In today’s competitive digital landscape, local SEO has become a crucial factor for agencies to help businesses grow and thrive. In this blog, we will explore 5 effective local SEO techniques for agencies to accelerate client growth, diving into proven strategies that enhance online visibility, attract local customers, and drive business success. These techniques are specifically designed to help agencies implement the right tactics for their clients and boost local search rankings in a meaningful way.
Imagine a physical store nestled in a bustling city, seamlessly attracting foot traffic because people can easily find it through a simple Google search. This scenario may sound like a dream, but it’s entirely achievable when a business leverages local SEO techniques for agencies effectively.
Why Local SEO Matters
Recent statistics underline the growing importance of local SEO:
- 400% increase in searches for “open now near me” in 2022.
- 97% of consumers search online to find local businesses.
- 72% of users conducting a local search will visit a store within 5 miles.
- 88% of users will either call or visit a business within 24 hours of a local search.
- 78% of location-based mobile searches result in offline purchases.
- 28% of local searches lead to a purchase within 24 hours.
- Businesses that optimize their Google Business Profile attract 70% more foot traffic.
For SEO agencies, this presents a tremendous opportunity. By incorporating proven local SEO tactics, you can help your clients grow their local customer base, increase foot traffic, and drive revenue. In this blog, we’ll outline five impactful strategies to help your clients achieve local SEO success and the top tools you can use to deliver great results.
Why Should Agencies Offer Local SEO Services?
Google processes an astounding 8.5 billion searches every day, and location plays a key role in the search engine’s ranking algorithm. When users perform searches like “dentist near me” or “coffee shop in [city name],” Google tailors the results based on their geographical location using a factor known as proximity.
With mobile devices now ubiquitous, local search has become increasingly important. When people use their smartphones to search for services or businesses, Google prioritizes local results, making local SEO a non-negotiable aspect for businesses aiming to attract local customers.
Incorporating local SEO can lead to:
- Better visibility: Local searches account for 22.6% of website traffic.
- Higher conversion rates: Local searches have a close rate of nearly 15%.
- Increased sales: 28% of local searches result in a purchase within 24 hours.
- Strong ROI: 40% of local SEO efforts deliver an ROI of over 500%.
As an SEO agency, offering local SEO services is not only a value add for your clients but a crucial service that can help you retain and grow your client base.
5 Key Local SEO Techniques for Agencies to Drive Client Success
1. Optimize Your Google Business Profile (GBP)
A Google Business Profile (GBP) is one of the most powerful tools for local SEO. It’s a free Google service that allows businesses to appear in local search results, providing valuable information such as business hours, services, and contact details. When properly optimized, a GBP profile can be a major driver of foot traffic and online conversions.
Key Tips for Optimizing GBP:
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- Complete all business information: Make sure your client’s profile includes accurate business hours, contact details, and the physical address. Incomplete or outdated information can lead to customer dissatisfaction, missed business opportunities, and negative reviews.
Also Read: Google Business Profile Optimization: Unleash the Power of Local SEO to Boost Your Presence
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- Use strategic categories: Choose primary and secondary categories carefully. Google allows businesses to select up to 10 categories, and these choices will significantly impact local search rankings.
Also Read: Google My Business Categories (Complete Updated List 2024 and ahead)
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- Update URLs: If your client previously used Google My Business websites, ensure they transition to a new website as Google My Business is no longer supported and will now show a 404 error for old URLs. Here GBPGM tool can be a great help as it allows you to create a freemium Google My Business Website.
Also Read: Ultimate Guide to Google My Business Website Builder: Free & Premium Features with GBPGM
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- Leverage user engagement: Utilize the Q&A section by answering common customer questions and upvoting your answers. Google’s auto-answer feature will pull the most upvoted responses to answer similar queries, increasing customer satisfaction.
Also Read: Ultimate Guide to Google My Business Website Builder: Free & Premium Features with GBPGM
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- Pro tip: Regularly post updates, promotions, and announcements to keep the profile active and fresh. Google rewards actively managed profiles with higher rankings, resulting in more local traffic and leads.
Also Read: Ultimate Guide to Google My Business Website Builder: Free & Premium Features with GBPGM
2. Local Keyword Optimization
Local keywords are the backbone of any local SEO strategy. These are specific search terms users input when they’re looking for services or businesses in a particular area. Think of terms like “Italian restaurants in Chicago” or “best salon in downtown Miami”.
How to Identify and Use Local Keywords:
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- Use keyword tools: Leverage tools like Google Keyword Planner, Semrush, or Ahrefs to identify trending local search terms relevant to your client’s industry.
- On-page optimization: Place local keywords in strategic locations such as page titles, meta descriptions, headers, and the body content of your client’s website.
