{"id":20412,"date":"2023-12-01T10:00:54","date_gmt":"2023-12-01T09:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/?p=20412"},"modified":"2023-12-01T10:52:31","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T09:52:31","slug":"what-is-local-seo-and-how-to-do-it-right","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/what-is-local-seo-and-how-to-do-it-right\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Local SEO and How to Do It Right"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]What does your local ma-and-pa store have in common with a high-end <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/theme-category\/online-store-wordpress-themes\/\">e-commerce website<\/a>? Both can use <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/how-search-engines-work\/#Google-vs-Other-Search-Engines\">search engines<\/a> to drum up business. For the online store, the good-old search engine optimization is there to make sure it appears as close as possible to the top of the first page of search results. And the ma-and-pa store can use local SEO to increase sales.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]For many, however, this thing called local SEO is still a bit of a mystery. Search engines have been working on localized query results for over fifteen years, but the local SEO field has only recently started to blow up. Now, it\u2019s slowly becoming the norm for any type of business that offers services in a certain geographical area.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]In this article, we\u2019ll show you:<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;22px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#what-is-local-seo\">What Is Local SEO?<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#how-does-it-work\">How Does It Work?<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#claiming-your-business-listing-on-search-engines\">Claiming Your Business Listing on Search Engines<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#claim-your-business-wherever-its-possible\">Claim Your Business Wherever It\u2019s Possible<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#handle-reviews\">Handle Reviews<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#optimize-your-website\">Optimize Your Website<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;5px&#8221;]<ul class=\"qodef-unordered-list-item qodef-toc\">\n    <li>\n\t        <div class=\"qodef-ul-title-holder\">\n            <span class=\"qodef-ul-title-content\"><a href=\"#consider-local-seo-tools\">Consider Local SEO Tools<\/a><\/span>        <\/div>\n            <\/li>\n<\/ul>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;80px&#8221;][vc_widget_sidebar sidebar_id=&#8221;new-seo-banner&#8221;][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;81px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"what-is-local-seo\"><\/a>What Is Local SEO?<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/What-Is-Local-SEO.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"What Is Local SEO\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/What-Is-Local-SEO.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/What-Is-Local-SEO-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/What-Is-Local-SEO-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/What-Is-Local-SEO-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]In the simplest terms, <strong>local search engine optimization is the process of optimizing your business\u2019 online assets so that it ranks well in search results that answer a query with a local component.<\/strong> When someone is looking for a hairdresser in the area where you have a salon, you want your business name to be the first thing they see. <strong>Local SEO should help with that.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The thing that makes this kind of searching so important is the fact that it\u2019s highly effective at bringing people through the door of brick-and-mortar businesses. <strong>One of the reasons is because people who search for things locally tend to present qualified traffic.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]A lot of searches for local things happen from mobile devices, and they don\u2019t always include a geographic term as much as the term \u201cnear me.\u201d <strong>So, you have people who are probably on the go, looking for nearby shops that sell things that they want<\/strong>. It would be hard to find a stronger indicator of purchase intent than that.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>The numbers might vary, but most would say that at least seven out of ten local searches end with an in-store visit.<\/strong> That\u2019s the power of local search and the reason why, ever since Google\u2019s 2014 Pigeon update, which focused on improving local search results, businesses have increasingly been relying on local optimization.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"how-does-it-work\"><\/a>How Does It Work?<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/How-Does-It-Work.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"How Does It Work\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/How-Does-It-Work.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/How-Does-It-Work-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/How-Does-It-Work-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/How-Does-It-Work-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>Local search results work a bit differently than regular search results.<\/strong> The way they are presented might vary slightly between different search engines, but there are certain similarities you can notice.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>For example, the results are grouped in a pack that appears at the top of the results page.<\/strong> Google\u2019s users will see three results underneath a map showing the business\u2019 location. Bing\u2019s users will see the same, but with five results.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Here\u2019s how it looks on the respective search engines for the search terms \u201chairdresser near me\u201d and \u201chairdresser nearby.\u201d<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"600\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Hairdresser-Nearby.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Hairdresser Nearby\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Hairdresser-Nearby.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Hairdresser-Nearby-300x186.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Hairdresser-Nearby-768x476.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Hairdresser-Nearby-620x384.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;60px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"650\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Hairdresser-Nearby-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Hairdresser Nearby\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Hairdresser-Nearby-2.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Hairdresser-Nearby-2-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Hairdresser-Nearby-2-768x515.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Hairdresser-Nearby-2-620x416.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>These aren\u2019t the only results the user can get.<\/strong> Businesses should work towards appearing in this \u201csnack pack\u201d of search results because it increases their visibility, but <strong>they can still appear in the results when the viewer presses \u201cview all\u201d or \u201csee more results.\u201d<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/See-More-Results.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"See More Results\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/See-More-Results.