What Is Local SEO and Why Is It So Important?

Do you know why local SEO is important, whether it is relevant to your business and how to increase your chances of success with local clients and customers? This blog post aims to give you some clarity on Local SEO.

What is Local SEO?

Local SEO is exactly what it sounds like. It is the practice of optimizing your online presence to increase search engine visibility with local users.

So why is local search important? Because 45% of all Google searches are for local businesses.

A study by Forbes showed that 95% of people use their mobile device to perform local searches, of which 61% search and 59% visit the business.

Another study showed that 88% of people searching for local businesses on mobile called or visited the business within 24 hours.

You've seen these three businesses appearing with a map and dropped pins at the top of the search page… These links get more clicks and more customers than any link.

The big question is: How does a business manage to break into the top three? It's all part of a solid SEO campaign and starts with understanding Local SEO.

Do I Need Local SEO?

If your business has a local clientele or customer base, Local SEO can definitely benefit you.

Some businesses may not realize that they can attract more people from outside their local area by using Local SEO. This is especially true for anyone working in the catering or hospitality business, where non-local visitors may search elsewhere before arriving at your venue.

Businesses that typically benefit from Local SEO include:

• Hospitality – hotels, restaurants, cafes, bars, etc.
• Medical applications – doctors, dentists, clinics
• Law firms – lawyers, solicitors
• Local Services – florists, plumbers, electricians, hair salons, accountants, fitness centers, etc.

And you'll know you don't need it if:

• E-commerce companies
• Online services only
• Private resellers

Why is Local SEO Important?

Local SEO helps your business stand out even if you don't have a website and helps you drive more traffic to your business through online leads.

These leads give you a high conversion rate, especially since they come from people who are looking for the products or services your business offers.

Local searches are on the rise, with 4 out of 5 consumers now using search engines to find local information, and a search result sends a large 70% of consumers to a physical store.

Local SEO also helps guide people's decisions towards your business. The more they know about your business before they visit, the more trustworthy you will be in their eyes.

What are Local SEO Ranking Factors?

According to Google, the three most important factors are:

• Relevance: How well people's searches match a local listing. Adding detailed business information can help Google better understand your business and match your listing to the most relevant searches.
• Distance: how far each potential business is from location terms used in a search. If a customer does not specify a location in their search, Google calculates the distance based on what is known about their location.
• Importance: How well a business is recognized based on the information Google has about a business online (such as links, articles, and directories). Google review count and score is also factored into local search ranking – more reviews and positive ratings will improve a business's local ranking.