Your local SEO is an important aspect that you should be working on in order to increase your ranking. Local searches increased by more than 900% between 2017 and 2018, and the number is still growing. Investing in your local SEO increases your chances of being seen by prospective customers.
A higher ranking in SERP
Have you ever noticed that when you do a google search, a list of local businesses is showcased? Well, that list is known as the “local pack” and it basically shows local business to searchers based on their query. In 2015, Google reduced the number of businesses showcased from seven to three, and this made local SEO an even more important aspect of marketing for businesses. Being on the first three spot is now necessary to boost a business’ visibility.
As you can see, by typing the keywords “coffee shop”, Google displayed the locations of three coffee shops, including a 10 bests Cafés in Mauritius according to TripAdvisor. I did not have to type in the location. It is interesting to note that out of 44% of people who clicked on a local 3-pack listing while executing a google search, only 8% clicked on “more places.” (MOZ). Google will only display results that are relevant to the query and geographical location. Therefore, if your name, address and phone number (NAP) are not available, your business will be overlooked by SERPs and will display businesses which is consistent.
Local SEO benefits your customers
According to HubSpot, 46% of searchers are looking for local information. Before making a purchase or even visiting a store or a business, it is highly probable that a customer will perform a google search first. In fact, 72% of searchers that looked for information about a local business visited a store within 8 km. Now, if you own a small business you must be wondering why you would need to boost your local SEO. After all, most of your customers know where your business is- they don’t need your address, right? Well, here’s the thing: 71% of customers state that they will look up a business before going for the first time as a precautionary measure. Moreover, it was observed that right before visiting a business, 33% of customers made a smartphone search. Also, local business-related searches are made mostly through mobile phone. Actually, 30% of all mobile phone searches on Google are related to a location search. It is therefore also important for your website to be mobile-friendly because this is what your customers want.
Local SEO benefits YOUR business
Do you need more convincing? This one is simple; your local SEO will increase your business’ online presence, thus your business as a whole. 97% of people learn about a local business online more than anywhere else. Plus, it is free advertising for your business. By optimizing your local SEO, you increase your chances of ranking higher and of being listed in the first three local pack. As a matter of fact, 18% of smartphone searches led to a customer purchasing a product within 24 hours. You can optimize your local SEO by adding keywords such as “Coffee Shop near me” or “Coffee Shop Port-Louis” and so on. You must also as your NAP to your business profile in order to be recognised by the search engine’s crawlers.
Judging by the statistics, it is quite clear that local SEO is important for your business. On a daily basis, millions of searchers use search engines to look for local businesses and their products or services. If you do not optimize your local SEO, you will be behind most of your competitors who are adding this significant factor to their marketing strategy.
Zamalac offers your business a wide range of services, including SEO optimization. We are a team of dynamic, fun-loving people and experts who want to help your business grow. If you have been convinced of our expertise through this article, drop us a call or let’s talk over a cup of tea. We’ll be delighted to have you here.
