Small Businesses and Local SEO

It would be the understatement of the century to declare that he internet is a 'wide' platform. In fact with the four corners of the world all connected onto the world wide web, it comes as no surprise as to why online marketing is often deemed a highly frightening task to undertake. 

For small businesses across the country, whatever industry they may be in, online marketing is often deemed as an excessive and unnecessary use of time. After-all with so many people and as a result so many businesses all making use of Google; how can one small hairdressers, law firm or accountancy firm possibly make an impact? 

We have two words for you; local SEO. What is local SEO? Well, to put it simply, local SEO refers to a strategy in which businesses are in a position to optimise an online presence for local searches. With such a mass audience heading straight to Google for answers to their local search queries, for example 'Birmingham hairdresser' 'Nail technicians in Manchester' or 'divorce lawyers in Liverpool' nothing could help a small business more, than a strong local SEO strategy.

Local search results will often appear after the three organic adds that Google produces within a search. However, if you look closely; only an estimated seven local results will appear on the first page and although there is supplied a 'see more' link, for ultimate success your business will need to appear within that first page.

So, how does Google determine the results of that first page? By focusing on the following; 

• On page optimisation- Have you utilised all the appropriate local key words and other profitable search terms within your website?
• Links- Are your external links appropriate, highly relevant to your business and off high quality? Do your internal links provide a clear and indicative path that will allow your users and the search bots to effortlessly navigate through your website?
• Reviews- Has your business received as many good reviews as possible to improve its customer rating? Are you doing enough to encourage reviews?

Local SEO is the small business' answer to online domination. Are you doing enough to target that local market?