Local SEO for Beginners is an attempt to educate folks who want to understand the basics of local SEO. In this post, we have covered the common terms used on local SEO which covers the overall understanding of local SEO.
What is Local SEO?
Local SEO is a search engine optimization (SEO) strategy that helps your business be more visible in local search results. Local SEO is a broad strategy that involves optimizing a business’s online presence to appear in local search results across various search engines and directories to attract customers in their geographic area.
Do you need Local SEO?
You need Local SEO if you’re a business that does face-to-face business with customers at a physical brick-and-mortar location or that serves customers in a particular geographic area – like a plumber or electrician. Even businesses like Smart Home Consultants require Local SEO as they operate in a designated area.
Is Local SEO restricted to Google?
Google dominates the local search market and its Google Business Profile is a critical tool, other platforms like Yelp, Bing Places, Facebook Business Listings, and Apple Maps also support local visibility for businesses.
What is Google Local Pack?
A Google Local Pack also called as Map Pack is a section on a Google search results page (SERP) that displays the top three local businesses relevant to a user’s query, along with a small map showing their locations. It includes each business’s name, address, phone number, reviews, and hours, providing users with quick, location-specific information to help them find local services. In Google, search for “Smart Home Consultants in Dallas” and this is the result at this point in time. This is an example of Google Map Pack.
What is the Google Local Finder?
Google Local Finder is the expanded view of Google Map Pack. In Google Map Pack you can see three local businesses however if you click on “More Businesses” you will get more results based on the user’s search query and location. We will take the same example of Smart Home Consultant in Dallas. Click on “More Businesses” and you will see this result.
What are Google Maps?
You definitely know this and would be using it, Google Maps is a map which help people to identify routes and get direction to reach their destination. In Local SEO, Google Maps play a key role as based on the user proximity it will share results and the user can locate that location via maps.
What is Google Business Profile (GBP)?
Google Business Profile (GBP) earlier called as Google My Business (GMB) is a critical marketing tool which is highly popular among local business across the world. If you are a business in a local area, then you have to include Google Business Profile (GBP) as part of your marketing strategies. GBP has a plethora of features and as a local business you should take advantage of that.
What are Local Citations?
Local Citations are adding your business to local directories and other websites who have authority in the local area. Simple example is “Yelp. Yelp is a directory and online review forum for local businesses. If you are in the USA, you may know. Another popular example globally is TripAdvisor. Primarily you should have the NAP data – N stands for Name; A stands for Address and P stands for Phone Number included in local citation.
What is a Location Page?
Location Page is a web page that provides detailed information about a particular business location in a specific area. Location page is part of the local SEO strategy where a business is providing valuable information to users and Google loves this.
What is a Service Area Page (SAP)?
Service Area Page helps a business without an established location to appear for area-specific-searches. For a plumber and electrician, who does not have an office/shop, they can use Service Area Page SAP so that users can locate them and reach them.