Why Is Local SEO So Important?

About 68% of all online customer journeys begin with a search engine like Google. In fact, nearly 50% of Google searches are local. Appearing for these searches could boost your online visibility.

You can draw more people to your store or website, then convert them into paying customers! Your ROI will rise as a result.

With local search engine optimization (SEO), you can increase your chances of appearing for relevant searches. You can reach your nearby customers and draw them to your business.

On the fence about developing a local SEO strategy? Here are 10 benefits to keep in mind.

Discovering the importance of local SEO can help set your business up for growth and success.

Keep reading to discover the top benefits of going local today!

1. Boost Brand Awareness

It can take an average of six impressions before you start producing even a little brand awareness. Repetition and consistency over time are key. Otherwise, consumers might never recognize your brand.

The next time they need your product or service, they might remember someone else’s business instead.

Developing a local search engine optimization strategy can help you generate awareness. You can appear each time someone searches for your product or service. Over time, consumers will start associating your brand with what you offer.

The next time they’re ready to shop, they’ll recall seeing your website and brand.

In fact, you can develop a local SEO strategy with your ideal audience in mind. About 56% of marketers believe personalized content promotes higher brand engagement. You’ll have an easier time connecting with customers if you understand their distinct needs.

Nearly 50% of consumers expect brands to know about them.

You can build your brand reach based on the consumer’s distinct needs. Consumers will realize you have the answers they’re looking for. You’ll have an easier time drawing them to your business as a result.

In fact, nearly 60% of consumers prefer to purchase from familiar brands. If customers don’t know who you are, they won’t choose your business.

Instead, you can use local search engine optimization to help them learn about your brand. Consumers can recognize the distinct value you can offer. Then, they’ll start choosing your business above the rest.

You can build strong, lasting brand relationships to boost customer retention. People will keep coming back to your business, helping you spend less on acquisition. In fact, a 2% boost in retention can reduce costs by 10%.

You can retain long-term customers and improve your ROI as a result.

2. Connect With Locals

Discovering the importance of local SEO can also help you connect with nearby customers.

You don’t want to waste time and effort on people who have no interest in your product or service. Instead, you can use search engine optimization to focus on people who need what you offer. You’ll have an easier time generating high-quality leads as a result.

With local SEO, your website will appear in search engine results pages (SERPs) when someone looks for your product or service.

Consumers already have an interest in what you offer. You can use your content to reach those customers. Then, you won’t have to waste time or energy convincing them you need what you offer.

Traditional, outbound marketing strategies can feel obtrusive. You could struggle to convince consumers they need your offerings. You might even risk frustrating people who don’t want or need your product or service.

Search engine optimization, on the other hand, is an effective inbound marketing strategy.

You don’t have to push consumers to choose your product or service. Instead, you can use your content marketing strategy to educate your audience. They’ll see the value you’re offering.

For example, you can show consumers that your product or service will make their lives easier. Demonstrate how you’re fulfilling a need they already have.

Then, use your local search engine optimization strategy to draw them to your store.

About 30% of all mobile searches are location-based. In fact, over 75% of people who search on mobile visit a business within a day. Nearly 30% of these consumers will buy something after their search.

With local SEO, you can appeal to nearby customers. You can draw them to your store, boost sales, and improve your ROI.

3. Draw Website Traffic

In order to boost your overall SEO rankings, you’ll need to generate traffic to your website. Otherwise, Google won’t see you as a relevant resource for its users.

Local SEO can help you generate more website traffic. Remember, you’ll appear for relevant searches as people look for your product or service. Consumers will see you have the answers they’re looking for.

Then, they’ll click the link to your website, read your content, and learn more about your business.

As people read your content and explore your website, your dwell times and clickthrough rates will improve. These metrics can boost your search engine ranking.

Google will recognize that you’re generating traffic and helping consumers. It will continue boosting your ranking. You’ll have an easier time reaching even more customers as a result.

When learning how to use local SEO, don’t neglect your Google My Business (GMB) listing. Optimizing your GMB listing can help you appear for more local searches. Your listing will appear in the top right corner of a SERP.

Consumers can look at your listing to find your:

Business name
Hours
Address/location
Phone number
Customer reviews
Website
Photos and videos
Posts and updates

Make sure to keep your GMB listing updated throughout the year. If your phone number or address changes, let people know. Otherwise, you might frustrate consumers.

Consumers can click on your GMB listing to get directions straight to your store. You can boost foot traffic and sales with ease!

4. Build Trust and Loyalty

Without online visibility, consumers might never hear about your business. They could struggle to trust you as a result. Instead, you can use local search engine optimization to build brand trust.

Consumers can learn more about your business and what you offer. You can also use your content to demonstrate your experience and expertise.

