10 Actionable Steps to Improve Your Local SEO Right Now!

Are you struggling to make your business stand out in local search results? You’re not alone. With the ever-changing landscape of local SEO, it’s crucial to stay ahead of the game.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore 10 powerful strategies that will help you boost your local SEO performance and attract more customers to your business.

Why Local SEO Matters

Before we dive into the strategies, let’s understand why local SEO is so important. In today’s digital age, consumers rely heavily on online searches to find local businesses.

If your business isn’t visible in these searches, you’re missing out on potential customers. Local search engine optimisation helps you target the right audience in your area, increase your online visibility, and ultimately drive more foot traffic to your business.

Now, let’s explore the 10 expert strategies that will help you dominate local search results!

1. Optimise Your Business Name for Maximum Impact

Your business name is more than just an identifier—it’s a powerful ranking factor in Google Business Profile (GBP).

Consider updating and improving your business name to take advantage of this. However, tread carefully; if you work with clients, it’s crucial to discuss any changes with them first.

When optimising your business or client’s business name, consider incorporating relevant keywords that describe your services or location.

For example, if you run a bakery in Subiaco, you might consider “Smith’s Artisan Bakery – Subiaco” instead of just “Smith’s Bakery”. This small change can significantly boost your visibility in local searches.

This is a strategy we often recommend to clients, but this has to be done the right way, with a matching business name or a business trading as. This helps in case of a verification done by Google!

2. Curate a Stellar Visual Presence

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and in the world of local SEO, this couldn’t be truer. Your business is often judged by its worst photo, so it’s time for a visual clean-up:

1. Audit your website and GBP for outdated or unattractive photos.
2. Delete any images that don’t represent your business in the best light.
3. Replace them with high-quality, professional images that showcase your products, services, or premises.

Remember, visual content isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about building trust and credibility with potential customers. A well-curated visual presence can be the difference between a click and a scroll past.

3. Craft a Compelling Local Landing Page

Your landing page is often the first impression potential customers have of your business. The most critical part? The ‘above the fold’ area—what visitors see before scrolling. To ensure your landing page is doing its job, ask yourself these three crucial questions:

1. Is it immediately clear what my business does?
2. Does it effectively communicate why customers should choose us?
3. Is our contact information easily visible and accessible?

If you’re unsure, don’t hesitate to seek outside opinions. Ask friends or family to visit your site and see if they can quickly answer these questions. Their feedback can be invaluable in refining your landing page for maximum impact.

4. Optimise Business Hours for Maximum Visibility

In the world of local SEO, consistency is key—especially when it comes to your business hours. Ensure that your hours are accurately listed and consistent across all platforms, including your website, GBP, and any other online directories.

But don’t stop there. If possible, consider extending your business hours. Why? Longer hours can improve your chances of appearing in search results throughout the day. This is particularly important for businesses in competitive industries or densely populated areas.

Remember, even if you’re not physically open, having extended customer service hours or online availability can make a significant difference in your local SEO performance.

You could have one of our smart chatbot handle the communication with a potential lead, even outside of office hours!

5. Leverage Competitor Reviews for Business Improvement

Your competitors’ reviews are a goldmine of information—if you know how to use them. Take the time to thoroughly analyse reviews of businesses similar to yours. Look for patterns in both positive and negative feedback:

• What do customers consistently praise about your competitors?
• What are the common complaints or areas of dissatisfaction?

Use this valuable insight to improve your own business operations. Perhaps you’ll discover a service gap you can fill, or a common pain point you can address better than your competitors.

For a deeper dive, consider using tools like LocalFalcon’s AI Reviews Analysis. These advanced tools can help you uncover nuanced insights that might not be immediately apparent from a manual review.

6. Build a Network of Local Backlinks

Backlinks remain a crucial factor in SEO, and local backlinks are particularly valuable for boosting your local search rankings.

One effective strategy is to reach out to nearby businesses and offer to write a guest post for their website in exchange for a link back to one of your articles.

This approach not only helps build your backlink profile but also fosters relationships within your local business community. When reaching out, focus on businesses that complement rather than compete with your services.

For example, if you run a gym, you might partner with local health food stores or sports equipment retailers.

Remember, quality trumps quantity when it comes to backlinks. A few high-quality, relevant local backlinks can be more valuable than dozens of low-quality ones.

7. Enhance Your Google Business Profile with Comprehensive Services

Your Google Business Profile is a powerful tool for local SEO—make the most of it by adding a comprehensive list of your services. For every service page you create on your website, ensure that you also add that service to your GBP.

This strategy serves two purposes:

1. It helps potential customers quickly understand the full range of services you offer.
2. It provides additional keywords and context for Google to understand your business, potentially improving your visibility in relevant local searches.

Be as specific and detailed as possible when listing your services. Instead of just “Hair Styling”, consider entries like “Men’s Haircuts”, “Women’s Colour Treatments”, “Bridal Hair Styling”, etc.

This is something our team can handle for you, as part of our Google Business Profile SEO service!

8. Combat Fake Competitors to Level the Playing Field

In the world of local SEO, not all competition is fair. Fake business listings can unfairly skew search results and divert potential customers away from legitimate businesses like yours. It’s time to fight back:

1. Regularly search for businesses in your category and location.
2. If you spot suspicious listings (e.g., businesses with no physical location or website), report them.
3. Use the “Suggest an Edit” feature on Google Maps or the Google Redressal Form to report fake businesses.

By actively combating spam, you’re not just protecting your own business—you’re contributing to a healthier, more honest local business ecosystem.

9. Expand Your Online Presence Through Relevant Directories

While your website and GBP are crucial, they’re not the only places your business should be listed online. Expand your digital footprint by creating profiles on relevant business directories and listing sites.

Here’s how to approach this strategically:

1. Search for your industry keywords on Google.
2. Identify directories and listing sites that appear on the first three pages of results.
3. Create and optimise profiles on these sites.

These directories already attract traffic for your industry keywords, making them valuable platforms for increasing your online visibility. Plus, as search algorithms evolve, some of these sites may rank even higher in the future, potentially boosting your visibility further.

10. Refine Your Unique Value Proposition

In a sea of local businesses, what makes yours stand out? Your unique value proposition (UVP) is crucial for converting visitors into customers. If your offer is generic, unclear, or fails to resonate with your target audience, your conversion rates will suffer.

Take a critical look at your current UVP:

• Does it clearly communicate the unique benefits of your products or services?
• Does it address the specific needs or pain points of your local customers?
• Is it compelling enough to choose you over your competitors?

Remember, in many local markets, the competition may not be as fierce as you think. Even small improvements to your UVP can make a significant difference in your conversion rates and overall business success.

Your Path to Local SEO Dominance

Implementing these 10 expert strategies can significantly boost your local SEO performance and help your business stand out in an increasingly competitive digital landscape. Remember, local SEO is not a one-time effort but an ongoing process of refinement and optimization.

Start by focusing on the areas where you can make the most immediate impact:

1. Optimize your business name and visual presence
2. Craft a compelling landing page
3. Leverage competitor insights
4. Build local backlinks

As you implement these strategies, keep a close eye on your analytics and local search rankings. This will help you understand which tactics are working best for your specific business and local market.

Don’t be afraid to experiment and adapt your approach as you go. The world of local SEO is constantly evolving, and staying ahead often means being willing to try new things and pivot when necessary.

Remember, the goal isn’t just to rank higher in local search results—it’s to connect with more local customers and grow your business. By focusing on providing value to your customers and effectively communicating that value through your online presence, you’ll be well on your way to dominating local search and achieving lasting business success.

Take action today, and watch your local online presence soar!