SEO firms bring a sophisticated understanding of which factors impact a company’s rankings in Google. For every 100 people who perform a search online, 85 will click on an organic listing. But of those 85, a larger majority of searchers click on what’s call local map listings if the search has local intent involved (i.e local restaurants, plumbers, doctors, pet stores). Many factors can impact one’s rankings including proximity to the local business, category of the business, reviews, citations, natural links pointing to the website, as well as a host of other factors.
There are cases when you can even have a website rank for the same search term in both the Local Search engine of Google as well as the traditional organic search engine of Google. This just further goes to show how the map listings have a different algorithm than the organic listings.
Below I wanted to share 7 things businesses can implement themselves to improve their local search rankings without costing them a single penny.
Get More Reviews
Reviews are not only a local search ranking factor, but it also helps increase the click through rate of your organic listings. Once you’ve received over 5 reviews, you receive a star rating instead of the listing “only” showcasing the total number of reviews you’ve been given.
Normally we recommend Google Reviews, Yelp, Angie’s List and three additional review sources pertinent to your industry. If you’re a law
yer, it’s AVVO. If you’re a doctor, it may be ZocDoc. You just need to determine which industry directories you can be listed in and attain reviews form those sources.
Leave a Testimonial for associates
When it comes to links and increase your traditional organic rankings, leaving a testimonial for a company or someone you’ve done business with couldn’t be any easier. Simple list 10 – 20 businesses you are associated with. Reach out to them and ask them if you could leave them a testimonial. Also you ask for is a link back to your website.
Ensure you’re listed in the big 5
Another major local search ranking factor is what’s called citations. The more your Name, Address, and Phone Number are “consistently” listed in these
directories and websites, the more trust Google places in your business and the more likely you’ll show up for the proper search terms when people are searching.
I would name the big five as Google, Yelp, Bing, Yahoo, and Angie’s List. There are many others but these 5 are very important citation sources can will serve as the corner to future local search rankings.
Update & Enhance Your Google Plus Page – For Business
If you do everything else with this step, you’ve already lost. This is the most critical step in ensuring your business listing in Google shows up in the local search
listings. In order to have a business set up, you must have a local retail or office location. It cannot be a PO Box.
We have many clients who are listed in directories but weren’t taking advantage of their membership directories listing their business. If you are apart of any local organizations, make sure your contact information and just as important your website url is correctly listed. Those are easy links you can get that will impact your overall rankings.
Reclaim Links From All Directories/Sponsors
We have many clients who are listed in directories but weren’t taking advantage of their membership directories listing their business. If you are apart of any local organizations, make sure your contact information and just as important your website url is correctly listed. Those are easy links you can get that will impact your overall rankings.
Add Company Location To Title Tag
As simple as this strategy is, I’m always surprised at the number of local businesses that choose not to implement. It is literally as simple as changing the title of your website to reflect your location. If you run a mold removal company, your new SEO title tag may be “Atlanta Mold Removal | Water Damage Company.” A simple change like this sends a very powerful single to Google that screams relevancy and locality. We’ve also seen this sort of title increase click through rates for companies.
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