- Location-specific content: Incorporate local keywords into blogs, events, and even announcements. For instance, “Upcoming yoga classes in San Francisco” or “Summer deals at our Chicago restaurant”.
Dos and Don’ts:
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- Do: Use keywords like “Best Italian restaurant in Brooklyn” to capture precise local intent.
- Don’t: Avoid generic phrases like “Italian restaurant,” which lack specificity and will likely fail to capture local search traffic.
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3. Ensure NAP Consistency
NAP stands for Name, Address, and Phone number, and maintaining NAP consistency across all online platforms and directories is critical for local SEO success. Google and other search engines use NAP information to verify the legitimacy of a business, and inconsistencies can hurt rankings.
NAP Best Practices:
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- Select key directories: Ensure your client’s business is listed on top directories like Google Business Profile, Yelp, Bing Places, and other relevant industry-specific platforms.
- Remove duplicates: Eliminate duplicate listings across platforms to prevent confusion and negative SEO effects.
- Add NAP to your website: Include the NAP details in the footer of every page on your client’s website. This enhances trust and improves SEO.
- Text format only: Always add NAP information as text, not images, so search engines can index it.
4. Build Local Links
Building backlinks is a well-established SEO practice, but for local SEO, the focus is on earning links from locally relevant websites which is called Local Citations. This can dramatically improve your client’s local search rankings and establish them as an authority in their community.
Also Read: Local Citations: The Secret Weapon No Local Business Should Ignore
Local Link Building Strategies:
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- Sponsor local events: Encourage your clients to sponsor or participate in local events, as this often leads to backlinks from event websites.
- Engage with the community: Organize events, offer workshops, or collaborate with local businesses to generate backlinks from community websites.
- Contribute to local blogs: Write guest posts or feature your client’s business on local blogs or news outlets. This is an excellent way to gain high-quality backlinks.
Pro tip: Create a sponsorship page on your client’s website, showcasing partnerships with other businesses and local organizations. This not only earns backlinks but demonstrates community involvement.
Also Read: Local Citations: The Secret Weapon No Local Business Should Ignore
5. Manage Online Reviews
Online reviews are the cornerstone of local SEO success. Positive reviews build trust, enhance social proof, and signal to search engines that your client’s business is reliable. Conversely, negative reviews, if left unaddressed, can damage a business’s reputation.
Also Read: What are Google Reviews? Why Google Reviews are Important for Every Business?
Review Management Tips:
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- Encourage reviews: Regularly ask satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on Google, Yelp, and other directories. More reviews equal better rankings.
- Respond to reviews: Take the time to respond to both positive and negative reviews. A simple thank-you message or a thoughtful response to a complaint shows that your client values their customers.
Also Read: Responding to Google Reviews: Why It’s Crucial for Your Local SEO
Pro tip: Reviews that include photos, longer text, and upvotes tend to stay at the top of a profile. Encourage happy customers to post detailed reviews with images, and ask your team to upvote these reviews to push them higher on the profile.
Also Read: Boost Your Ranking, Build Trust: Master Google Review Management with GBPGM
How to Find Businesses That Need Local SEO
Now that you have a solid local SEO strategy in place, the next question is: how do you find businesses that need these services? Here are 10 actionable tips:
- Engage with local business owners: Attend networking events, local fairs, or industry meetups to connect with business owners in need of SEO.
- Google local search results: Identify businesses that aren’t ranking well and reach out with a tailored proposal on how you can help.
- Audit Google Maps: Search for local businesses with poor visibility or low reviews. Offer them a free audit to highlight opportunities for improvement.
- Check local directories: Use platforms like Yelp, Yellow Pages, or industry-specific directories to find businesses with incomplete profiles.
- LinkedIn outreach: Connect with local business owners on LinkedIn and initiate conversations around their online visibility.
- Network at local events: Attend trade shows or Chamber of Commerce events to build connections with business owners seeking SEO services.
- Set up Google Alerts: Monitor mentions of local businesses in your client’s niche and reach out when SEO improvements are needed.
- Offer free SEO audits: Use cold outreach and targeted email campaigns to offer free SEO audits, then pitch your services based on your findings.
- Review competitor clients: Analyze competitor businesses and identify clients that could benefit from a local SEO boost.
- Content marketing: Create valuable content, such as blogs or webinars, that highlight the importance of local SEO for small businesses and drive leads through educational content.
Conclusion
Local SEO is essential for businesses looking to attract nearby customers, increase foot traffic, and drive local revenue. As an SEO agency, incorporating local SEO into your services will not only help your clients grow their business but will also position you as an expert in the digital marketing field.
With Google Business Profile Growth Manager (GBPGM) Tool, and targeted local SEO strategies, you can maximize your client’s online visibility and lead them toward local search success. By helping your clients climb the local rankings, you’re securing long-term partnerships and fostering lasting business growth.
