Better Your Local SEO With These Tips

We hear this phrase a lot - "back then, things were so much easier." And this is true for the case of local SEO. It was much simpler, but as the years go by, so do technological advancements and now you need to be a bit more strategic in you want to pop up in the local search results. Luckily for you, we have some great tips that will help you claim your rightful spot. 

• Schedule Your Blog. We know, you've heard it all before - content is so important, yada, yada. But we're telling the truth. Content is very important if you want to achieve higher local rankings. It is to your benefit to create relevant content and update your website regularly. Whether you want to do it daily, weekly, or bi-monthly, pick a day to release fresh content and watch your rankings climb.
   
• Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Reviews. It may seem like an inconsequential item on your to-do list, but ask your customers for reviews! One of the easiest ways for Google to tell if you are a real business is by the number of reviews you receive from active customers. Who knew? This is a double bonus for you because not only will reviews help boost your rankings, but they can also help bring new customers your way and improve your conversion rates.
   
• User Experience. Having a website that is easy to navigate is highly important and can often determine your success. And you definitely need to take into consideration the mobile user as well. Take the time to think about how you search on a mobile device verses a desktop. There are obvious differences and it's important to keep those in mind when designing your own website. This is where a responsive design comes in handy. Once you understand how your audience accesses your website, be it from a desktop, tablet, or smartphone, you will be able to design a better website with them in mind.
   
• Consider Apps. Apps are up and coming and local businesses are starting to be searched from apps. In order to continue providing an awesome user experience, it's time to consider signing up for an app within your industry. It'll be a great way to market yourself and gain a bigger audience.
   
• Show Yourself. As a local business, you need to make an effort to get involved in your community. Volunteer your time with local charities, assist with non-profits, and offer your services to others. Being a part of your community is a great way to gain press coverage, mentions, and links, all of which go a long way in helping your rankings. You will also build up your brand recognition and establish trust among your consumers. 
   
• Be All About Quality. Links are an important part of any SEO campagin, but you have to be very careful to keep in mind quality, not quantity. It's not about how many links you have, it's about taking the time to establish high, quality links. Remember, Google will ding you if your links appear spammy and that won't help your rankings at all.

There are many other ways to improve your local rankings, but even following the above suggestions will help you out immensely with appearing in the local search and also in how much exposure you gain online with new customers.