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/See-More-Results-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/See-More-Results-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/See-More-Results-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;60px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"562\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/See-More-Results-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"See More Results\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/See-More-Results-2.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/See-More-Results-2-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/See-More-Results-2-768x445.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/See-More-Results-2-620x360.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]This time, the map becomes bigger, and there are more results visible. Click on one of the results will show a plethora of information about the business in question. <strong>This information includes name, ratings, address, working hours, contact information, website address, images, and user reviews.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Map-Info.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Map Info\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Map-Info.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Map-Info-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Map-Info-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Map-Info-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;60px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"563\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Map-Info-2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Map Info\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Map-Info-2.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Map-Info-2-300x174.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Map-Info-2-768x446.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Map-Info-2-620x360.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]From your end, local search results work in a way that has you register your business with the search engine\u2019s business directory of the equivalent and then provide as much information about it as possible.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>That\u2019s the short version, at least, because providing all that information includes getting users to review your business, have it listed on business directories, and do lots of other optimization stuff.<\/strong> For starters, however, let\u2019s see how you can claim your business in the search engine\u2019s business service.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"claiming-your-business-listing-on-search-engines\"><\/a>Claiming Your Business Listing on Search Engines<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]This type of search engine optimization works without a website because it relies on the search engines\u2019 business listing type of service.<strong> You can think about it almost like a social network for businesses where everything revolves around creating a good profile.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]For Google, this service is called Google My Business. For Bing, it\u2019s called Bing Places for Business. <strong>Either way, your local SEO journey starts with claiming your business there.<\/strong> Here\u2019s how you can do it on Google.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Go to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/business\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">google.com\/business<\/a>, and click on the Manage Now button.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Google-My-Business.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Google My Business\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Google-My-Business.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Google-My-Business-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Google-My-Business-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Google-My-Business-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]You\u2019ll be asked to find and manage your business. If this is the first time you\u2019re making the profile, you can go ahead and click on the blue hyperlink that says \u201cAdd your business to Google.\u201d<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"518\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Find-Your-Business.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Find Your Business\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Find-Your-Business.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Find-Your-Business-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Find-Your-Business-768x411.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Find-Your-Business-620x331.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>The next couple of steps will guide you through providing the necessary information for creating a listing.<\/strong> First, you\u2019ll be asked to provide the name of your business. Next, you\u2019ll be able to choose the category your business belongs to, whether you want to add a physical location or not, the address, the location on the map, optional phone number, and website, and that\u2019s it! <strong>You might be asked to verify your business. That should be enough to get your website online \u2013 but you shouldn\u2019t do it just yet.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Before you decide to go online, you should go to Google My Business and check out the Info option in the dashboard.<strong> It will list all the information available about your business.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"575\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/My-Business-Info.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"My Business Info\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/My-Business-Info.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/My-Business-Info-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/My-Business-Info-768x456.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/My-Business-Info-620x368.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>Among the information you can add, you\u2019ll find highlights, accessibility options, amenities, business descriptions, and photos.<\/strong> Some of the options you can find here are the same ones you can choose from the dashboard. For example, you can choose Photos from the dashboard and there you\u2019ll be able to add photos including a cover photo, logo, photos of the interior and exterior of your business, and even your team members.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;50px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder   qodef-has-border \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"452\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Additional-Business-Info.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Additional Business Info\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Additional-Business-Info.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Additional-Business-Info-300x140.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Additional-Business-Info-768x358.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Additional-Business-Info-620x289.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The bottom line is that you should check out all of these options and fill them out with as much information as you can. <strong>Every bit of information you can add here matters a lot.<\/strong> Once you\u2019ve finished, you\u2019ll be able to get your listing online. <strong>That\u2019s great news, but that won\u2019t be nearly enough.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"claim-your-business-wherever-its-possible\"><\/a>Claim Your Business Wherever It\u2019s Possible<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Claim-Your-Business-Wherever-Its-Possible.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Claim Your Business Wherever It\u2019s Possible\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Claim-Your-Business-Wherever-Its-Possible.