Did you know that the saying "If you build it they will come" is a common expression? It's from the 1980 Kevin Costner film 'Field of Dreams'.
Although it's an inspirational quote, local business owners often find that it's not true when they set up their websites. Many believe that once their website is up and running, prospects will start to flock to them for quotes, orders, or to sign up for their mailing list. Many people don't believe that this is true.
This is not conjecture. According to research, 77.23% of local business owners struggled to gain online visibility.
The same survey found that 42.85 percent of respondents believe Google prefers larger brands. Now, don't get me wrong. Because more people search for high-profile businesses , they tend to do better online. But that doesn't necessarily mean that your local company website cannot compete for local keywords.
It takes only a careful local keyword research, as well as a detailed local SEO strategy. That's what I'm going today to discuss.
Why is Local SEO Important?
Local SEO is important because it allows small businesses to reach potential customers looking for their products and services in their local area.
If you have a home-based business, for example, you might want to target local people who may be interested in your services. Local keyword research targets potential customers that are already interested in your products and services.
Local keyword research can be done well
- Increase your sales and leads.
- This helps you rank higher in local searches results, increasing your website traffic.
- It makes it easier for people to search for you on their mobile phones when searching for local businesses.
- Reviews build trust and credibility with potential clients.
Local SEO is also supported by research. Statista reports that 35 percent of customers go online several times per week to search for local businesses.
But that's not all. According to research, 21 percent of internet users use the internet every day to locate local businesses.
These statistics show that you must be visible online as a local business. But maybe you need more proof? Let's get started.
Numerous case studies show how small businesses can reap the benefits of local keyword research and optimization. Search for "local SEO case studies" to see my point.
What makes local keyword research unique
As I have already explained, local SEO and keyword research are primarily focused on attracting more leads and customers.
Local SEO is not only about targeting a specific geographic area. There are many other factors that make local SEO unique.
Google's ranking factors are the most obvious. Google's local search giant takes into account several crucial areas such as:
- The location of the searcher
- Online reviews should include keywords and sentiment
- Quotes about name, address, and telephone number
- Google My Business profile with relevant keywords
- Your Google Maps star rating
- Social media is a hot topic
These tips will help you improve your local SEO.
- Verify your location to improve visibility in local searches
- It is important to keep your hours of operation up-to-date, especially during holidays. So local customers know that you are open and don't waste their time.
- Respond to and manage reviews to show appreciation. Positive reviews can boost business visibility and inspire confidence.
- Photos and listings for in-store are encouraged. Images will showcase your store and products to help customers understand what you are selling and if the products are right.
Google also considers relevancy, distance, prominence (your overall web presence), as well as content and directory listings.
Modifiers are another important factor in local keyword research. You must make sure that the search terms you use in writing are very specific to your area. If you are a business located in Austin, Texas, for example, you might use keywords such as "Austin restaurants" instead of just "restaurants".
Voice search is also essential for local SEO. Research has shown that 74% of people use voice searches at least once per week to find local businesses. However, 76% of voice search users opt for smart speakers at most once per week. The majority of those who use voice search are searching daily.
SEMrush also suggests optimizing voice searches for each smart speaker (Alexa/Sir/Google Assistant, etc.). These tips will help you do this.
You can also use the tips in this graphic to improve your local keyword research strategy.
How to Find the Best Local Keywords
It is obvious that local keyword research is important. But how can you find the best ones? It's not difficult as you might think. These are some tips to help you get started.
First, think about what you offer and the services or products that you wish to promote. Next, brainstorm keywords related to your business.
Google search results is another option to locate local keywords. Scroll down to the bottom and type in your keyword. You'll find a section called "related searches" at the bottom of the page. For example, a Miami dentist could target keyword "Miami dentist".
Then:
- Once you have a list, start researching online to find out how popular they are. This information can be accessed via tools such as Ubersuggest or Google Keyword Planner. Ubersuggest is another tool that can be used to analyze keywords from competitors and determine if it is possible to surpass them in the rankings.
- You can also type in a keyword using the Google search bar. The autocomplete suggestions will appear and give you great ideas for local keywords.
