If you run a location-dependent small business, then you need to invest in local SEO. It is a tool kit of techniques to help your business appear at the top of those all-important search results pages.

But what if you are not a professional SEO expert? Well, that’s where a local SEO checklist can help. You can follow this simple guide and optimize your online presence in no time.

Optimize Google My Business

Having a detailed and active Google My Business account is essential for any small, brick-and-mortar business. The Ultimate Guide for Local SEO says it is “ground zero” for local SEO.

If someone Googles your business or industry, your website will likely not be the first listing. It is more likely to be your location on Google Maps. Potential customers will see the images, reviews, and information here before anything else.

So, these should be the first things on your local SEO checklist:

• Set up a Google My Business account and verify it
• Upload a concise business description mentioning your location
• Upload high-quality images of the business and products
• Respond and acknowledge all reviews
• Update the information when necessary

It doesn’t take the best SEO company or an expert SEO professional to do any of these tasks. Once it is up and running, there is very little to update.

Optimize Your Business Website Content

Any local SEO company would tell you to have an entire website with tons of content to support your Google My Business account.

And to optimize your content for local SEO, these are the things you need to do:

• Include your location in your company bio and contact pages
• Write location-focused blog content
• Target keywords with your location in them, e.g., salons in St Petersburg
• Include your location in URLs, meta descriptions, and title tags
• Collaborate with other local businesses

You want to give Google, and your customers zero doubt about your location. If you’re going to go a step further, include your business name, address, and phone number in schema format on your website.

Optimize Your Social Media Profiles

Next, make sure your social media profiles also make the location of your business 100% transparent.

Here is how to optimize your business on social media for local SEO:

• Display the same name, address, and phone number as on your website and Google My Business page
• Run local competitions
• Geotag your posts with the location of your business

Even if you are not very active on them, it is often worth creating pages on sites like Yelp and TripAdvisor where relevant. If you don’t, someone else might, and the information will likely not be accurate.

Use This Local SEO Checklist to Revamp Your Business Online

When growing a small business, you need to invest and believe in it. So, hiring a marketing industry professional to handle your SEO is not a bad idea.

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