Local SEO is becoming increasingly important as more and more people use search engines to find local businesses. In fact, according to a study by BrightLocal, 87% of consumers use Google to find local businesses. So, if your business is not ranking high in local search results, you are missing out on many potential customers.
You can do several things to improve your local SEO rankings, including adding your business to directories, creating custom pages for each location, and optimizing your website for local search.
Since so much of modern consumers’ purchasing decisions are based on their immediate surroundings, having a strong local SEO presence is more important than ever.
Here are several reasons why it’s so important for a business to be visible in local search results, especially if they have a brick-and-mortar store or location that potential customers can visit.
1. People Are Searching for Local Businesses Online
According to a survey conducted by Google, consumers search for local businesses online. Therefore, if your business is not visible in local search results, you miss out on many potential customers.
2. Local Searches Lead To Offline Purchases
A milestone meta-analysis of experiments with 13 top U.S. retailers conducted by Applied Predictive Technologies proves that search ads drive incremental offline sales.
It shows that being visible in local search results can directly lead to offline sales.
3. Local Searches Have High Conversion Rates
Another survey by Google found that 78% of local mobile searches result in offline purchases, and 18% of those searches lead to a sale within one day. It indicates that if your business is visible in local search results, there is a good chance that searchers will take action and purchase your product or service.
4. More People Than Ever Are Carrying Around Smartphones
More people are carrying smartphones and other mobile devices with them. And whenever they want to find something nearby—a restaurant, museum, grocery store, or anything else—they turn to apps like Google Maps or Yelp! That means if your business isn’t visible in local search results on these platforms, you could miss out on many potential customers.
5. People Trust Local Businesses More
Research has shown that people trust local businesses more than national or international brands. For example, 72% of consumers say they feel more confident about buying from a local company because they can easily connect with them if there are any problems.
The Importance of NAP Consistency
One of the most important aspects of a successful business is its network infrastructure. A well-functioning, reliable network forms the backbone of a company and allows it to grow, scale, and succeed. Among other factors, implementing a NAP solution is one key way to ensure that your company’s network infrastructure is consistent and efficient.
Reviews and Ratings
It’s safe to say that reviews play an essential role in our lives. Consumer reviews can make or break a company, from movies and restaurants to the businesses we frequent. And it’s not just businesses anymore — people are turning to online product reviews more than ever to determine what items they should buy.
Reviews and ratings are critical not only to customers but also to businesses. They provide feedback and help companies to understand what they are doing well and where they need to improve.
Local Citations
Local citations are the bread and butter of local SEO. Though often underestimated, citations are one of the local business’s most important ranking factors. Why? Because they help search engines determine a business’s location and relevance to specific queries. And as any SEO knows, the higher a company ranks in search engine results, the more likely it is to be discovered by potential customers.
Local citations play an essential role in modern SEO. As a business, you must ensure your local citations are consistent and up-to-date.
Brief conclusions
NAP, reviews and ratings, local links and quotes, and many other aspects of local SEO show the importance of incorporating local SEO into your marketing strategy.
Local SEO is very important because appearing in local search results is one of the easiest and most effective ways to get your brand in front of potential customers.
