Local SEO is important for small businesses and their owners often have a lot of questions about it. They want to know how it works, what is involved, and how much it will cost.
In this article, I will answer the four most common questions I get asked about local SEO.
Local SEO: The Four Most Common Questions
- What’s the difference between SEO and local SEO?
- What’s the best website builder for SEO?
- How do you pick a good keyword for your website title tag?
- How much does local SEO cost?
We know it’s difficult to run your business through this post-pandemic craziness. We’re committed to helping you check all the boxes so you can be confident you’ll always have a place on the first page of Google searches for your business.
Ready? Here we go…
WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SEO AND LOCAL SEO?
SEO and local SEO are two different things, but they work together to help your website rank higher in search results. Local SEO is focused on ranking your website for local searches. This includes targeting specific keywords and using local business directories. SEO is the process of optimizing your website for Google search results. This includes improving your website’s content, structure, and authority. Read more about this below…
Confused about what a business directory is? Check out What Is A Business Listing In SEO? 4 kinds
The link above will help you learn more about business listings in addition to telling you how they improve your SERP (read the blog to find out more about that if you don’t already know), in addition to helpful tips regarding on-page SEO and off-page SEO.
In that article, we cover Google My Business (GMB), Yelp, Facebook, and Apple Maps in addition to giving you tips for the content on your business listings.
Here’s an article about GMB Increase Website Traffic Using Google My Business
Okay, let’s cover some basics for improving your website.
- Content – You want to make sure everything is tidy and easy to navigate. That’s pretty basic, it’s true! But, think about how many websites you’ve seen that have a ‘hoarder-esque’ feel. It’s as if the homepage assaults you with long-winded paragraphs from the start.
Think about it. What if you walked into someone’s front door and they started talking about their house even before you asked them anything or before they even greeted you properly? You’d feel assaulted, right?
So, why do businesses feel the need to say everything on the homepage?
Instead, you want a clean layout that is easy to absorb and navigate. Don’t overwhelm potential customers as soon as they land. Nobody wants that.
- Structure – This is really about having a clean appearance so that you don’t overwhelm your customers. Think about structure as if it’s a closet with labels. Everything is closed but is labeled and ready to be opened at any time.
This would mean the landing page is clean and easy to understand.
One-click on each tab (not too many tabs), will get them what they want, whether it’s more information or an action call; i.e., click to buy, add to cart, etc.
- Authority – Let’s talk about authority. Better yet, read this blog on establishing authority StoryBrand BrandScript Examples. We know you’ll find it helpful.
Authority is important to establish because it tells your customer exactly why they should trust you. This is when and how you tell them, “Hey look, we’ve been there and done that, and we found a better way.” Authority is demonstrating to your potential customers why you are their guide from problem to solution.
When it comes to ranking higher in Google search results, local SEO is a great way to boost your website’s visibility. Potential customers need to know you’re there and that you’re able to solve their problem(s). The fact is that local businesses that focus on their local SEO efforts can see a significant increase in traffic and leads. However, you still need to do SEO even if you’re not targeting a local market – because not all of your customers will be looking for a business in their area.
If you are a business owner that solves a problem with either a service or product and it doesn’t require you to be in the same area as your customers, you don’t want to miss out on customers that you could have reeled in. Effective SEO is like a giant net that a business owner can use to cast out into the vast waters of commerce. The more you focus on tightening that net by filling in the existing holes using proper SEO techniques, the more customers you will catch.
If you want to improve your website’s ranking in Google search results, then you need to focus on both SEO and local SEO. This will help you reach more customers and grow your business.
Remember, the tighter that net is, the bigger the catch will be.
WHAT’S THE BEST WEBSITE BUILDER FOR SEO?
When it comes to choosing a website builder for SEO, there are a few things to consider. Make sure the website builder offers good SEO features, is easy to use, and fits within your budget. As much as we’d like there to be, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question, as the best website builder for SEO will vary depending on your business’s needs. However, there are a few things to consider when choosing a website builder for SEO.
Click here StoryBrand Website Examples for information on building a website and wireframes. If you haven’t heard of a wireframe before, it’s okay. Remember, everything is one step at a time and nothing needs to be perfect from the start. You can do this!
First, you need to make sure the website builder you choose offers good SEO features. This includes things like keyword optimization, header tags, and meta descriptions. Those are some of the critical items that search engines seek to identify specific business products and services. Secondly, you need to make sure the website builder is easy to use. You don’t want to choose a website builder that is difficult to navigate or that requires a lot of coding skills. SEO can be a bit overwhelming to learn, so user friendly is vastly important.
Finally, you should consider the cost of the website builder. Some website builders are free, while others have a monthly fee. Make sure you choose one that fits within your budget.
A tip for determining this one: it’s important to weigh the cost versus the time you’ll need to put into your website’s SEO. The more user-friendly website builders will ultimately require less time from you. However, you need to remember that learning these new skills will take time. Don’t beat yourself up. You’ll get it, we promise!
HOW DO YOU PICK A GOOD KEYWORD FOR YOUR WEBSITE TITLE TAG?
With SEO, picking the right keywords is essential. You need to find keywords that are relevant to your business and that have high search volume. When choosing a keyword for your website title tag, you should keep these things in mind:
- The keyword should be relevant to your business.
- The keyword should have a high search volume.
- The keyword should be easy to rank.
When choosing a keyword for your website title tag, it’s important to pick one that is relevant to your business and has a high search volume. This will help you get more traffic and leads from your website. Additionally, you want to make sure the keyword is easy to rank. This means it shouldn’t be too competitive and you should have a good chance of ranking higher in Google search results.
Another good tip for choosing good keywords is to think about what questions your customers are asking when they use a search engine.
Also, what is the problem you solve for your customers? Taking some time to answer these questions for yourself will help you determine keywords that are specific to your business.
HOW MUCH DOES LOCAL SEO COST?
Local SEO services can vary in price depending on the size and scope of the project. However, most local SEO packages start at around $500 per month. This includes services like website optimization, directory submissions, and local listing management.
If you’re looking for local SEO services, be sure to ask about the cost and what’s included in the package. Local SEO can be a great way to boost your website’s visibility and grow your business, but it’s important to make sure you choose a package that fits within your budget.
Click here for some DIY SEO tips Local SEO for Small Business
Once again, you need to weigh the time that you will spend or save with each type of package. What’s more important to you and your business? Time or money? We all know both are important, but at certain times it may be more beneficial to spend more money while you save time. That’s going to be up to you to decide.
Remember, you still need to do SEO even if you’re targeting a local market – because not all of your customers will be looking for a business in their area. If you want to improve your website’s ranking in Google search results, then you need to focus on both SEO and local SEO. This will help you reach more customers and grow your business.
Check out some of the other blog links listed in this article. We know you’ll find the resources they offer helpful. Put these resources to work and you’ll be on your way to page 1 Google ranking world in no time.
Schedule A Call with us today, pick a plan, and watch as your business grows!
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