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Boost Your Local SEO: How to Rank Higher in Your Community
Getting found locally is a huge win for businesses— especially when your target customers are just around the corner, searching for the exact services or products you offer. Whether you run a brick-and-mortar store, provide local services, or operate a hybrid of online and in-person business, local SEO is the key to attracting those ready-to-buy customers.
Google is prioritizing local search results more than ever, meaning if you're not optimizing for local SEO, you're missing out on a lot of potential customers and clients searching for businesses like yours. So, how do you climb the ranks in your community’s search results? Let’s dive into the most impactful steps you can take to dominate the local scene!
Claim and Optimize Your Google Business Profile
If you want to rank higher locally, your Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) is your best friend. Why? Because it’s one of the first things people see when they search for services or products in their area.
Here’s how to make sure it’s working for you:
Claim your profile: If you haven’t done this yet, go claim it right now. Seriously. It takes just a few steps and it's free— which makes this a no-brainer, right?
Fill out all the details: This includes business hours, address, phone number, website link, and categories relevant to your business.
Add photos: High-quality photos of your business location, team, and products help build trust and engagement.
Update regularly: Keep your profile fresh with updates like special promotions, holiday hours, or upcoming events.
Get reviews: Encourage happy customers and clients to leave glowing reviews, as this is a big ranking factor for local SEO.
The more optimized and active your profile, the more likely you are to show up in those prime local search spots. Think of it as your online business card— first impressions matter!
Use Location-Specific Keywords
Just like standard SEO, local SEO depends heavily on keywords. But here’s the kicker— you need to be using location-specific keywords to really boost your ranking locally. For example, if you’re a farm to table restaurant in Asheville, you want phrases like "Asheville farm-to-table restaurant" or "best farm to table restaurant in Asheville" scattered throughout your site and content.
Here’s how to sprinkle in those local keywords while avoiding keyword stuffing:
On your website: Make sure your homepage, service pages, and even your blog posts include these location-based keywords.
In your meta tags: Titles, descriptions, and headers should all be optimized with location-based keywords.
On your Google Business Profile: Use your main keyword + location in the business description.
Remember: don’t overstuff! Keep it natural-sounding and make sure the location keywords flow within your content.
NAP Consistency: Keep Your Business Info Aligned
This one’s a little technical but NAP consistency (Name, Address, Phone number) is essential for local SEO. Google loves consistency— if your business information is the same across all platforms (your website, social media profiles, directories, etc.), it signals trustworthiness and reliability.
Here’s what to do:
Check your info: Make sure your name, address, and phone number are exactly the same across all online business listings. Even small differences like abbreviating "Street" to "St." in one place but spelling it out in another can hurt your local rankings.
Update any old info: If you’ve moved or changed phone numbers, go back and update any old listings ASAP.
Use local directories: Make sure your business is listed in local directories and niche-specific platforms (Yelp, TripAdvisor, etc.), and that your NAP details are consistent there too. Some Asheville-specific ones I recommend include: Incredible Towns AVL, Go Local AVL, FABA (Fletcher Area Business Association), and Asheville Chamber of Commerce. If you're in the construction business, I highly recommend joining the Builders Association of the Blue Ridge Mountains (BABRM). Not only are these local associations good for your online presence, but they're golden opportunities for networking and building strong local connections with other businesses and potential clients/customers.
The easier you make it for Google to verify your business details, the better your local rankings will be.
Local Content Matters— Speak to Your Community
Content that speaks directly to your local audience can seriously boost your local SEO. Google loves when your content is relevant to searchers, and by creating location-focused content, you’re telling Google you’re the local expert.
Here’s how to create content that clicks locally:
Write about local events or news: Show that your business is part of the community by tying in local happenings.
Feature local customers or partnerships: Highlighting community engagement or collaborations can resonate with your audience and boost SEO.
Create a local resource guide: For example, if you’re in the health and wellness space, you could create a guide to the best outdoor fitness spots in your area.
The more localized content you create, the more relevant you become in the eyes of search engines— and your community.
Get Reviews: Social Proof that Fuels SEO
Let’s be real— people trust other people. In fact, online reviews influence 93% of consumers when it comes to purchasing decisions. For local SEO, reviews are pure gold because they signal to Google that your business is both active and trustworthy.
Here’s how to harness the power of reviews:
Ask for them: Don’t be shy— ask your happy customers and clients to leave a review on your Google Business Profile, Yelp, Better Business Bureau, or other other industry-specific platforms.
Respond to reviews: Engage with both positive and negative reviews to show that you care about your customers’ experiences. Pro tip: How a business responds to negative reviews can have a make or break impact on your business. Respond to negative reviews in a professional, neutral, and honest way. If it's a bad review that's totally out of left field and is unfounded, it's okay to state that in your response, but do so in a tasteful and professional way.
Feature reviews on your site: Use testimonials or review snippets directly on your website to boost credibility. You can place these all throughout your site on different pages.
The more quality reviews you have, the better your local SEO— and the more new customers and clients you’re likely to attract.
Be the Local Expert
Ranking higher in your community doesn’t happen by accident— it’s about being intentional and strategic with your local SEO efforts. By optimizing your Google Business Profile, using location-specific keywords, and creating content that speaks directly to your community, you’re positioning yourself as the go-to business in your area.
Remember, local SEO is all about showing search engines and potential customers and clients that you're not just another business— they need to know that you’re their local expert. It doesn’t take a massive overhaul... Small, focused efforts can drive big results. So take the steps now to refine your local strategy, and you’ll start seeing your business climb the ranks in your community before you know it! Happy optimizing, friend!
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