For small and medium-sized businesses, investing in local SEO services should be a top priority. Optimizing for local search results provides tremendous benefits for increasing visibility, leads, and sales specifically from customers in your geographic area.
The goal of local SEO is to get your business website and listings displayed prominently when people search for related terms in your city, town, or metro region. A local SEO expert will optimize your on-page content, Google My Business profile, and other listings to target important geo-focused keywords. Ranking higher locally for searches like “pizza restaurants San Francisco” or “plumber Austin” means you’ll appear ahead of competitors in your local market. You’ll get found more easily by nearby customers looking for your products or services.
Increase local website traffic
Appearing higher in local pack and map listings will also drive more qualified visitors to your website. Local customers often search on their phones for things like “auto mechanic near me” and click websites in the results. An effective local SEO strategy sends people searching locally on Google to your site. More website traffic from local searches leads to increased phone calls, contact form submissions, and walk-in visits. Improved local visibility converts online interest into real-world customers.
Boost local brand awareness
Ranking prominently for local searches related to your business name increases awareness of your brand in your geographic market. As local customers see your business appearing at the top of search engine results, they’ll develop more familiarity with and trust in your brand. This strengthens your local reputation as a leading provider relative to competitors in your area. Optimized local visibility nurtures local brand authority and loyalty.
Drive more calls and store visits
Higher visibility in local search listings often prompts immediate action from mobile searchers who want to contact or visit your business now. Different from non-local organic traffic, local customers converted through SEO are primed to call your phone number, visit your store, or request an appointment right away. This is because they are searching with immediate intent to find businesses in their area. So, local SEO quickly converts searchers into paying, loyal customers.
Connect with local mobile users
Google reports over 90% of smartphone users rely on search engines to find local businesses. Local SEO targets these high-intent local searchers when they are looking for businesses on their phones. No other marketing method can efficiently connect with huge volumes of local mobile customers during these micro-moments of need and intent. Many small businesses only market to customers located very close to their brick-and-mortar location. Local SEO expands your reach to attract new customers from a wider geographic radius. With optimized local listings, you can draw consumers from neighboring towns who search for your products and services in their local searches. It provides access to an untapped wider geographic market.
Cost-effective local results
The ROI of local SEO services near me is high. Unlike expensive print, radio, and TV ads, optimized local listings reach more nearby customers without ongoing media costs. Converting these hot local searchers is affordable compared to low-efficiency cold calling or direct mail. The long-term value generated from local conversions will far exceed your SEO investment for most local businesses. The ROI is the highest among all marketing channels.
