Do you find it difficult to get more traffic from your local area? If so, you might be making common local SEO mistakes that prevent you from getting higher Google search engine rankings.
In this article, we will discuss the 5 most common local SEO mistakes that many business owners make that could cost them their business traffic and their customers. We also give you tips on how to fix these errors and get the results you want!
Importance of Local SEO for Small Businesses
Small businesses are the backbone of the American economy. They create two out of three new jobs in the country and provide more than half of all private sector jobs. Small businesses also play an important role in the local community by providing employment and support to their neighbors.
Small businesses can reach more customers and grow their business by optimizing their websites and Google Business Profiles for local search.
Local search engine optimization is a process that helps you rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs) when people search for terms related to your business. Ranking higher allows you to attract more traffic from your local area and generate more traffic, leads, and sales. Local SEO also focuses heavily on driving inbound calls and walk-ins to your store. But local SEO has its challenges. Businesses often make several common mistakes that end up costing them traffic and valuable customers.
This article will discuss the 5 most common local SEO errors and how to fix them.
Don’t use a local SEO tool
A common local SEO mistake small business owners make is not using a local SEO tool to optimize and manage their GMB listings.
If you’re not sure how to optimize your website for local SEO, using a local SEO tool can help. These tools provide valuable information about your site and your local competition, including keyword rankings, backlink profiles, and local search results. Suppose you want to grow your business with local SEO. In this case, you should use a local SEO management tool and Google My Business-like local rankings to guide your efforts and ensure success.
Don’t focus on location-based keywords
One of the most common mistakes local search engine optimization companies make is not targeting location-based keywords. Simply using generic keywords like “plumber” or “dentist” may not be enough to get your website and business listing to rank on Google for local searches. Instead, you should focus on including geographic terms and keywords in your content that are relevant to your business and location.
For example, if you’re a local plumber based in New York City, you should add keywords like “New York City plumbers” and “New York plumbing services” to your Google My Business profile and website.
This tells search engines that your business is in the area and helps you rank higher when people search for related terms.
Skip Google My Business listings
Another common mistake businesses make is ignoring their Google My Business listing. Essentially a minister for your business, your Google My Business listing is one of the most important factors in local SEO. To use your Google My Business listing, you must create an account on the Google My Business website. From there you can enter all the necessary information about your business and upload photos to help customers find and learn more about your business.
Since GMB is a free product from Google, local business owners should take advantage of this tool. Your business cannot appear in the local map package without a Google Business listing.
Don’t get links based on location
One of the best ways to improve your local SEO is to get links from trusted sources on relevant topics.
For example, if you have a blog post about plumbers in New York City, look for links to local New York publications and newspapers that write about New York City-related issues. By getting links from trusted local sources, you show search engines that your content is trustworthy and valuable.
This helps improve your SERP ranking and attract more potential customers.
NAP details are not kept consistent
Consistency of NAP, which stands for Name-Address-Phone, is an important factor for Local SEO.
Consistency in your NAP information means that the details you provide about your business (name, address, phone number) are displayed accurately and consistently across all digital channels across the web. Up-to-date and consistent NAP information ensures customers can easily find and contact your business, which helps improve your local SEO rankings.
To avoid this local SEO mistake, you must keep your NAP information up-to-date and consistent across platforms such as Google My Business, Yelp, Bing Places, Yahoo, Better Business Bureau, etc. You can do this using a citation manager or local SEO tool to ensure that the details displayed on your website, Google My Business listing, and other online channels are always correct.
If you find any inconsistencies, please update them immediately to avoid negative consequences for your local SEO rankings.
Conclusion
Are you making one of these common local SEO mistakes? Then it’s time to take action and start optimizing your website and Google My Business profile to get more traffic and customers. Small business owners make many common mistakes when it comes to local SEO. By avoiding these mistakes and using the tips we provide, you can improve your business’s SERP rankings and attract more potential customers.
Remember that SEO is an ongoing process, so review your strategy periodically and make any necessary changes.
