A. Local SEO and its importance for businesses targeting a geographically defined area

Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a process that helps businesses improve their online visibility in local search results. Local SEO is especially important for geo-targeted businesses, as these businesses often rely on customers in the immediate vicinity for revenue and growth.

According to a 2018 BrightLocal survey, 97% of adult Internet users search online to find local businesses, and 86% use search engines to find local information. In addition, Think With Google according to its data, "nearby" searches have more than doubled in recent years. This statistic indicates that the local SEO how important it is for small and medium-sized enterprises.

B. Mention of an increase in local search queries and increased competition among local businesses

The increase in local search queries and increased competition among local businesses means that businesses need to pay close attention to local SEO in order to stand out from the crowd and attract potential customers.

According to Google data, the growth rate of "nearby" searches in 2019 exceeded the rate of general search growth by 150%. In addition, according to Mediative research, businesses that rank first in local search results have an average click-through rate of 33%, highlighting the importance of local SEO for traffic and customer acquisition.

Hence local SEO strategies its application and development is essential for businesses that want to grow and remain competitive in a given geographic area.

Local SEO statistics and trends

• • A. Local searches have a big impact on store traffic and revenue. According to Google, 88% of users performing a local search on a mobile phone will visit the store found in the search within a day. Furthermore, 28% of these users make a purchase during the visit.
  • B. Mobile search statistics and their impact on local SEO

The growth of mobile searches has a significant impact on local SEO. According to Google, mobile searches accounted for 63% of all search traffic by 2021. Users often search for local businesses on the go, so mobile-friendly websites and local SEO are essential for reaching potential customers.

According to research by BrightLocal, 61% of local businesses feel that they have gained more customers thanks to their mobile-friendly website. This means that considering mobile search trends is essential when developing your local SEO strategy.

• C. The Role of Nearby Searches and Voice Search in Local SEO

"Nearby" or "near me" searches, in which users search for businesses that are in the immediate vicinity, have seen explosive growth in recent years. According to Google, the growth rate of “nearby” searches exceeded the rate of overall search growth by 150%.

In addition, voice search is also becoming increasingly important for local SEO. According to Comscore, by 2020 voice searches accounted for 50% of all search queries. Voice search often requires location-specific information, so using location-specific keywords and location-specific information is important for local SEO.

In summary, local SEO statistics and trends show that businesses need to focus on the growth rate of local searches, the importance of mobile searches, and the growing role of voice searches. Applying and developing local SEO strategies is essential for businesses that want to grow and stay competitive in a specific geographic area. Using "nearby" searches, mobile-friendly websites, and location-specific keywords can help businesses stand out from the crowd and attract potential customers.

Effective local SEO tips and tactics

• • A. Requesting and optimizing Google My Business listing

Adding accurate and up-to-date business information: We check that our business' contact information, address, opening hours and other details are accurate and up-to-date. Posting updates and communicating with customers: We use the Google My Business platform to post posts, advertise events, and communicate with customers.

• • B. Collection and management of customer reviews

Encouraging satisfied customers to write reviews: We ask our satisfied customers to write positive reviews about our business.
Professional and quick response to reviews: Respond to customer reviews politely and helpfully, even negative reviews.

• • C. Website Optimization for Local Search

Use of location-specific keywords in content and meta tags: We integrate local keywords in our website content and meta tags to achieve better results in local search.

Apply schema markup related to local businesses: Use schema to display information relevant to local businesses, such as address, phone number, and hours of operation.

• • D. Local content creation

Write blog posts about local events or news: Share content related to local events or news to appeal to a local audience.

Create location-specific landing pages: Create landing pages for specific cities or regions to increase local traffic.

• • E. Creating local references and links

Local Websites and Review Sites: Get featured on local websites and review sites to increase your business' online visibility.

Partnering with other local businesses for cross-promotion: Connect with other local businesses and work together on joint marketing campaigns to increase each other's online visibility and customer base.

• • F. Use of Social Media for Local Engagement

Use geo-targeted ads to reach potential customers: Use geo-targeted ads on social media to target local customers and increase awareness of your business.

Participate in local groups and conversations: Join local social media groups and participate in conversations to increase your business's exposure and build relationships in the community.

Measuring the effectiveness of your local SEO efforts

• • A. Track local search rankings and traffic

Use SEO tools like Google Search Console or Moz to track your local search rankings and traffic to your website. This helps us spot progress and opportunities to optimize our local SEO strategy.

• • B. Monitoring conversions from local search visitors

Set up conversion tracking using Google Analytics or other web analytics tools to measure conversions from local search visitors. This way we can see how effective our local SEO efforts are in achieving our goals.

• • C. Using Google My Business insights to analyze customer behavior

We use Google My Business Insights to gain a deeper understanding of customer behavior. With our analyses, we can track customer searches, which day and time they searched for us the most, and what type of actions were performed on our listing (e.g. call, route planning, etc.). This information can help us better understand the impact of our local SEO efforts on our relationship with our customers.

Summary

• • A. Summary of the importance of local SEO for businesses targeting a geographically defined area

Local SEO is crucial for businesses competing in the local market as it helps you reach your target audience, increase visibility and gain an edge over your competitors.

• • B. Encouragement to use the tips and tactics shared in the post

We encourage readers to apply the tips and tactics shared in this article to improve their local SEO efforts and increase the success of their businesses.

• • C. Inviting readers to share their experiences and questions in comments

We ask readers to share their experiences and possible questions in the comments section, so that we can build a community where businesses can learn from each other and help each other to increase the effectiveness of local SEO.