Local SEO: 5 practical tools to get more customers

If you want to attract more customers in your local area, local SEO is an effective tool. With the right methods, your business can gain visibility on search engines like Google when people in your area search for your products or services. Here, we cover five practical tools to strengthen your local online presence and generate more local conversions. 

Local SEO is about optimising your business so it becomes visible to people searching for local businesses. It includes factors such as keywords, geographical locations and reviews, all of which help your business rank better in search results, particularly in a specific local area. By being easy to find locally, you build a stronger relationship with customers and increase the likelihood that they will choose you over your competitors, which is absolutely essential. 

1. Keywords

The first step towards effective local SEO is choosing the right keywords. Focus on keywords that describe your business and include your city or area, e.g. “Hairdresser Copenhagen” or “Restaurant Aalborg”. These keywords should be integrated into your content, meta description and SEO title to increase your chances of appearing in local searches.

2. Google Maps

Google Maps is an important part of local SEO, as it makes it easier for customers to find your business location. By registering your business on Google My Business (GMB) and updating all details, such as your address, phone number and opening hours, you ensure that your business appears correctly on Google Maps. This also increases your chances of appearing in “Near Me” searches. We will explore this in more detail in later sections. 

3. Local images

Use images that reflect your business location, such as photos of your shop interior, storefront and employees. Local images can increase your credibility with customers and improve your ranking. Remember to optimise images with relevant file names and ALT text to support your local keywords.

4. Reviews

Customer reviews play a crucial role in local SEO, as they signal credibility and quality. Encourage your customers to write reviews on Google, Facebook and other relevant platforms. More positive reviews will increase your credibility and give potential customers a reason to choose your business. Consider displaying reviews on your website too, and regularly respond to all reviews to keep them 100% up-to-date.

5. Local link building

Links from local websites strengthen your business’s credibility in Google’s eyes. Try to get links from local news sites, blogs or partners in your area. Local link building can quickly strengthen your site, creating a better foundation for good rankings on your SERP (Search Engine Results Page). 

Google My Business (GMB) may be the most important tool in local SEO. An up-to-date and correctly completed GMB profile gives your business a prominent position on Google Maps and in search results when people search for a business in your area. Make sure you complete all fields on GMB, including opening hours, phone number, and categories, and add images and relevant keywords too. GMB also allows you to post updates and offers that can increase customer engagement.

Here are some of the ranking factors that contributors have ranked according to their impact on local searches/rankings in search results, which we believe are the first step towards an optimised GMB profile (Whitespark, Local Search Ranking Factors, March 24, 2023)

Visibility in your local area creates a competitive advantage. Customers often prefer local businesses because they are easier to visit and feel more trustworthy. A strong local presence can help you attract more loyal customers and stand out from competitors who may not have optimised their local visibility. For small and medium-sized businesses, local SEO is often a cost-effective way to increase visibility, especially in competitive industries.

At acend, we specialise in local SEO and help businesses become more visible in their local communities. Whether you are new to local SEO or need optimisation, our team is ready to help. We ensure that your business is represented effectively online and has the right presence to attract more customers in your local area. Contact us for a free SEO analysis and let us help your business grow locally.