Local SEO is no walk in the park, but it can be simplified with the following checklist. Here are the steps you need to take to grow your small business.
First thing’s first: stop and think about what you would type into Google if you were looking for an ice cream parlor. Would you type in ‘ice cream parlor near me?’ Or maybe ‘ice cream parlor Orlando?’ Both are highly popular keyword variations used for searching all the things. This checklist goes into how to get better results from SEO with our quick tips.
Step 1: Determine Keywords You Want Your Business To Rank For
Jot down broad keywords, like ‘ice cream parlor Orlando,’ and then get specific with keywords such as ‘chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream Orlando.’ You’ll want to determine all the keywords your business could rank for so you’re aware of how consumers are finding you on Google.
Step 2: Do Keyword Research To Determine Areas Of Opportunity
When it comes to local SEO, it’s important to note that people are most likely including a location in their search. While Google has become more targeted and asks for your location to better refine your search, that feature is not always activated- therefore, it’s better to be proactive about implementing location-based keywords.
You can use keyword research platforms, such as Google Ads or KWFinder, to determine areas of opportunity. Once you input your desired keyword in your desired city, the results will indicate how competitive the keyword is and how often it’s searched monthly. Use this information to decide which keywords you’re going to try and rank for first.
Step 3: Optimize Your Website & Blog To Include Keywords
Each page on your website should be optimized for local SEO because each page serves as an opportunity to appear in search results. Choose a keyword that best relates to each page and work it into the following places:
- Title Tags: Orlando Ice Cream Parlor | Ice Cream Parlor Orlando
- URL Slug (if applicable)
- Meta Description: “As an Orlando ice cream parlor, we…”
- Alt Images
Having a blog page on your website is a great resource for both educating your audience and boosting your SEO efforts. In order to rank organically for SEO, all optimization must be relevant to the page and keywords should not be forced into context.
Stay tuned for Part Two coming out on August 1st at 9:00 AM sharp with a FREE downloadable!
