Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a marketing strategy designed to increase the rankings of keywords relevant to your business in search engine result pages (SERPs). SEO can help local service businesses such as plumbers, electricians, orthodontists, roofing companies, painters and therapists connect with potential customers who search online for services like theirs in their locality.
Contrasting traditional SEO which primarily optimizes individual webpages for specific keyword terms, local service business SEO takes an in-depth approach that involves using keywords throughout the site to target prospect searches, while creating content relevant to what your prospects are searching for. Furthermore, it’s crucial that your Google Business Profile plays a part in increasing local SEO rankings.
Google prioritizes listings with accurate and complete information in its local SERPs, particularly maps listings which are pulled directly from your Business Profile. Be sure to claim and optimize your Business Profile by providing accurate details including name, address, phone number, website URL, operating hours and brief description for optimal visibility in local searches.
Make sure that your NAP (Name, Address and Phone number) is consistent across the web, including online directories, social media profiles and review websites. This will help to improve local ranking as it ensures Google has all of the data it needs to show your listings correctly in their appropriate places. Bear in mind that Google’s algorithms change frequently so be sure to audit and adjust your website regularly to take account for new changes.
Your SEO for service-area businesses must include an aggressive citation building strategy. Citations refer to any mention of your name, address and phone number (NAP) online that appears in search results; more of these appear and your local rankings will increase accordingly. Citations also help increase brand recognition while creating trust between prospective customers and your business.
As well as your NAP, it is also essential that you produce relevant and useful content relating to the products and services you offer. This can be accomplished via blogging, guest blogging, press releases and social media updates – whatever works for your target prospects! Focusing on their interests will attract qualified traffic to your website and convert more leads into customers – though this process might take time; its payoff could be substantial; for example more customers may contact you after reading reviews written by previous satisfied customers, making this an advisable strategy; encourage customers who leave reviews!
