Google is one of the most popular sites on the web, and if you have a local business, it is one of the best places to leverage for your local business marketing.
If you think about that; when you need to find a place that delivers the product or service you are looking for in the area, Google is the first place where we all look at.
So, if you do some good work, Google will show your business up on the results page when people look for what your business offers in your area.
In this article, we are going to show why you aren't getting more traffic and more customers from Google and how to successfully market your local business online.
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So, let’s dive straight into it.
1. Google My Business
The first thing you need to do is to search on Google for any of those localized search terms within your region.
What you'll notice is there's going to be a map at the top, and then there's going to be three listings.
That's called a local pack, and as you can see, there are always a map and three listings. There aren't five or six. There are three listings.
You want to be in there. And the way you do it is by first of all setting up Google My Business.
When you do Google My Business and you submit your corporate information, you're much more likely to get placed there.
Within there, you need to also put in the proper name, address, and phone number. By putting in the right name, address, and phone number and making sure that data is consistent around the whole web, whether it's on Yelp or your own website, you're much more likely to rank.
2. Optimise your site for local SEO
The second thing you need to do is optimise your site for local SEO. Beneath all those map listings, you're going to see normal organic listings. You can also be there.
You can take up double the spots. How? Make sure that you're using localised terms on your website.
You also put your address on your website, the name of your company, and your phone number. All of that helps. Don't just do that on one web page. Make sure it's there on your contact page, your location page.
Also make sure it's on any major page that talks about your business, such as your menu pages.
By doing that, you're going to rank way higher. Then go all the way to the Chamber of Commerce within your city and ask what other companies are within your space. See if they can mention you.
Even the Chamber of Commerce, a lot of times, promotes businesses within your city, so ask them to link to your site.
The more links you generate from sites within your region, the higher you're also going to rank.
Alright, now before we move on with the next local business marketing tips, have you ever thought about how much you should invest in marketing to generate constant business growth? Click the button below to calculate the ideal marketing budget you should allocate for higher visibility, engagement, and profit.
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3. Improve your click-through rate
Just because someone sees your business listing, it doesn't mean they're going to click on your website.
If you want to improve your click-through rate, the first thing you need to do is generate more reviews.
When people come into your store, ask them to review it.
The more reviews you get, the more likely people are to come and click through.
The second thing you need to do is use Schema markup. By using Schema markup, it gives Google all the data about your localized business.
Google has a whole page about Schema markup and shows you how to use that code. Or if you have a WordPress website, you can use the Yoast SEO plugin, and it will add Schema markup to your site automatically.
4. Do not rely only on Google
There are a lot of other localised sites that people use to search for solutions to their needs – meaning where people can find you.
Yelp, for example, is really popular in the UK. TripAdvisor is really popular around the world.
Make sure you're on these sites and encourage good reviews.
People use those other websites to find local businesses in your industry and area. So, by using these other platforms as well, you’ll grow your exposure, and it will be easier for people to find you.
And the more click you get, the higher you will rank, driving more traffic and store visits as a consequence.
Don’t just rely on one source of traffic when there are others that can help you out very well too.
Also, we never know how many people each month will search for keywords related to your industry and find you as a consequence on each platform.
Some months it could be higher and some others very low. So, if you rely on just one source, those months where there is a poor level of searches, you are going to drastically reduce your traffic.
Instead, if you rely on multiple sources when one source doesn’t perform well, you can rely on others to keep your traffic level and store visits high.
Conclusion
If you are a local store, there are a few steps that you’ll need to take to run successful local business marketing and get higher traffic and store visits.
If you follow these steps, you’ll take advantage of the digital platforms where people are most likely to search for businesses in your industry and find you.
If you need help with optimizing your local business marketing and SEO to grow your business in terms of visibility, engagement, and profit, contact us today and speak with one of our digital marketing experts to see how we can build the bridge between the point you’re standing at right now and your goals.
