Local SEO has grown the last few years. Google now is giving more emphasis on local search results more than ever for improving the search engine rankings of a site. Over the last few years, with a rise in smart phones usage, the local search results have become one of the most important considerations in Google’s ranking algorithms.
A local SEO is focused on presenting the search results that are relevant to a user based on the current location of the user or the location string he/she has entered in the search box. For example, if I search ” best restaurant near me”, Google will provide search results that are nearest to my current location.
The importance of local search (Local SEO) for your business
1. According to Google’s report on search results, it was revealed that about 40 % of queries on Google have the local intent, out of which 87% of people used their mobile phones to search the local services or products. It was also revealed that 95 % of the searches were service intended.
In order to give a better and more relevant search results, local search results have become more prevalent.
2. The main reason for using local SEO is that it will target the customers that are using search results to find services in their native area or location. More and more people will get to know about your business, resulting in a hike in business and revenue generation activities. It builds a link between your business and the local population who are seeking the services from your particular company.
3. The chances of conversions for local search results are very high because they are searched with an intend to finally take up a service or buy a particular product.
4. Local SEO highlights the consumer value about your local business. People search for the local business in order to seek a quality service where they can get a more personalized and reliable service.
5. Local business gives a competitive advantage over the larger and more recognizable names. The more personalized search results in local language imparts a positive impact on searcher’s mind.
6. Local customers are now searching businesses on the internet. The number of local searches have increased to a very large extent. People find local search results much convenient to be visited instead of bigger but inaccessible brand names.
7. Local advertising channels provide the highest conversion. People searching for local businesses are certain to take the services and they find local search results to be more reliable in this case.
8. With the growth of mobile internet and smart phones, local mobile search results have captured a huge proportion of overall local searches. The number of mobile users have increased exponentially. The search results optimized for mobile users are getting more importance and better rankings on the search engines.
9. A decline has been seen in the use of newspapers to search the local businesses. More and more people are switching towards the internet to find the local services. As a result, there is a decline in the use of newspaper classifieds in this domain. So, the use of local search results have become more prevalent than ever.
10. The increase in trust for online business reviews. Google provides the ratings and reviews for the options it shows in its search results. These reviews help the customers to identify the best product/services among them. More and more people are trusting on online reviews and ratings nowadays for availing a product or service.
Local SEO is beneficial in removing the guess work people used to do while taking the services. It is a highly effective tool for online marketing of the local business. It allows your business to promote its services both locally and in a broad area. The gist is that if people find your local business on the internet, they will get involved with you and find you trustworthy for availing the required services. Moreover, they will keep coming back and even encourage their acquaintances who are seeking the same services to get in touch with you.
People trust more the local business than the non-local. Even the big brand names. They like more the personal “touch” with the local business.