Did you know that 96% of people learn about local businesses online? With the way mobile devices are shaping the new, modern world, it’s no surprise that people are discovering local businesses in online spaces. Now is the perfect time for businesses to capitalize on local SEO and create local SEO content that will make their businesses stand out.
What is an example of local SEO?
Since local SEO focuses on optimizing a business’s online presence to attract more customers from relevant local searches, the examples of local SEO are all about optimizing and leveraging visibility within local spaces. Any business can take advantage of local SEO, but local mom-and-pop shops and local branches of retail chains can leverage local SEO to thrive in their communities and nearby areas.
Here’s a quick rundown of steps a local business can take as an example of local SEO:
- Set up a Google Business Profile and ensure all information about the business is complete and accurate.
- Take and upload high-quality photos and videos of the business and its products or services.
- Make sure the business has consistent NAP (name, address, phone number) under online directories, local directories, and upcoming physical marketing material.
- Create a website or social media pages and optimize them with local keywords and the best on-page SEO practices.
- Engage with the public or the local community through local hashtags online, local events, reviews, local collaborations, and more.
- Create localized content to be posted on the business’s website, social media, relevant industry pages, and more.
Local SEO helps boost the online presence of a local business. These examples are just some of the many strategies and techniques for a well-crafted local SEO strategy for a business.
What is local content for local SEO?
Localized content, or local SEO content, is one of the most effective approaches to a local SEO strategy. Local content in SEO refers to content created specifically to attract and engage a local audience. They are often made with the goal of improving a business’s visibility in local search queries and results. This specifically would cater to search queries that look like “restaurants near me”, “restaurants in Los Angeles”, and other location-based queries.
This type of content focuses on topics, events, news, tips, activities, and communities relevant to a specific geographic area. Here are some key elements and examples of local content:
Key Elements of Local SEO Content
- Local Keywords: These are keywords that are relevant to the local area. This includes crucial labels such as the city or neighborhood name, local landmarks, and community-specific phrases.
- Local Topics: Topics that are of interest to the local community are also significant to local content. This includes local events, news, and stories.
- Local Backlinks: These refer to backlinks obtained from local websites, blogs, and directories that will strengthen a business’ link-building profile.
- Local References: These refer to the mention of other influential entities within the industry or the community within the content. This includes local businesses, events, and organizations.
- Local Customer Stories and Reviews: These are testimonials and success stories from local customers, which will help boost the reputation and online presence of businesses.
Examples of Local SEO Content
- Blog Posts
- Local Event Highlights: Write about upcoming events in the locality and nearby areas. This includes festivals, concerts, fairs, and community gatherings. For example, a restaurant might blog about a local food festival they are participating in.
- Local Guides: Create guides to local attractions, like “Top 10 Things to Do in [City]” or “Best Hiking Trails in [Area]”. This will attract tourists and other local travelers who might be interested.
- Neighborhood Spotlights: Highlight different neighborhoods in a city, discussing what makes each one unique and interesting. This will help multiple businesses and livelihoods altogether.
- Customer Stories and Case Studies
- Customer Testimonials: Share stories from local customers who have used your products or services.
- Local Case Studies: Describe how a business has helped local clients or contributed to local projects.
- Community Involvement
- Sponsorships and Partnerships: Write about any local events a business is sponsoring or local organizations they are partnering with.
- Charity and Volunteer Work: Highlight a business’s involvement in local charity events or volunteer efforts.
- Local News and Updates
- Business Announcements: Share news about your business that would interest the local community. This includes new store openings, significant achievements, local awards, or special promotions.
- Industry News with Local Impact: Discuss industry news and trends and explain how they might impact the local community.
- Local SEO-Optimized Landing Pages
- Service Area Pages: Create specific pages for each city or neighborhood you serve. These pages should include local keywords and information about the services in that area.
- Location Pages: If you have multiple locations, create a dedicated page for each one with details about that specific location.
How do I create local SEO content?
Creating local SEO content involves several strategic steps. This is to ensure your content is relevant and engaging for your local audience, while also being optimized for local search engines.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you create effective local SEO content for your own business:
Research local keywords
Look for keywords that include your city, neighborhood, or region (e.g., “plumber in Austin”, “best sushi restaurant in Manhattan”). Location descriptors are also crucial, as search queries that include phrases like “near me” or “close by” have seen a 900% increase in the past two years. There are also long-tail keywords, which are more specific phrases that typically have a lower search volume but higher intent. Examples include “emergency plumbing service in downtown Austin” and other similar specific location queries.
Create location-specific pages
Create separate pages for each city or neighborhood you serve. Ensure these pages include local keywords and relevant content about your services in that area. Of course, if you’re a small, local business, focus on the one neighborhood or community you serve.
Learn more about your community for local content
Knowing your community is important for local SEO content. Take the time to get to know more about it—the livelihoods, the people, events, attractions, and more. You can then use this knowledge to write guides about local attractions, businesses, or activities. Cover local events, festivals, and community activities. You can also feature articles about different nearby neighborhoods.
Encourage local reviews
Local reviews from fans and customers are important to improve brand reputation, image, and exposure. According to a study, positive reviews can also increase customer spending by 31%. Collect positive reviews from local customers to boost your credibility and rankings in online spaces. Encourage reviews on business review platforms such as Yelp, TripAdvisor, and industry-specific sites.
Promote content locally
Share your local content to increase visibility and engagement. Use social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter to reach your local audience. Send email marketing newsletters featuring local content, promotions, and events.
Submit guest posts
Guest posts can significantly boost local SEO by generating high-quality backlinks from local websites. Write guest posts for local blogs or news sites to reach a broader local audience, increase brand awareness, and drive more local traffic to your website. Engaging with the local community through guest posts also fosters relationships with other local businesses and influencers, enhancing your local presence.
Having a local SEO strategy in place can do wonders for businesses. Keep these methods in mind to effectively create and optimize local SEO content that will help improve your visibility in local search results. With this, you can attract more local customers and build stronger connections within your community.
Twin Rams Media Group is here to help you with your SEO strategies, including local SEO content! Contact us now and see how you can get your business ready and visible to serve your local community!
References:
https://twinrams.com/local-seo-strategy-everything-you-need-to-know/
https://www.searchenginejournal.com/local-seo-content-strategy/431651/
https://www.webfx.com/local-seo/statistics/#