In today’s digital world, having an effective local SEO strategy is crucial for any contractor looking to attract and retain local customers. But formulating a local SEO strategy and executing it successfully can often be daunting. This guide aims to make this process easier for you. We will take you through a step-by-step checklist, walking you through everything from setting up your Google Business Profile to tracking your local SEO performance.
Setting up Google Business Profile
The first thing to do when starting on local SEO is to set up your Google Business Profile. A Google Business Profile enhances your visibility on Google search and Google Maps, making it easier for potential customers to find your information. To get started, either add your business or claim an existing business on Google Maps.
Choosing the right business category is a vital step in this process. You should select a category that not only applies to your business but is also a popular search term. With nearly 4,000 categories available, it is crucial to choose wisely to optimize your business listing effectively.
An often overlooked but highly beneficial feature of your Google Business Profile is the ability to post regular updates. These updates, also known as Google Posts, appear on your Business Profile on Google Search and Maps. They can help your business stand out from competitors and engage with your audience directly from search results.
When crafting these posts, always include a high-quality image or video, concise yet informative content, a compelling call to action, and regular timely updates to share relevant information. Use Google’s insights to understand how your posts are performing and what type of content engages your audience the most.
Optimizing Your Website for Local SEO
The second step involves optimizing your website for local SEO. This involves creating high-quality content, optimizing your pages for target keywords, and building links to those pages. Local SEO also places a higher emphasis on Citation Management and mobile-friendliness.
Citation Management is crucial for local SEO as it helps build trust with Google when it sees consistent citations of your business name, address, phone number, and other info across various platforms. Using citation software can automate this process, saving you time and effort.
Given the growing number of people using their smartphones to search for local services, mobile-friendliness has become a key ranking factor. Tools like Listing Management and Site Audit can be immensely helpful in this process.
Watching Your Online Reputation
Your online reputation plays a significant role in winning over potential customers. Two key ways to manage your reputation are by gathering positive reviews on Google, social media, and review platforms, and engaging with customers on social media platforms.
Google’s Marketing Kit can help in gathering more online reviews. And when it comes to engaging customers on social media, using a scheduling tool like the Social Media Poster can be a game-changer, allowing you to plan out your posts in advance and maintain a consistent presence.
Tracking Your Local SEO Performance
The final step in our local SEO checklist is tracking your performance. Position Tracking is a great tool for this purpose, allowing you to monitor your visibility on Google search, Google Maps, local packs, hotel packs, and other SERP Features.
Depending on your account level, you can track multiple device types and locations in the same Project, and the campaign will update daily with the current positions of your site and competitors.
Tracking your positions in Google Maps is possible with a premium location in Listing Management. Once your location is set to premium, you can configure your heatmap with your desired radius size and grid size. This map will update your positions every month, providing you with a clear idea of how you rank in precise locations within your area.
Conclusion
While the process of optimizing local SEO can seem complex, breaking it down into these manageable steps can make it more straightforward. By focusing on setting up your Google Business Profile, optimizing your website for local SEO, managing your online reputation, and tracking your local SEO performance, you can make significant strides in boosting your online presence and attracting more local customers. A solid digital marketing campaign for contractors can be what makes your business stand out among the rest.