Google boosts posts that demonstrate EAT (expertise, authority, trustworthiness). You can use your posts to establish EAT on your website. For example, you can discuss your decades of experience in the industry.

You can use that experience to offer consumers helpful tips and tricks.

As people start reading your content, they’ll begin turning to you for help. You can generate brand trust. In time, trust can grow into loyalty.

Brand loyalty can increase your retention rate. Remember, a higher retention rate can save you money.

In fact, 43% of customers spend more money on brands they’re loyal to. About 65% of a company’s business comes from existing customers as well.

Meanwhile, it takes five times more to acquire a new customer than it does to retain a returning one.

You can use your local SEO strategy to build brand trust and loyalty. Retaining customers could set your business up for growth and success.

5. Get on the Map

Nearly 90% of consumers look up the location of a business on Google Maps. As you learn how to use local SEO, don’t forget to claim your listing. You can develop a strategy to appear on Google’s 3-Pack.

The 3-Pack shows three local businesses on the map. Your listing will appear prominent and eye-catching.

You could attract more people to your store as a result.

Then, consumers can click on your listing to find directions to your store. They can also access the information displayed on your GMB listing.

Getting on the map can help you stand out from local businesses.

6. Remain Competitive

Small businesses can use local SEO to their advantage. If you’re in a saturated niche, it’s important to gain a competitive advantage. Otherwise, you might feel eclipsed by larger corporations.

Large corporations can’t throw money at search engine optimization to boost their rankings. Instead, they’ll need to use the same tactics you will in order to appear higher on search engines.

Local search engine optimization can level the playing field.

You can use search engine optimization to strengthen your position on SERPs. You can follow the latest SEO trends to improve your ranking as well. As you rank higher, consumers will see your business before any other.

You can gain more visibility and outrank your competitors.

It’s important to use white hat SEO when developing your marketing strategy. Black hat tactics could get your website blacklisted. You won’t appear on SERPs, making it difficult for people to find your business.

Boosting your ranking can build your credibility, too. Appearing at the top of a page can make your small business look big. As you gain more credibility, you can also attract more customers to your business.

Then, you can grow and remain competitive within your niche.

7. Gather Social Proof

As you learn how to use local SEO, you’ll need to continue generating fresh customer reviews. Customer reviews can show Google people are talking about your business. You can gain more credibility and boost your ranking.

Reviews work as a form of social proof. In fact, nearly 95% of consumers read reviews before they start shopping. If a product gains five reviews, the likelihood consumers will buy it rises to 270%.

If you gain nine current reviews, you can generate 52% more revenue than other businesses. Once you gain 25 current reviews, that number rises to 108%!

Consumers feel 71% more comfortable purchasing products that have reviews, too.

Generating reviews can help brand trust grow. Consumers will see that other locals already love and trust your business. They might decide to give you a chance as a result.

Understanding the importance of local SEO can help you generate more business.

Remember, brand trust could become loyalty in time. You can retain long-term customers and keep growing.

8. Generate Conversions

Developing your local search engine optimization strategy can help you gain more conversions.

Remember, you can use local SEO to attract more people to your store or website. After reading your content, consumers will feel more informed about your product or service. They might feel more comfortable making a purchase as a result.

Meanwhile, gathering more customer reviews could also boost your chances of making a sale.

As you continue posting content on your website, you could acquire more email subscribers. You can send these subscribers your latest content. You can remain top-of-mind with customers as a result.

SEO is also a cost-effective marketing strategy. You can reduce your cost-per-acquisition and improve your ROI.

Using SEO can help set your business up for long-term growth and success!

9. Stay Mobile

Over 90% of consumers use mobile for inspiration, even when they’re in the middle of a task. Another 90% use mobile to work toward a long-term goal while on the go.

In fact, 82% of consumers check their phones while in a store.

Improving your website ranking can help you appear in front of these shoppers. They can read your content while comparing products. Your content could help them realize that your brand offers more value.

Local SEO can help you reach mobile customers. In fact, Google now uses mobile-first indexing to determine search engine rankings. If your website isn’t mobile-optimized, you’re neglecting your on-the-go customers.

You could miss a chance to generate more leads and sales as a result.

If your website is difficult to use on a smaller screen, consumers will leave your site without clicking around. Your dwell times and clickthrough rates will drop.

Meanwhile, your bounce rate will slowly rise. A higher bounce rate can hurt your search engine rankings.

Consumers could struggle to find your business online.

Instead, get optimized and start learning how to use local SEO.

10. Improve Your ROI

Remember, search engine optimization is a cost-effective marketing strategy. You can reduce your cost-per-acquisition and limit low-quality leads. Instead, you can spend more time and money on customers who want your product or service.

Your ROI will rise, setting your business up for success!