Did you know that nearly half of the searches on Google have to do with local inquiries? That’s right: nearly a trillion searches every single year include local SEO keywords.

These questions are coming from consumers that are trying to find local businesses just like yours. If you aren’t using local SEO, you’re missing out on all of the business that could be coming from these searches.

Not everyone is an expert in local SEO. We get it.

But, you could be investing in local SEO services like ours. Our team can help you devise and carry out the perfect local SEO strategy for your business.

Read more to learn about local SEO benefits and why you need to start today.

1. Local SEO Gives Businesses More Visibility

Whether your business is small, medium, or large, it’s no lie that getting the word out there is important. Without social media, Google searches, and other online platforms, your business may not be bringing in any customers.

That’s why it’s so important to take advantage of local SEO strategy.

With the right plan in place, you could be getting more eyes on your business. So, you could be bringing in more visitors and customers. This could mean a huge business growth spurt.

2. Local SEO Improves Traffic on Business Websites

Your business’ website is the hub for everything that’s happening. Consumers want to look for your menu, your products, your services, or whatever else you may be offering.

It’s likely that they’re going to look online before they go into your store.

However, if they can’t find your business’ website, they may skip out on the trip entirely. So, you need to make sure that every searcher can find your business.

The best way to ensure this is by following local SEO recommendations. By targeting local SEO keywords, you can make it easier for potential customers to find your business’ website. Thus, you’ll make it easier to find the things they want to buy.

3. Local SEO Builds Links With Other Businesses

A successful local SEO strategy will ensure that other business owners can find your business online. With this exposure, you can create relationships with other business owners. And, you can backlink to one another’s websites, promote things together, and do more. For example, If you are a local plumber and looking to be ranked for keywords like “St Petersburg Plumbing” you will want to secure backlinks from partner plumbing websites or articles discussing local plumbing services. 

Link-building is especially important because it improves your business’s online reputation.

If another business links to your website, this tells Google that your site is trustworthy and reputable. So, Google will be more likely to recommend your website to others who are searching.

You can also build links by simply existing online. Local newspapers, reviewers, and influencers may find your business online through Google. In turn, you’ll get more exposure and some backlinks to your own site.

4. Local SEO Reduces Advertising Costs

If you own a small business, you know that you have to cut costs wherever possible. But, you never want to cut costs where it matters.

Marketing is one of the most difficult budgets to allocate because it’s important yet expensive. Spending more money on advertising may (or may not) bring in more money. It’s kind of like a gamble.

If you focus your efforts on building a sound local SEO strategy, you won’t need to gamble with your advertising budget anymore. Your strategy is going to serve as your advertising as long as you take the time to build your reputation online.

Eventually, your strategy is going to become so effective that you won’t need to pay for excessive advertising at all. So, by investing in local SEO services, you’re actually saving yourself money.

5. Local SEO Encourages Customer Reviews

Reviews mean everything in the consumer world. A review is like a handwritten letter from a former customer. It tells potential customers what they should expect from their experience with your business.

A negative review can ruin your business’ reputation.

But, a string of positive reviews can change your life.

This is why every single customer interaction is so important. Past customers are posting their individual experiences with your business so that new customers can read.

If you’ve given a customer a bad experience, you can expect that they’re going to tell a bunch of potential future customers.

So, you should always work to make every customer experience enjoyable so that your customers can share the good news with searchers online.

6. Local SEO Keeps Your Business Competitive

With so many options out there, consumers are having to choose which businesses to support and which businesses to skip out on. By creating a local SEO strategy, you’re helping consumers choose your business.

An easy online experience makes customers more likely to go to your business. And, a local SEO strategy bolsters a smooth, online experience.

It will also keep your business at the forefront of consumers’ minds while they’re looking for local businesses to support. Your business will pop up alongside any competitors that you may have. So, you can stay in the competition.

7. Local SEO Nourishes Customer Relationships

A great local SEO strategy will help you get the attention of a bunch of different shoppers. Whether they’re tourists or locals, you’re likely to get mentioned while they’re searching online. 

Once that consumer makes the choice to go to your business, you’re given the chance to create and grow a relationship with that customer. Depending on their experience with your business, you may be able to get a repeat customer.

Without an effective local SEO strategy, you wouldn’t have had that chance at all.

Invest in Local SEO Services

If you don’t have a local SEO strategy, it’s time to get it together. Local SEO will help you keep your business relevant for locals and tourists alike.

And, if you aren’t an SEO expert, you can depend on our team at MWD Web Design to help you with local SEO services. Our affordable SEO packages are perfect for your business and ones like it.

Go ahead and get started today. You won’t regret it.