If you are providing a local service or selling a product within your community generating targeted traffic to your website is essential. After all, if you are a tattooist in Leeds there is little point in ranking highly in London, a couple of hundred miles away from your client base.
Targeting local traffic should be the priority focus for any local business. But, how do you do this or build up the traffic already coming to your site?
Glad you asked.
Here are our top five tips for improving your local traffic:
1 Google My Business
If there is only one thing you do for your website, only one strategy you are prepared to implement, make sure it’s Google My Business (GMB).
GMB is as vital to a local website as a lifebelt is to a drowning man. Without it your website will sink.
A GMB page can put you right at the top of local search, almost instantly, and keep you well ahead of your competitors.
2 Grab some local citations
Outside of SEO professionals the value of local citations are often under-estimated. Indeed, many businesses seem unaware of exactly what they are.
Basically, a citation is any mention of your business name or contact details on the web. A well thought out strategy of placing citations, they don’t need to be links, can be a real traffic puller and be a major boost for your rankings.
If you need to know more about how to secure local citations for your business, feel free to get in touch.
3 Create great local content
No apologies for stating the obvious. But, to rank in local search, you have to create high-quality locally themed content.
It seems a no-brainer and it is. Though, it is surprising how many businesses fail to populate their landing pages and blog with content aimed at the very people they are trying to attract.
Make sure your landing pages and relevant blog posts are optimised for local search.
4 Befriend the local media
The local media can be a powerful source of traffic, much of which can be free.
Local newspapers are always looking out for content for both their offline and online editions. Appearing in their publications is not only great PR, but will also drive traffic to your website.
Sending out press releases is a cheap but hugely effective way of getting great local coverage. If you have a newsworthy story, or can use current events to create one, have your copywriter draft a press release and submit it to the local media, both print and radio.
Positioning yourself as the go-to expert in your field can generate masses of PR, links and traffic. Approach all local media outlets and let them know you are always available for a comment whenever they need quotes for a story.
5 Online advertising
Don’t worry, we’re not suggesting you need a huge marketing budget, but local online advertising can, depending on your niche, be extremely cheap and effective.
Google Adwords can be an absolute cash burner if you’re not careful. However, using low bid exact match keywords for low volume, but valuable local search terms, is an instant way to appear at the top of Google search.
Combine PPC with organic search and your GMB page and you could have three listings above the fold for local search terms. This can be a hugely powerful strategy.
If you need more information on how to plan and execute a local SEO campaign contact us for an informal, no-obligation chat.
