In today’s digital landscape, local search engine optimization (SEO) is crucial for any local businesses looking to enhance their online visibility and attract customers in specific geographic areas.
Think with Google reports that searches for places “near me” have grown by 150% globally in the last few years, compared to general searches without location qualifiers.
In Bangladesh more than 90% of online searchers specifically look for local businesses. So if you are a locally founded business or a branch office of a Glocal MNC operating in Bangladesh, optimizing for local SEO can significantly impact your online presence and drive targeted traffic to your website.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll dig into what local SEO is and provide you with a step-by-step guide to improve your rankings and reach in the Bangladesh market.
Understanding Local SEO: What is it?
Local SEO is the process of optimizing your online presence to attract more local customers and increase visibility in local search results. Unlike traditional SEO, which focuses on improving rankings on a global scale, local SEO targets specific geographic locations, making it ideal for businesses with physical storefronts or service areas.
The primary goal of local SEO is ranking in top placements in search engine result pages (SERPs) for localized queries. These include searches containing specific geographic references or phrases like “near me.”
Local SEO also covers having presence in Google My Business (GMB) profile to increase visibility in google map and gain review from local customers.
Why is local SEO so important?
A study by Moz found that local searches with “near me” convert at a much higher rate than general searches – 88% of searches for “near me” lead to calls or visits within 24 hours.
Local SEO is crucial for businesses looking to attract customers within a specific geographic region.Below are the main reasons we need to invest in local SEO:
- Increased Visibility: Local SEO helps businesses appear higher in local search results, particularly on Google Maps and local packs. This increases the chances of potential customers finding our business when they search for relevant products or services nearby.
- Targeted Traffic: Local SEO attracts users who are actively looking for what we offer in our area. This translates to a higher chance of converting website visitors into paying customers.
- Credibility and Trust: A well-optimized local presence with positive reviews builds trust and credibility with potential customers. They’re more likely to choose a business that appears prominently in local searches and has positive feedback from local users.
- Cost-Effective Marketing: Compared to traditional marketing methods, local SEO offers a cost-effective way to reach a targeted local audience. Optimizing our online presence and building local citations can yield significant results without a hefty budget.
- Competition: In today’s digital landscape, most local businesses have an online presence. If we haven’t optimized our local SEO, we’re likely falling behind competitors who are actively attracting local customers through search engines.
- Mobile-First Focus: With the rise of mobile searches, local SEO becomes even more important. People are constantly searching for businesses “near me” on their smartphones. Local SEO ensures our business information is accurate, up-to-date, and easily accessible on mobile devices.
To summarize, local SEO bridges the gap between online searches and real-world customer visits. It helps us connect with potential customers actively looking for our products or services in our local area. By implementing a strong local SEO strategy, we can significantly increase our visibility, attract qualified leads, and ultimately boost business growth.
So now we know what is Local SEO and why it is so important for any businesses with local operation. Now let’s deep dive into how to drive results from local SEO.
How to do local SEO: Step-by-Step Guide to Local SEO Success
Step 1: Create a Google My Business (GMB) profile and optimize content
Google My Business (GMB) is the center point of local SEO. It’s a free tool that allows us to manage how our business appears in Google Search and Maps.
To start with:
1. Create a profile here: https://www.google.com/business/
2. Complete your profile with accurate and up-to-date information. This includes your business name, address, phone number (NAP consistency is crucial!), website URL, and category selection. Then submit for verification.
3. Once verified, upload high-quality photos that showcase your business, products, or services.
4. Encourage satisfied customers to leave positive reviews. Respond to all reviews, both positive and negative, in a professional and timely manner.
Step 2: Optimize Your Website for Local Search
Local SEO isn’t just about GMB; it’s also about optimizing your website to rank higher in local search results.
- Keyword Research: Identify relevant local keywords that potential customers might use to find your business. Include these keywords in your website’s title tags, meta descriptions, headers, and throughout your content naturally. Don’t forget to target city-specific terms!
- Location Pages: Consider creating dedicated landing pages for your various locations or service areas. This allows you to target specific local keywords and provide detailed information relevant to each location.
- Mobile-Friendliness: Ensure your website is mobile-friendly. A significant portion of local searches happen on smartphones, so a smooth mobile experience is essential.
Step 3: Build Local Citations
Citations means online mentions of your business name, address, and phone number (NAP) across various directories and websites. Consistent NAP citations across the web improve your local SEO ranking.
- Get listed in relevant local online directories like Yellow Pages or local business associations’ websites.
- Partner with complementary businesses in your area for backlinks (links from their website to yours) that mention your NAP details.
- Encourage satisfied customers to mention your business name and address online, such as industry forums or social media platforms.
Step 4: Engage with the Local Community
- Building a strong online presence within your local community goes beyond just citations.
- Maintain an active social media presence tailored to your local audience. Share local content, participate in community events, and engage with local conversations.
- Join online local business groups or forums to connect with potential customers and industry peers.
- Consider sponsoring local events or charities to build brand awareness and establish yourself as a local player.
Step 5: Track and Monitor Your Progress
- Local SEO is an ongoing process. Use tools like Google Search Console to track your website’s local search ranking for your target keywords.
- Monitor your GMB profile performance, including views, clicks, and customer reviews.
- Analyze your website traffic to understand how local searches translate to website visits and conversions.
- By tracking your progress, you can identify areas for improvement and refine your local SEO strategy for optimal results.
By following these steps and consistently refining our approach, we can significantly improve our local SEO ranking, attract more local customers, and boost your business’s online visibility within our target market.