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Claim-Your-Business-Wherever-Its-Possible-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Claim-Your-Business-Wherever-Its-Possible-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Claim-Your-Business-Wherever-Its-Possible-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>Your next step should be, of course, to go through the same process on Bing Places for Business.<\/strong> It doesn\u2019t matter if you think that no one uses Bing \u2013<strong> the whole idea is to have your business information appear in as many online directories as possible, and you can consider Bing Places for Business as one.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]From there, <strong>you can head over to real online directories such as Foursquare and Apple Maps, and claim your business in those places, too. Next, you\u2019ll want to head to Yelp and other review websites and claim your business there as well.<\/strong> Every place where your business name appears with your business\u2019 information is a citation, and the more of these you have, the better. Plus, it will make it easier for people to find you.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Does your business use social media? No? Well, what are you waiting for? <strong>It\u2019s possible to create a Facebook Business Page, just as it\u2019s possible to create a listing on other networks such as Twitter or LinkedIn.<\/strong> Make the most out of these. If you don\u2019t plan to use them, at least provide the relevant information and keep it up to date.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"handle-reviews\"><\/a>Handle Reviews<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Handle-Reviews.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Handle Reviews\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Handle-Reviews.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Handle-Reviews-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Handle-Reviews-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Handle-Reviews-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>You want your website to have reviews.<\/strong> Google will use its reviews, but any review your business can have online will count. <strong>You should run a campaign for people who\u2019ve used your business to leave reviews.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]A campaign doesn\u2019t have to be as complex as it sounds \u2013 <strong>you can simply print out a QR code linking to your website\u2019s listing on a review website, put it somewhere near the cash register, and just ask people to leave a review if they have the time.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>You might want to skip asking people who don\u2019t look like they would give a decent review<\/strong> \u2013 this might be cheating a bit, but it\u2019s really important to have as many good reviews as possible. Of course, consistently providing a good user experience might be the best way to ensure that the reviews you get are good.<strong> If you do get a bad review, you should reply to it.<\/strong> It\u2019s review management 101, so make sure you follow all of the best practices.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>Just so you know, your ideal review should be well-written and positive. It should also contain keywords and references to your business\u2019 location.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"optimize-your-website\"><\/a>Optimize Your Website<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"969\" height=\"553\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Optimize-Your-Website.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Optimize Your Website\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Optimize-Your-Website.jpg 969w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Optimize-Your-Website-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Optimize-Your-Website-768x438.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Optimize-Your-Website-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 969px) 100vw, 969px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]When you\u2019re optimizing your website for local search \u2013 or building it from scratch to rank it for local search results \u2013 you don\u2019t do things too differently from when you\u2019re optimizing or building a regular website. <strong>You\u2019ll still create a homepage, add metadata, and research keywords \u2013 you\u2019ll just do it so that they include local terms or queries people in your area might have.<\/strong> Let\u2019s see some examples where you should focus your attention.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">The Homepage<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]When a visitor comes to your homepage, it shouldn\u2019t take them more than a couple of seconds to figure out who you are, what you have to offer, and where you\u2019re located. <strong>Google\u2019s crawler isn\u2019t exactly the regular website visitor, but you should still provide them the same information.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]<strong>Your homepage has tags and meta descriptions that should be edited to include terms that can identify your business\u2019 location.<\/strong> That can be, for example, the name of the city. In a big city, it can also be the name of the part of the city where the business is located. <strong>If it helps Google understand which area the business is located in, it could go in the homepage\u2019s tags and descriptions.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Metadata<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]If you\u2019re updating the title tags and metadata on your homepage, there\u2019s no reason why you wouldn\u2019t do it on every other page you have on your website. <strong>The data might differ from one page to another, but the general rule is the same for all of it.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]Good SEO practices state that you should have keywords in the metadata. <strong>For local optimization, you should ensure that you also include terms that denote your business\u2019 location \u2013 the name of the city, county, neighborhood, whatever you want to focus on.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Keywords<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]You will, of course, have to <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/keyword-research-and-how-to-do-it-right\/\">research relevant keywords<\/a> for your website \u2013 whether you plan to optimize it for local search or not. <strong>However, if you\u2019re researching locally-relevant keywords, you\u2019ll have to research with a twist.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]While you\u2019re using Google AdWords, Ahrefs, Google autocomplete, and even Craigslist to find out what words people are using to search for stuff, make sure that you always focus on searches that happen on a local level. <strong>So, either narrow down the search to a specific geographic area, if your resource allows it, or include a toponym of your choice in the keywords you\u2019re looking for.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Content<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]The content you create for your website should always include the keywords that are relevant to the area where your business is located or where you offer a service or sell a product. <strong>You can achieve this, for example, by including plenty of local geographical terms in the content.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]However, if you want to create good local content, and catch the eye of someone who\u2019d want to maybe link to it, you might want to adopt another strategy.<strong> Instead of creating content you optimize for local search by using local keywords, you should create locally relevant content.<\/strong> Find topics that matter to the people who live in the area and cover them in your content.