If you have a business that operates in a certain geography, then you need to start investing in local SEO. It is not hard and it is not expensive. As part of a comprehensive local marketing solution, in addition to paid advertising using Google AdWords, you can use local SEO to claim top spots in search results.

The first thing you need to do is go to Google My Business by visiting https://www.google.com/business/. Google My Business allows you to submit or claim your business on Google. Here, you will enter your company name, your address, and your phone number. Once your business has been added, you can rank in Google’s ‘localized pack’. If you run a pizza shop in Toronto, for example, and people search for pizza restaurants from their mobile phones, then your business may appear in the top localized pack search results on their screens.

Your next step is to get reviews. The more people who review your business positively in Google My Business, the better off you are going to be in terms of search results. When people visit your shop, ask them to rate you on Google. Many businesses focus solely on Yelp reviews and while there is nothing wrong with Yelp reviews, ratings and reviews on Google also carry a lot of weight.

Brick and mortar businesses also need to make sure they are including their phone numbers and their addresses on the Contact Us page of their website. All too often, companies opt for contact forms instead of giving their contact details on their website, which is not always in your best interest when it comes to local SEO. If people are searching for localized queries, then you are much more likely to pop up in search results if your address and phone number are on your website.

These are only the basics of local online marketing, but our digital marketing agency can help you with a number of high-impact strategies to improve your local SEO. Contact us for more information today.