Local SEO for Small Business: A Comprehensive Guide in 2024

Recently, users have developed a habit of searching and reaching the closest business to purchase a product or use a service. Regarding this, using local SEO can be beneficial, especially for small businesses aiming to boost brand visibility. 

Local SEO can help your business sit at the top of local search results. Then, what is local SEO, and how to implement local SEO for small businesses? 

This guide will help you explore local SEO for small businesses and some of the most powerful tips. So, check this out!

What Is Local SEO?

Local SEO is a practice to increase the visibility of local businesses in Google search results. This strategy also aims to improve rankings, conversion, and traffic. 

Local SEO can help you discover new clients online and bring them to your brand. In addition, this tactic requires small efforts by using Google Business Profile, but the impact on your business is massive. 

This is because after conducting an internet search, one in five customers will come across your store. 

However, A local SEO strategy may require more work and more effort in particular sectors. Moreover, traditional and local SEO differ in the ranking factors they prioritize.

Traditional SEO pays attention to backlinks, technical SEO, and content production. Meanwhile, local SEO focuses on geo-location keywords, online ratings, reviews, and Google Business Profiles. 

Yet, using local SEO for small businesses can help search engines like Google understand your business plus your location better. Therefore, it can recommend your brand to the relevant audience in the right location. 

Why Is Local SEO for Small Business Important?

For companies that have a local clientele that may visit their website or physical location, local SEO is essential since it helps them grow their brand, draw in more clients, and maintain their competitiveness.

Depending on the level of competition in the local market, local search engine optimization can produce results for broader keywords faster than standard SEO.

In addition to that, a guide by Think With Google 2022 edition showed that the search term “open now near me” soared up to 400%.

Moreover, an updated Google Business Profile can help the potential customer to search for products or services in their area. In this case, 60% of mobile phone users make direct business contacts from local search results and 76% of them visit the business within 24 hours after searching.

From those data, it can be said that local SEO for small businesses can be advantageous to reach customers in specific areas. 

Furthermore, there are many benefits you can get from local SEO for small businesses, such as:

• Improve brand awareness, brand recognition, and trust. 
• Boost ranking and conversion. 
• Outrank other competitors in the same local community.

When you have optimized your local SEO, you will probably appear on local organic search engine result pages and local map packs.

Local SEO Best Practices for Small Business

There are many strategies for local SEO for small business you can implement to your business, such as:

1. Make a Google Business Profile

The first local SEO strategy is to make a Google Business Profile. This is a Google account that loads the information about your business. 

You can always update the information on your Google Business Profile. It is a must to fill in the valid address, business name, and working hours. You can also support your information with relevant photos, descriptions, and others. 

Please note that your search engine ranking may improve with increased information, but make sure that you only submit real and valid information to avoid being penalized by Google. 

2. Create a Mobile-Friendly and Responsive Website

Mobile-friendliness is one of the SEO elements you should consider. The more user-friendly your website, the more Google will look at your website. 

You can use content management systems (CMS) or website builders that have responsive design principles integrated into them. Additionally, you must test your website on various platforms and ensure that it functions well and loads fast. 

To improve your page speed, make sure to optimize your images and content by using the right size and format. 

Making a responsive and mobile-friendly website a top priority can improve accessibility and user experience while fortifying your local SEO base.

3. Enable Page to Target Local Keywords

You can enable pages to target local keywords, such as service or location pages. You can target some local keywords, like “bakery in Malang” or “car wash in Surabaya” and place it on your service page. 

Then, optimize your contact page by completing the name, address, phone number, maps, and other information specific to your business that can help your audience reach you.

4.  Optimize Metadata 

Metadata consists of meta description and meta title. In optimizing metadata, you can use localized search terms like “near me” and put the main keyword. 

5. Interact with Reviews

Reviews matter to your business; therefore, you must encourage your customers to leave reviews and ratings on your business account. Yet, do not attempt to put fake or spam reviews because it can harm your reputation.

Then, you must interact with the reviews, like replying to them. If unfavorable feedback is received, act upon it by trying your best to make things right instead of brushing it off. 

You can improve your search engine position and demonstrate your concern for your clients by reading and responding to reviews. 

6. Include Structured Data

You can notify search engines about your location, business hours, and more with Local Business structured data. If necessary, build and test schema using SEO tools.

7. Build Backlink

Last but not least, you can ask for a backlink to your business. Backlinks are a highly regarded technique and an authority indicator for search engines. 

You can work with local organizations or communities to get backlinks, send press releases to online press companies, become a sponsor on events, or reach out to the business owner to partner with them. 

Setting local SEO for Google might be different from traditional SEO, but it can impact your business ranking on SERPs, making potential customers easily access your brand. 

But, doing local SEO for small businesses alone requires comprehensive strategies. Therefore, working with a company offering local SEO services for small businesses is advisable. Regarding this, you can entrust SEO Services by cmlabs!

cmlabs can assist you to improve your ranking, reach a wider audience, and boost your credibility. We will also focus on on-page optimization, content production, and link building. Partner with us now!