Use Keyword Modifiers
Keyword modifiers allow you to focus your efforts on certain areas or types search terms for targeted traffic. This will help you get better results with your local SEO efforts.
These modifiers could include location-based terms such as 'near me', 'in my region', or local.'
You can also use Autosuggest or related search to find out what terms other people are using.
Consider Keyword Intent
What are your prospects looking to buy? What are your prospects looking for? Are they looking to purchase a product, service or information, or browse the web? Knowing the intent of the searcher will help you target keywords and content that meet their needs. You can use the same techniques as Autosuggest to determine the keywords that users are searching for.
Google Places Search Bar
Google Places search bar is another great tool to find local keywords.
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You can do a geographic search by entering a place in the search bar. This will give you a "pick list", which contains places and possible search terms.
Once you have a list, it is important to analyze them and decide which keywords are best for your business.
Implicit Vs. Implicit Vs.
There are two main methods to target your audience when doing keyword research in local areas: explicit and implicit.
Implicit targeting occurs when a user searches for terms like "hardware store" or "DIY." but does not include details like the location.
Google is a search engine that predicts your needs and provides you with relevant results based on where you are located.
Talk to customers to find out which implicit keywords are important for your business. Ask your customers how they would search the internet for companies similar to yours, if they were searching for one in their local area.
Explicit local keyword targeting, on the other hand refers to search terms people use to find your product or services. You could use the example of a 'Dentist in Santa Barbara or a 'Hairdresser at Venice Beach' keyword.
How to Use Your Competitor in Your Local Keyword Research
Are you able to steal keywords from your competitors? Absolutely! You can use a tool for competitive research to discover which keywords they are using.
There are several ways you can assess and use the competition in your local keyword research.
1. Take a look at what keywords your competitors are targeting to see if they have any you can also target. It's likely that your competitors target a keyword because it is profitable and has high search volume.
2. Check out their website and see how it ranks for their target keywords. This will give you some ideas for how to improve your website so that it ranks higher for your targeted keywords. You could target keywords that your competitors aren't using if you want to have less competition. Make sure that they have a high search volume.
3. Look at the content they have created around their target keywords.
4. Pay attention to keywords when looking at SERPs. These terms are often in bold.
Let's now look at some tools that can make local keyword research much easier.
The Best SEO Keyword Research Tools
My tool has been mentioned before. Ubersuggest is a great tool, and it deserves another mention. It's an intuitive tool that delivers.
- Ideas for keywords and content
- Keywords by traffic
- Similar websites
- There are many more.
If I search for "digital marketing agencies California", I get:
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To get a better understanding of your search intent, you can choose between 'prepositions','related', 'comparisons', and 'questions'.
You might also be interested in these other tools:
- Google Keyword Planner. This tool allows you to see relevant keywords and generate ideas for related keywords.
- Moz Local allows you to receive a free listing score.
- You can use SERPStat for further analysis of your competition and SEO purposes.
The best way to find the right keywords to your business is to try different tools and techniques, and then analyze what works.
FAQs
What is Local Keyword Research?
Local keyword research is used to find keywords people might use to search for businesses similar to yours online.
How can I find keywords for local SEO?
It is crucial to use the right tools. You can't be found by potential customers in your local area if you don't use the right tools. Ubersuggest and Google Keyword Planner are great tools to get you started. You can also use autocomplete and competitive analysis by viewing the SERPs.
How can I locate the most relevant local keywords?
There are some things to remember when doing local keyword research. Think about what your customers may search for to find you business. Then brainstorm. Next, use tools such as Ubersuggest or Google's Autosuggest to conduct local keyword research. You can also look at the SERPs to find keywords.
Conclusion
A small business marketing plan should include local keyword research.
Understanding the keywords that people are searching for in your area will allow you to create content and ads that speak to them directly. Ubersuggest makes it easy to use the right tools to help you find those keywords.
Search intent is an important part of online visibility. If you want local customers and prospects to find you online, don't forget about it.
Do you use local keyword research? Below, share how you got your company on the map.
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By: Neil Patel
Title: Local SEO Keyword Research (Step-by-Step Guide)
Sourced From: neilpatel.com/blog/local-keyword-research/
Published Date: Thu, 08 Sep 2022 07:00:00 +0000