Local SEO Tactics for Small Businesses: Getting Noticed in Your Neighborhood

According to the Department of Treasury, more people are opening businesses now than ever before. This is why it’s important for small businesses to harness the power of local SEO to stand out in their communities. 

So for all of you local businesses out there fighting to break through the competition, with the right tactics, you can improve your online presence, attract more local customers, and ultimately drive more sales. Here are some essential local SEO strategies that all small businesses should implement right away.

1. Optimize Your Google Business Profile

Claiming and optimizing your Google Business Profile (GBP) listing is crucial for local SEO. This free tool helps businesses manage their online presence across Google, including search results and maps.

• Complete Your Profile: Fill out every section of your GBP profile, including your business name, address, phone number, website, and hours of operation.
• Add Photos: Upload high-quality images of your products, services, and location. Visual content attracts more clicks and engagement.
• Encourage Reviews: Ask satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on your GBP profile. Responding to reviews shows that you value customer feedback and helps build trust.

Check out an example of profile optimization below from one of our clients, Trasca & Co Eatery, a fast-casual restaurant located in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida. 

You can see that there are photos of the business, a catchy description and service options giving new customers some quick info, location and contact information, hours, and a link to the menu. This will help first timers get a feel for what to expect, and lots of clickable links to learn more.

2. Use Local Keywords

Integrating local keywords into your website and content is essential for improving your search rankings. These keywords should reflect your services and location.

• Keyword Research: Use tools like Google Keyword Planner or Semrush to find relevant local keywords. Think about phrases your customers might use to find your business.
• Content Optimization: Incorporate these keywords naturally into your website copy, including titles, headings, and meta descriptions. Aim for phrases like "best coffee shop in [Your City]" or "affordable plumbing services in [Your Neighborhood]."

Notice how our client KSI, a kitchen and bath remodeling company, uses industry specific keywords like “home,” “kitchen,” “bath,” and “design” in their website copy. 

Look even closer and you’ll see they use local keywords like “Michigan” and “Ohio”—the service areas they cover—to help drive local, organic search traffic to their site. 

Add keywords like “construction” and “remodeling” into the equation and this small paragraph packs a heck of an SEO punch.

3. Create Local Content

Developing content that speaks to your local audience is a great way to engage potential customers and improve your SEO.

• Blog About Local Events: Write posts about local events, news, or topics relevant to your community. This positions you as a knowledgeable resource and boosts your local relevance.
• Feature Local Collaborations: If you partner with other local businesses, highlight these collaborations in your content. This can help you reach their audience as well.

The KSI blog does a great job of incorporating a good mix of industry and local content (most of the time in the same blog post) to help drive organic traffic to their website. 

This example references industry keywords like “remodeling” and “elevated kitchen design” alongside local keywords (“Rochester” is a city in Michigan, where they are based) to help bring in visitors that will find their services relevant.

4. Build Local Citations

Citations are online mentions of your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) on other websites. Consistent citations help improve your local search rankings.

• List in Local Directories: Use directory services like Yext to help ensure your business is listed in relevant local directories, such as Yelp, Yellow Pages, and local chamber of commerce websites.
• Maintain Consistency: Make sure your NAP information is consistent across all listings. Inconsistent data can confuse search engines and hurt your rankings.

For a restaurant like Trasca & Co Eatery, it’s important to be featured on listing sites like Yelp, as search engines like Google and Bing take reviews, ratings, and consistent NAP information into consideration when ranking for search.

5. Optimize for Mobile

With more people searching for local businesses on their mobile devices, having a mobile-friendly website is crucial.

• Responsive Design: Ensure your website is responsive, meaning it adjusts seamlessly to different screen sizes. This enhances the user experience and improves your SEO.
• Fast Loading Times: Optimize images and reduce unnecessary scripts to improve loading times. A slow website can deter potential customers and impact your rankings.

Reware Vintage, a Michigan-based sustainable clothing store, gives us a perfect example of a mobile-optimized website done right. 

The products still look vibrant and easy to navigate, even on a smaller screen, and with the slide door navigation icon in the upper left corner, it’s simple for a user to navigate to different pages of the site. 

6. Utilize Social Media for Local Engagement

Social media platforms are powerful tools for connecting with your local community.

• Engage Locally: Share content that resonates with your local audience. Highlight local events, share community news, and engage with followers through comments and messages.
• Location Tags: Use location tags in your posts to increase visibility among local users. This helps potential customers find your business when they search for nearby options.

Trasca & Co Eatery hosts lots of events, including weekly live music as well as pop-ups and collaborations with other businesses in the area. 

In the example below, Trasca & Co teamed up with The Beauty Boost in Jacksonville for an in-person, 45-minute yoga class taking place on the patio of Ponte Vedra Tap Room, their sister bar located next door to the restaurant. 

The post features local keywords, hashtags, and a tag for the partnering business to help increase exposure to the event.

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A post shared by Trasca & Co Eatery (@trascaandco)

7. Monitor Your Analytics

Regularly tracking your website's performance can help you identify what’s working and where you can improve.

• Use Google Analytics: Monitor traffic sources, user behavior, and conversion rates. This data can guide your local SEO strategy and help you make informed decisions.
• Adjust Strategies: Based on your analytics, adjust your local SEO tactics as needed. If certain keywords or content types are driving traffic, focus more on those areas.

Implementing these local SEO tactics can significantly enhance your visibility and attract more customers to your small business. By optimizing your Google My Business listing, using local keywords, creating engaging content, and leveraging social media, you’ll position yourself as a go-to resource in your community.

If you feel stuck and want a more personalized strategy, we’re experts in deploying digital strategies and tactics to help your business grow. Contact us today!