Making your local business stand out among the competition can be a struggle. The digital landscape is complicated to break into, so ensuring your company is at the top of the search results is imperative. So, how can you boost visibility and ensure the best value for your investment when it comes to search engine optimization (SEO)?
It is much more than simply having a website. Here at Perron Marketing Group, we have put together the following SEO checklist for local small business websites. If you take each step, one by one, you should be able to make a real impact on your digital footprint one day at a time.
In-Depth Keyword Research
You need to ensure that the keywords you use across your SEO efforts are high-quality and relevant to your business. This approach not only attracts numerous potential customers but also ensures they have a genuine interest in what you offer.
In many cases, it may not always benefit you for every post to relate to your main offering. You may also want to use long-tail keywords.
Long-tail keywords are more specific and less competitive, but still relevant to your local target audience. These may not bring in a large number of your core customers, but they will engage with the periphery for much longer.
Optimized Local SEO Content
As a small, local business, you need to ensure your content reflects the culture of your local area. Incorporate elements such as:
- Regional dialects
- References to local landmarks
- Mentions of local culture
These will resonate with the community and ensure people know you are "just like them". This can cause people to trust you and your services a great deal more.
At the same time, you may also want to make posts and other entries when local events occur. This can keep you relevant not only in location but also in time.
If you can, try to get testimonials from customers and clients in your local area. This is even more true if you bring in a local celebrity or community figure. Having a review from such a figure will do a lot to connect you to the area and build up your local network.
Blog Posts for Inbound and Outbound Links
Add a blog to your site and ensure you post at least once a week, if not every day. This signals to Google and other search engines that your content remains relevant long-term.
When you create posts for this blog, make sure to structure it with SEO in mind. Thus, include headings, subheadings, and keywords that all relate to the topic at hand.
Any keywords should also be in the meta description, the title, at least one header, and at the start and end of the article. Also, place them naturally in the body of the article or page itself.
Make sure to link out to other relevant articles with your blog, too. When your articles link to relevant, external sites, it boosts your position in the algorithm.
You may also want to investigate pitching and writing for guest blogs. This will give you opportunities to appear like a thought leader in your industry while creating links back to your site. You can mention your own company or even offer your services in articles where it is natural to do so.
Effective Microblogging Strategy
Use online platforms like Twitter or Tumblr to create short and engaging posts. These can capture the essence of your local business, showing your relevance to others. Also, use the same keywords you use elsewhere to continue your brand's SEO strategy even outside of your site.
Often you may be able to engage more directly with local followers, building up a local community and boosting awareness. Over time, such friendly interactions can increase trust and even get people to evangelize your services.
High-Quality Company Website UX
Make sure your website features clear, intuitive navigation. It should also be responsive on devices such as mobile or tablets, and load fast. These are the basics when it comes to ensuring your website offers a high-quality experience for your users.
If you notice a lot of people who visit your site bounce, this may be because they are having a difficult time using it. So, focus on making it as easy as possible for people to get the services they need.
Regular Audits to Find SEO Issues
Now and then, make sure you conduct thorough audits to find areas of improvement in your site's SEO. This could include:
- Updating the site itself
- Checking the keywords you use for relevance
- Ensuring a modern UX
- Matching the latest SEO trends
- Creating a high-quality blog schedule
This list is not exhaustive. There are many different ways a site could trip up when it comes to the ever-updating nature of SEO. For this reason, many people invest in an SEO audit service, which may help get you on the right track.
Leveraging Data Analytics
Use tools like Google Analytics to monitor your website traffic, user behavior, and patterns of engagement. This will give you a good idea of which pages' SEO is performing well and which are not. You can then use this over time to iterate on your SEO offering, creating a more engaging presence.
Make sure to be scientific about how you analyze such data. Create hypotheses, run tests, and ensure any conclusions match the results you have drawn.
If you are uncertain about conducting this yourself, consider consulting with experts in your area. They are likely to have the insights you need to succeed.
More Than Only an SEO Checklist for Local Small Business Websites
While the above is a good start, it takes more than doing all this at once. You need to have a long-term plan and keep on top of your SEO every step of the way. When running through the SEO checklist for local small business websites, if you decide it is all too much, why not give us a call?
Here at the Perron Marketing Group, we understand what it means to drive real, meaningful engagement with your site. If you are ready to amplify your online presence, contact us today. Let us transform your brand into an SEO powerhouse.
