe and secure.
4. Join Local Marketplaces & Forums
Knowing your target right audience is the key to marketing your local company well. It is essential to spend time in the places your target market lives.
This applies online as well.
Register your business in all the local directories and forums. This is not just for traditional citation, but so that you can be among your prospective consumers, hearing to what they have to say.
How does it work
Online markets
Facebook and other platforms can help you find local marketplaces for your products and locations. You don’t necessarily have to be engaging for the audience to understand who they are and how they respond.
If you are selling locally made craft products in your shop, you can gauge how much your customers will pay by looking at similar products being sold in your local Facebook Marketplace.
You can start to learn about the preferences of your target audience by listening and learning from them about pricing, quality, shipping, and sourcing.
Forums
Reddit subreddits can be a great place to start if you own a pizza shop in your local area.
What are your customers saying about your competition in your area? Are they fed up with the same old pizza places and want something different?
They might be passionate about supporting local independent shops and want to help them even more.
What can this do to help build a new company?
This information can be used to help you personalize your search marketing strategy, voice, and other aspects.
It would be best to go to places where people openly discuss your local area. Find out their needs and what they are looking for in a local business.
You can interact with your audience via these platforms if you’re feeling brave. This interaction should be authentic and sensitive.
Many people won’t consent to their data being mined. Be honest and open when you reach out to these sites for feedback.
You can learn more from your audience by watching and learning more about them. This will make it easier to provide products and services that they will love.
5. It would be great if you did not ignore other search engines.
Google isn’t your only search engine to be concerned with. Other search engines are also available that may be useful to users searching for information on local business owners.
Why is this important?
Google could be responsible for most organic traffic that goes to your website. Not all customers may discover your site through search.
A click might not be generated by your profile appearing in the SERPs. Your web analytics program will not display it.
Without measuring impressions across multiple search engines, it is impossible to know whether your business has been found on DuckDuckGo and Bing.
DuckDuckGo’s maps use Apple Maps. You will need an Apple maps Connect profile to ensure your business appears in the DuckDuckGo local maps pack.
Bing also uses Bing Places as a local map engine. Bing will not allow you to increase your organic visibility by optimizing your Google My Business Listing.
We are seeing an increase in popularity over time for other search engines, and in some places, Google isn’t the primary search engine.
Search engines prevalent in these regions should be considered if your business has physical locations.
You should make use of the local map functionality in these search engines.
How does this help build new businesses?
You will be in good standing if you can find your competition.
DuckDuckGo makes it easier to compete with local searchers who don’t see your competitors in the Apple Maps results.
6. Pay attention to your reputation.
You may be monitoring the reviews left by TripAdvisor. You may even be checking your Google My Business listing frequently.
You might not be aware of all the places in the SERPs that could give potential customers an outsiders’ view of your business.
What are the Things to Watch?
The SERPs can show a wide range of top and middle-of-the-funnel features.
Most prominently Featured Review and Directory Sites
The top carousel lists niche directories as well as large directories. Potential customers can access information about your company and possibly even reviews from sites they might not be looking at.
Other than the incorrect data these sites may have about your company, what have customers, former employees, or even competitors said about it?
These links appear first in Google SERPs when you search for the query. They may get lots of visibility from potential customers.
People Also ask
Customers may start looking for specific information when narrowing down their business choices. This could often lead to a “People Also Ask!” feature.
The following PAA boxes appeared when you search for [is (name a mechanic in Telford any good]]. They specifically addressed that brand.
People also ask the first question: “Why is [brand] expensive?” This question does not reflect confidence in this particular mechanic’s value for money.
While there are not many things you can control in the section “People Also Ask,” it is vital to influence the perceptions and actions of those who click on these questions.
Create a page that addresses this question. Then, rank it. If someone clicks on the question, they will at least see your answer around “quality service,” not compromising by using low-quality parts and highly-skilled technicians for whom you are willing to pay well.”
How does this help build new businesses?
Potential customers must see more than what you write on your website and Google My Business listings.
It could be reviewed from sites you monitor and respond to, but not the ones left.
Your business’s reviews and customer experience will significantly impact a potential customer. Local companies are more likely to receive many studies, as they are often promoted on sites that encourage their leaving.
Your business’ negative reputation can be the difference between winning or losing a client.
Be sure to monitor SERPs related to your most critical lead-generating keywords. Look out for negative perceptions of the business.