Local SEO For Small Businesses
Table of Contents
Local businesses are the backbone of our communities. More than two-thirds of U.S. consumers say that it’s important to support local businesses.
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Local Map Pack Rankings Are Essential
Local SEO, or search engine optimization for local businesses, is crucial for small businesses because it helps them to appear in the Map Pack or the top local search results on Google. This critical component of online visibility can be the difference between a small business’s success or failure.
When people search for local businesses, they often use Google Maps or the map pack to find nearby businesses. According to to our research, 48% of all Google searches are looking for local information, and nearly 30% of those searches result in a purchase. This means that having a robust Local SEO strategy can significantly increase both visibility and revenue for small businesses.
Historically, appearing first in the Yellow Pages or phone book was a significant advantage for small businesses. This was because the Yellow Pages were the primary resource for people looking for local businesses. Today, Google has replaced the Yellow Pages as the primary resource for people looking for local businesses, so appearing in the map pack has become just as important as appearing in the Yellow Pages used to be.
Not having your business appear in the map pack can be detrimental because potential customers won’t be able to find your business when they search for businesses like yours on Google. According to a study by Google, “The probability of someone being interested in a business decreases rapidly with distance. For example, when looking for something nearby, seven out of ten visit a business within one day, and 28% of them end up making a purchase.” This can give a significant advantage to your competitors, who can rank higher in the map pack results.
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What is the Google Map Pack or Local 3 Pack?
The SERP feature map pack, also known as the “local pack” or “local 3-pack,” is a featured section of Google’s search results that displays a list of local businesses that match a user’s search query. The map pack is typically displayed at the top of the search results, above the organic results, and includes the business’s name, address, phone number, and average rating.
The map pack is designed to make it easy for users to find local businesses that match their search query. It also gives them quick access to important information about those businesses, such as their address, phone number, and ratings. The map pack typically includes three businesses, known as the “local 3-pack,” but the number of companies displayed can vary depending on the user’s search query and location. The map pack also includes a map of the local area that highlights the locations of the businesses listed in the pack.
To be included in the map pack, businesses must have a verified Google My Business profile, which allows them to provide Google with accurate information about their business, such as their name, address, phone number, and hours of operation. This information is used by Google to determine which businesses match a user’s search query and to rank them in the map pack. Companies can also improve their chances of appearing in the map pack by optimizing their website for local SEO, including location-specific keywords, and encouraging customers to leave reviews on their Google My Business profile.
It’s worth noting that the map pack is not always displayed for every local search query; the ranking factors that Google uses to determine which results are shown in the map pack are complex and dynamic and may vary based on the search query, location, and other factors.
The image on the reverse side are actual local seo client results for GBP optimization. The green percentages are increases year over year for September 2022 vs September 2021
- 81,600 Direct Queries (People searching for the business name)
- 54,800 indirect Queries (People Searching for Non-branded Keywords)
Keyword: Living Trusts Attorney
Location: Orlando, FL
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After
Keyword: Men’s Custom Suits
Location: Pittsburg, PA
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After
Keyword: Prenuptial Agreement Attorney
Location: Central FL
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After
Keyword: Property Damage Attorney
Location: South Florida
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Keyword: Real Estate Attorney
Location: Central FLorida
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Keyword: Funeral Flowers
Location: Toronto CA
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3 Things YOU Can Do Today To Improve Your Local SEO
It’s important to note that these are not the only things you can do to improve your map pack rankings. You can also consider other factors, such as working on your website’s technical SEO, getting listed on local directories, and creating location-based content. Additionally, you should regularly check and update your information on your Google My Business profile; Google algorithm updates can change how they rank businesses, so it’s essential to stay on top of the latest trends and best practices.
Here are three simple things that businesses can do to improve their map pack rankings:
Make sure that your business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) are accurate and up-to-date on your Google My Business profile, and add as much information as possible about your business, such as hours of operation, services offered, and photos.
Our service does this for you if you need help.
Encourage your customers to leave reviews on your Google My Business profile. Positive reviews can improve your prominence and help to boost your map pack rankings.
We provide a software tool to all of our GBP Optimization clients called ValuedInput that helps collect reviews through email and SMS (text) messages.
Regularly updating your Google Business Profile with content that your prospective customersare searching for is incredibly helpful to improving your GBP positioning in Google Maps and in the Local Pack. Weekly updates about your products and services as well as occasional updates about sales, promotions and events can all be GREAT tactics to help your rankings.
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KPI's Are Essential To Holding Your SEO Company Accountable
You Can't Manage What You Aren't Measuring
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At SEOCompany.com, we understand the importance of measuring the success of local SEO efforts for small businesses. That’s why we use a variety of key performance indicators (KPIs) to help our customers track their progress and identify areas for improvement.
- We monitor our customer’s business’s search engine rankings for relevant keywords in their industry.
- This helps us understand how well their website is performing in the search engines and how well it competes against other businesses in the area.
- We track how often our customer’s business is appearing in the Google Maps “map pack” results.
- This is an important indicator of how well their business is performing in local search results.
- We monitor the number and quality of online reviews for our customer’s business on Google, Yelp, and other review sites.
- Positive reviews can help to boost their local SEO efforts and increase visibility in the map pack results.
- We track the number of visitors to their website and how they are interacting with their site.
- This helps us understand how well their website is performing and how well it is attracting and engaging local customers.
- We keep track of the number of phone calls and store visits generated from their website and Google My Business profile, as well as any other marketing campaigns they might have been running.
- This gives us an idea of how effectively their marketing efforts are driving in-person interactions.
We track the revenue and sales and see if they are increasing as a result of their Local SEO efforts.
By regularly monitoring these key performance indicators (KPIs), we help our customers understand how their local SEO efforts impact their visibility, reputation, and revenue. We use this data to identify areas for improvement and adjust our strategy accordingly. We work closely with our customers to set realistic goals and track progress. With our help, small businesses can optimize their local SEO efforts and achieve better visibility, engagement, and revenue in the long run.
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What's the Difference Google Business Profile Google My Business Google Profile Manager
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