Local Search Engine Optimization (Local SEO) plays an important role in your online marketing plan.

“Drug store near me.”

“Men’s haircut midtown Manhattan”

“Best deep dish in Chicago.”

Local searches like these are vital for bringing new customers into small businesses.

Especially when you consider that 50 percent of consumers who performed a local search on their smartphone visited a store within 24 hours.

So why is local search engine optimization important? How does it get people in your store?

Don’t worry, we’ll get there. But first.

Local Search Engine Optimization : What is It?

Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of gaining web traffic for your website by improving your position in search results.

Local SEO takes this one step further and maximizes your visibility among people looking for a specific service in a particular location.

When users search for a service, search engines are smart enough to know where the person is and provide results that are locally convenient for the user.

And companies that have high local SEO rankings are presented more prominently in a user’s search results. Accordingly, they get more attention from potential customers than businesses with lower rankings.

That’s why regular SEO just isn’t enough anymore.

But if you’re still not convinced, here are the four major reasons local SEO is important to your small business.

Reviews are Everything

Customers increasingly rely on reviews to make decisions.

88 percent of consumers say they trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations, and positive reviews inspire trust in 7 out of 10 consumers.

But that’s not all reviews can do for your business.

Not coincidentally, the same things that matter to your customers also help determine your local SEO rank.

Namely, factors like the completeness of your Google My Business profile, citations, and–you guessed it–reviews are all huge pieces of the local SEO puzzle.

As a result, managing your reputation online with a strong local SEO strategy helps get your small business offerings in front of more local eyes that are ready to buy.

Speaking of people who are ready to buy.

A High Local SEO Rank results in more lead conversions

When people perform local searches, they aren’t just browsing the internet blindly. They have a purpose or a problem.

And they’re just about ready to walk into a store to solve it.

On smartphones alone, 53 percent of local searches are for directions to a business’ location.

And with the rise of location-based searches, getting noticed with local SEO is key for lead conversions. Especially if your business relies on revenue at specific brick-and-mortar locations.

Regardless of how many locations you have or what your business does, investing in a solid local SEO campaign keeps your brand higher in the rankings and in a prime position for lead conversions.

Which is important when you consider that…

People are Increasingly Searching On The Go

More searches now occur on mobile devices than on desktops.

So it’s not surprising that 89 percent of smartphone users search for a local business at least once a week.

Consequentially, proximity-based searches are increasingly common. And a good local ranking ensures you’re benefiting from the prominence of these on-the-go Googlers.

As the trend towards more mobility among users continues, it’s likely local searches will evolve to be even more targeted than they already are.

Users will eventually be able to narrow their results to hyper-specific locations. Making local SEO strategy even more relevant as you look towards the future.

Competition is Fierce

With the low barrier to entry created by the internet, saying online competition is huge is a massive understatement.

Users have the power in their pockets to instantly skim hundreds or thousands of sites offering services similar to yours.

That’s why trying to shout louder than the next guy amongst all the noise on the internet isn’t a strategy. It’s a lack of one.

Instead, a targeted local SEO campaign allows your business to stand out amid a smaller, more relevant niche of potential customers.

So rather than competing with every jewelry vendor on the internet, your jewelry store can compete against a much smaller pool of businesses in your area.

All Searched Out

Now that you’re aware of the importance of local search engine optimization, you can decide whether you should outsource your SEO needs.

But don’t forget to re-examine your website design to ensure even more lead conversions.

If this all seems like a lot to handle, contact us. We can answer your questions and help get your SEO back on track.