Local SEO Audit Checklist 15 Steps to Improve Local Rankings
If you are a business owner who is trying to serve more to the local customers or want to improve their local SEO visibility but do not know how to do so? Then you need not look further. As in this guide we’ll be sharing not one or two but in total 15 steps that can help you in improving the local rankings of your website. Even if you are a beginner then also this guide will serve as a perfect starting point. Without further ado, let’s get done with it.
1 ) Conduct Local Keyword Research
Using the accurate keyword can prove to be a complete game-changer. There are many tools with the help of which you can identify the keywords that potential customers that relate to your business are using. Once you lay your hands on such local keywords then you need to utilize them naturally throughout your content. You should focus on keywords that combine your service with local intent. So for example you provide plumbing service in Amsterdam or that of a bakery. So the apt keyword would be plumber in Amsterdam, best bakery in Amsterdam. Long tail keyword usage can also turn out to be fruitful.
2 ) Optimize Your Google Business Profile
Your google business profile plays a very important role in local SEO listing. So consider these simple points:
- First declare your business profile and also rectify the same on Google website.
- Next add accurate information like your name, business type, working hours, address, phone number and other relevant details.
- Use high quality images of your service, staff and also of location.
- Post regularly about offers, work and happy clients.
3 ) Ensure NAP Consistency
If you want to improve your local SEO rankings then make sure the basic information like your business name, its address and contacting information is consistent and accurate across all platforms. This consistency avoids confusion as well as builds trust.
4 ) Optimize Your Website For Local SEO
Your website should clearly depict that you serve a specific city or an area. For this mention the city or area name on your Homepage. Also inform about the same in your Title tag and meta description. Try curating a location page for every area where you provide your services. Adding a google map on your contact page will also work greatly.
5 ) Ensure Your Website Is Mobile Optimized
Remember one thing that most local searches take place on mobile devices. So for ensuring high local SEO rankings your website should be mobile friendly. It means it should offer quick loading time, offer easy to read text and a user friendly interface.
6 ) Improve Your Websites Loading Speed
A sluggish website leads to poor user experience. So to improve the loading speed of your website consider these points:
- Compress image size without compromising on the quality.
- Next, minimize CSS, JavaScript. For pictures use lazy loading.
- Additionally, use browser caching. It minimizes load times for comeback visitors.
7 ) Build Local Backlinks
When you successfully build local backlinks it improves your visibility as well as authority. For this you can collaborate with local bloggers, newspapers. Moreover supporting local events can also be considered. Additionally try writing guest posts on local community websites for better rankings.
8 ) Encourage Customer Reviews
Do not shy away from asking your clients to leave their feedback on your website. No matter whether the review is negative or positive, reply to them professionally and in a customer centric approach. This builds up credibility as well as boost your rankings.
9 ) Analyze Your Competitors
Keep yourself updated as to what your local competitors are upto. To do so search for your keywords and check who shows up in the Local Pack and organic results. Thereafter begin your analysis by looking at their website structure, keywords, backlinks, and reviews.
10 ) Use Local SEO Tracking Tools
You need to understand what is serving you and what not. To do so you need to set up tools that help with the same. You can use Google Analytics to track website visits, traffic sources, and user behavior.
Try setting up Google Search Console for monitoring search performance and for resolving errors.
11 ) Use Schema Markup
With schema markup you can help Google understand your business information in a better way. So add Local Business schema to your site’s footer or contact page. Also mention your name, contact number and working hours including address. Try leveraging on Google’s Markup Helper to create and test it.
12 ) Regularly Audit Your Local SEO Efforts
SEO is not something that you do once you are sorted, rather it’s an on-going process so you need to keep monitoring and adjusting it. So update the keywords, your contact information, pictures of your work and also keep an eye on new entries.
13 ) Take Advantage Of Social Media
This is a no brainer that social media platforms are ruling and how. So to amp up your local SEO position grab advantage from social media. Engage with locals by using hashtags and tagging your location in posts. Post videos of your clients and services. Also try collaborating with famous influencers that indirectly promote your services.
14 ) Add Location Based Landing Pages
If you cater to multiple areas then segregate a page for such location on your website. In that, include the area name, services offered, and local testimonials. This helps search engines show your site for location-specific searches and provides users the information they need for their area.
15 ) Optimize For Voice Search
Many users make use of voice search when searching for local businesses. So make sure your website contains content that uses conversational style and answers basic and common questions. This will help you score better in local voice rankings.
Concluding Remarks
Local SEO can seem to be a daunting task at first. But with these above written fifteen steps it becomes breeze and manageable. The key here is consistency accompanied with accuracy and relevancy. Additionally when you stay active and keep on improving the results flow in your favor automatically.