Optimizing your website for the general search engine results page and the local results page is similar, but there are a couple differences.
In general, keyword research, proper site anatomy, finding your target audience, using white hat SEO, and other best practices are the same.
For local results, you must ensure to create a Google Business Profile. You can compete this task by creating a Google Business Profile account and entering your business name, category, and address. After this, you must verify that you own the business.
Once verified, you can start setting up your Google Business Profile. It is good to treat this as a mini website for your business. You can add important details, such as your location, hours, phone number, email, website, menu, “busy hours,” and more. These details are referred to as “structured data and rich results.” You can find more structured data options on schema.org. Additionally, you can create posts and upload photos or videos to show your business or work. These details help potential customers understand your business, get in touch, and learn more.
Furthermore, your Google Business Profile account is home to your business’ reviews. Customers can give you a star rating from 1-5 (1 is the worst, and 5 is the best) and also leave you a typed review. They may also upload their own photos and videos of your business. It is smart to ask your customers for reviews, but it is important to not be too pushy. The goal is to have organic and authentic content.
Google Business Profile is heavily integrated with Google Maps, Google Search, and the Local Finder.
The highest rated Google Business Profiles in your area will be placed at top of the “ABC” pack or the “Snack Pack,” if you are a food-related business.
Utilizing the Google Business Profile will help you to get the most out of your SEO journey.
One Response
Nice breakdown of the difference between general SEO and local SEO, especially how you explained Google Business Profile as a “mini website” and connected it to Maps and the snack pack. That makes the local ranking process really easy to understand.