Local SEO in 2021 – 12 Essential Tips

In today’s world, establishing a strong online presence is crucial for any business. Did you know that approximately 28% of local searches result in a purchase? That’s why it’s essential to have a successful overall SEO strategy, as well as a solid local SEO strategy. By combining both, you can significantly improve your business’s online presence and get ahead of your competition.

To make the most of local search, you must first understand how to develop and implement an effective local SEO strategy. Here are the top 12 local SEO tips that can help you enhance your business’s online presence in 2021.

#1. Create a GMB Listing Without Delay

Creating a Google My Business (GMB) listing is crucial. Ensure that you complete your profile and list all your products and services. Once you’ve set up your GMB listing, start creating mini-posts for your clients using the Google Posts feature. This not only keeps your clients up to date but also shows Google that you’re managing your listing properly.

#2. Get Your Business Listed on Important Directories

Listing your business on all important online directories is essential for local SEO. Check if there are any directories specific to your area and target them in addition to the main national and global directories like Yelp, FourSquare, Angie’s List, Bing Places, HotFrog, Best of the Web, and About Us.

#3. Keep Your Name, Address, and Phone Information Updated and Accurate

Incorrect and inconsistent name, address, and phone (NAP) information will likely result in Google not displaying your GMB listing. So make sure your NAP information is correct and consistent across all platforms and listings. If your business moves to a new location, update this information on all platforms as soon as possible. You should also keep a close eye on your business’s profile information to ensure there are no discrepancies.

#4. Target Local Keywords

Targeting local keywords is a must for local SEO. Be sure to research local keywords that include longer-tail keywords related to your business, variations of search terms, and hyper-local keywords.

#5. Optimize Your Site with Local Keywords

After shortlisting the local keywords you want to rank for, optimize your site with these keywords. Be sure to include the keywords on your homepage and service pages in headings, title tags, meta descriptions, body, and footer. If possible, try to incorporate your main local keyword in the URL as well. But make sure you use these keywords naturally in your content.

#6. Create Locally Relevant Content

For better lead generation, create locally relevant content. Incorporate local keywords into your content related to the products and services you offer. You can also create content that revolves around local news and events related to your business or industry.

#7. Make Your Site Mobile-Friendly

Ensuring that your site is mobile-friendly is essential as 30% of all mobile searches are location-related. If your site fails to work properly on mobile, you may lose potential customers to a competitor whose website is easily accessible on mobile. Optimize your site for mobile to avoid losing them.

#8. Optimize Your Site for Voice

Mobile voice searches are becoming increasingly common among consumers. Optimizing your site and content for voice now will help you stay ahead of your competitors. Mobile voice searches are 3X more likely to be related to something local compared to text searches.

#9. Build Inbound Links

Building inbound links can strengthen not only your overall SEO efforts but also your local SEO game. While there are many ways to build quality inbound links, one of the most effective ways is to connect with people and businesses related to your industry and figure out a way to place a contextual link on their websites.

#10. Create Location Pages

If your business serves. If your business serves multiple locations, you’ll want your website to rank in local searches for each of those locations. The best way to do this is by creating a separate page for each location instead of just listing them on one page. You’ll need to create unique content for each page and ensure they’re optimized for local keywords.

#11. Manage Your Reviews

Managing your reviews is crucial for succeeding in local SEO in 2021. Good reviews are great, but negative ones can severely impact your authority and rankings. Respond to negative reviews with an aim to resolve the issues raised. This not only helps you retain customers but also shows Google that you’re actively working to enhance customer experience. It’s essential to manage your reviews across all platforms and listings.

#12. Don't Neglect Overall SEO

While local SEO is vital, ignoring overall SEO can affect your local SEO efforts. Google has made it clear that organic search engine results pages (SERP) play a significant role in improving your local rankings. If you ignore implementing certain traditional SEO components, your local SEO efforts may fail. Keep a close eye on this front to ensure you don’t fall behind.

Final Takeaway

The year 2020 saw a significant shift of consumers and businesses moving online. Even if you’ve already implemented some of the above local SEO tips, building a comprehensive SEO strategy requires much more. If you find that your business is still struggling to succeed in the digital world, it’s time to get in touch with a reliable SEO expert to help you catch up to your competition. By implementing the above tips, you can significantly improve your business’s online presence, enhance customer experience, and drive more traffic to your site. Keep in mind that local SEO is an ongoing process that requires consistent effort and attention. With a solid local SEO strategy, you can position your business for success and stay ahead of your competitors.