The term SEO or Search Engine Optimization must be familiar to you in this day and age of digital marketing. Did you know that it is also a tool that can help generate growth for your business? Search engine optimization (SEO) attempts to rank a website higher in search engine result pages (SERPs) so that it gets the most traffic. With SEO-optimized websites, a user searching for a particular topic (also known as a keyword) is more likely to find it among the top results.

Local SEO: What Does It Mean? 

Map SEO, or local search engine optimization, is a relatively new form of SEO that has been gaining steam in recent years. Google My Business (GMB) optimizes your profile using links and keywords.

Optimizing your local SEO includes the following strategies: Updating your NAP- Name, address, and phone number of your business. Geographically tagging your images. Engaging with Google My Business through links and other activities.

Forbes reports that 30% to 40% of customers find local businesses using maps. Local SEO optimization gives you the opportunity to create strong map visibility for your small business.

Advantages of local SEO 

• Citation building is a local SEO activity that builds online visibility
• The greater visibility, the more foot traffic, the more service customers, and the more sales
• Search engine optimization for local search results increases targeted traffic and relevant search traffic for your site
• Google Maps optimization can increase visibility on Google My Business and content marketing will increase the relevancy of your listing
• Business reputation management generates increased traffic and sales by enhancing your business’s reputation (prominence).

Local SEO can offer a number of key benefits to your bottom line-and the good news is that you can reveal them all by engaging in local search optimization activities.

Local SEO: How does it benefit local businesses? 

In the early days of the internet, most local businesses could not compete with national brands. People didn’t spend a lot of money in the online world because they were doing quite well with conventional marketing techniques. However, in 2014, Google released its first Pigeon upgrade that permitted local companies to compete in regional search results.

The company started seeking a ranking boost in location searches by taking nearby companies into account. By doing this, targeted businesses can reach local audiences. Local SEO’s best part makes all local businesses fond of it, and you don’t believe it. Local SEO is effortless to use. All you have to do is use location-specific keyword phrases in your backlinks and backlink to local events websites to gain a larger footprint in your region. By introducing potential customers to your products or services nearby, you will gain a higher ranking position and attract more foot traffic to your store.