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Website Structure<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]As a business owner, you don\u2019t have to limit yourself to a single area. Sure, proximity is one of the key factors for appearing in the snack pack of search results, but that has nothing to do with how you do your business. <strong>If you\u2019re a plumber in a big city, you don\u2019t have to focus on providing a service in a two-mile radius around your location.<\/strong> You\u2019ll venture to other parts of the town, too.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The trick is to have a separate page for every part of the city where you can go \u2013 whether it\u2019s a borough, a neighborhood, or however the city is divided. <strong>Then optimize the page specifically with keywords and metadata for that specific sub-location.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;72px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"qodef-h5\">Add the LocalBusiness Schema<\/h3>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Using <a href=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/LocalBusiness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">LocalBusiness schema<\/a>, you can make sure that a search engine has the right understanding of all the elements on your page and that it knows how to display them so that people can read them. <strong>This is what you get by using schema markup on your website, and it can be incredibly helpful to users.<\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]The LocalBusiness schema contains the properties that are relevant to local businesses. Google will require you to add only a handful such as an URL, physical address, and name of the business. <strong>You can also include anything from geographic coordinates to menus, working hours, contact information, and reviews.<\/strong> If you\u2019re not sure how to get started with it, Google has made a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/webmasters\/markup-helper\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tool to help with that<\/a>, as well as a <a href=\"https:\/\/search.google.com\/structured-data\/testing-tool\/u\/0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">tool to test your page<\/a> after you\u2019ve added the code you\u2019ve created with the markup helper.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\"><a id=\"consider-local-seo-tools\"><\/a>Consider Local SEO Tools<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;24px&#8221;]<div class=\"qodef-single-image-holder    \">\n    <div class=\"qodef-si-inner\" >\n                                    <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"970\" height=\"554\" src=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Fine-Tune-WordPress-Settings.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Fine-Tune WordPress Settings\" srcset=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Fine-Tune-WordPress-Settings.jpg 970w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Fine-Tune-WordPress-Settings-300x171.jpg 300w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Fine-Tune-WordPress-Settings-768x439.jpg 768w, https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Fine-Tune-WordPress-Settings-620x354.jpg 620w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 970px) 100vw, 970px\" \/>                        <\/div>\n<\/div>[vc_empty_space height=&#8221;38px&#8221;][vc_column_text]A lot of processes in setting up local search engine optimization can be streamlined with the right tools.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]For instance, Yoast has a handy <a href=\"https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/local-seo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Local SEO plugin<\/a> designed to help brands reach more local customers. The basic Yoast plugin doesn\u2019t have these specific features out of the box, but if you combine it with a specialized plugin, it can help you grow your local customer base quickly. The plugin organizes the data that\u2019s relevant for local visibility on Google, such as business name, address, opening hours etc, by using Schema markup. This sort of structured data sends direct information to Google and it does so for each of your pages &#8211; not just your contact page. The plugin also takes care of the technical SEO and helps you optimize Google listings for all your locations, in case you have more than one.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]When it comes to local SEO, keywords are particularly important. Now, you can do <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/keyword-research-and-how-to-do-it-right\/\">keyword research<\/a> by yourself and follow the <a href=\"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/complete-guide-to-keyword-density\/\">keyword density guidelines<\/a>, but you can also consider using <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cminds.com\/wordpress-plugins-library\/seo-keyword-hound-wordpress\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SEO Keyword Hound<\/a>, a tool designed for optimizing your keywords. You can use it for competitor analysis, create keyword lists and track their performance through crucial metrics like impressions, clicks, CTR, etc. The best thing about this plugin is that it suggests a range of keywords to target in order to maximize your reach and visibility. The plugin itself is not designed specifically for local SEO but if you use location as part of your keywords and instruct the plugin to include it, it will work just like any specialized local SEO solution.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]If you\u2019re on a budget, there\u2019s a great free plugin that can help your local SEO. <a href=\"https:\/\/wordpress.org\/plugins\/business-profile\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Five Star Business Profile &amp; Schema<\/a> creates a detailed business card with all your information and structures it in Schema. You can add the business card as a Gutenberg block or a shortcode anywhere you like, and the plugin will make sure Schema is applied so that Google can pick up the information.[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;68px&#8221;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"qodef-h4\">Let\u2019s Wrap It Up!<\/h2>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]When you\u2019re optimizing a website for local SEO, you should understand that some circumstances will be out of your hands. The proximity of the searcher, for example, is a strong ranking factor and you have no control over it whatsoever.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space height=&#8221;28px&#8221;][vc_column_text]But the things you can do, you should do diligently. Fill out as many listings for your website as possible. Always be on the lookout for comments, and ready to reply. And make sure that you produce content the locals would find interesting.<br \/>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Need some help with local SEO for your website? It can be tough to know where to start from but don&#8217;t worry, we&#8217;ll guide you through it!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9295,"featured_media":43886,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[27,25,4],"class_list":["post-20412","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marketing","tag-content","tag-seo","tag-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20412","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9295"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=20412"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/20412\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20412"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20412"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/qodeinteractive.com\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=20412"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}