In our global world, most users now search with local intent. Hence, local businesses will be going out of their skin to conquer local searches. As Google favors authentic businesses that it can verify, here are some guidelines you must follow to reach the top in 2023.
Link Building for Local SEO: What Does It Mean?
Link building for local search SEO refers to the process of acquiring links from other websites to yours. Its final goal is to enhance visibility in organic local search results and draw more traffic from local customers who are more likely to buy from you. Link building is an effective way to increase traffic and build trust with potential customers. It also helps amplify the relevance of local search keywords related to your business, making it easier for people searching in a particular geographic area to find you.
Best Local SEO Strategies
When it comes to boosting your website's visibility in local search results, it's all about having solid local SEO backlinks and strategy in place. And we’ll start with one of the most important points.
Make Emphasis on Local Structured Data Markup
Schema markup, or structured data markup is a special code on your site giving search engines detailed info about your company. Despite the schema markup being a perfect way to put your website atop your competitors, less than 40% of all websites on the Internet are using it. Structured data markup is what Google is eager to see when checking your website content.
Even more, there’s a Structured Data Testing Tool from Google that checks how properly your markup is carried out. If coding is your continuous struggle, take avail of Google’s Data Highlighter that spots and marks the needed content.
Get As Many Local Backlinks As Possible
Backlinks are essential. They are still listed among the top factors influencing website rankings through various search engines.
The importance of local backlinks in SEO is unquestioning. The essential point to remember is that local search means not only enhancing your DA and overall credibility but growing your traffic and expansion locally. Moreover, there are a lot of link building tools you can take advantage of. Discover more info here.
So finding the best local backlinks for SEO is often a complex task. For an easy start in local SEO links building, here you go 7 simple ideas:
Get registered in local business directories and listings. Spot your local business directory and add your business there. It’s a quick and free backlink and publicity for your site. Don’t miss the chance to get seen by the wider public.
Write guest posts on local business websites. Spot the best local businesses in your area. Contact them and offer to provide a free guest post. If you want to save time, you can contact marketing agencies that can do it for you for less than $1 per guest post.
Take part in community-based events. Every new year brings in a myriad of chances to get closer to the locals and get many social mentions. Host and create events to meet face-to-face with your prospective clients.
Get in touch with local prominent figures. Spark interest among the local community by publishing an article or interview with a local celebrity. Be sure to get a lot of high-quality links and SEO value shortly after such publication sees the world.
Support local sports teams. Sponsorship of local sports teams is an easy and credible way to pull in local links and get noted on media platforms, local blogs, and news.
Become a place for local meetups. The basic idea is to find the local groups that may be interested in your company. Oftentimes, people are looking for local places for their gatherings. This is your chance to fall into the honeypot with local backlinks, traffic, and potential buyers.
Create local resources pages. The idea is as plain as day. How is it going to help your local SEO? Develop a local resource page to mention all other local businesses that may be useful for your customers. In such a manner you’ll boost your credibility with your customers and get valuable links from businesses mentioned by you. Win-win.
Update Google My Business
Take advantage of Google My Business by keeping it updated with current pictures, hours of operation, and services offered. For instance, if you own a plumbing business, this information is critical for potential customers who are searching for businesses like yours in their area – making sure this page is optimized accordingly can make a huge difference in terms of ranking locally.
Without updating your Google My Business profile, your competition could take the lead in local search results, resulting in missed opportunities for your business.
Take Care of Your Reviews
Did you know that online reviews have a significant impact on the success of your local link building and SEO? They play a crucial role in building a strong online presence, which is essential for any business looking to attract more customers in their local area.
Not only do they provide valuable feedback to businesses, but they also help build trust and credibility with potential customers.
Positive reviews signal to search engines that your business is reputable and trustworthy, which can have a positive impact on your ranking in local search results. Additionally, reviews provide excellent opportunities for link building for local SEO.
When other websites link to your business's website, it signals to search engines that your business is authoritative and reputable, which can also boost your ranking.
One more thing you don’t want to miss is to ensure that all reviews posted about your business on review sites such as Google My Business or Yelp are responded to promptly and professionally.
This will show potential customers that you value customer feedback, in turn helping your business build credibility and trustworthiness online with both customers and search engines.
So, what strategies should businesses use for better local SEO performance? How to choose the ones that suit your business?
How does managing online reviews impact local SEO? How important is Google My Business for local SEO? Now, you can answer all of these questions and there is only one thing left is to sum everything up.
Final Thoughts
Whether we’re talking about a small or big business that is looking to enhance search rankings and visibility within their local community, local link building for SEO can be a game-changer.
However, it's crucial to remember that link building is just one piece of a puzzle. You should use it in conjunction with other strategies mentioned above, such as structuring schema markup, leveraging the power of customer reviews, and engaging with influencers who have a presence in your industry or location, etc.
They also should be a key part of your longer-term marketing strategy.
