Is Local SEO the Right Move for Your Business?
Article by Colette Nichol, Story Strategist and Organic SEO Consultant
Wondering why you should hire a local SEO consultant? Let’s discuss.
If you’re a local business, and you’re not doing SEO, you may be leaving substantial growth on the table. Most local businesses have the opportunity to increase traffic and sales by doing SEO.
In the digital age, the internet is the first stop for most customers seeking products or services.
So being visible and getting found online is more important than ever. This is especially true for local businesses, where competition can be fierce, and visibility in local search results is key. A local SEO consultant can be your guide in this complex landscape.
How Much Time Do You Have?
Unless you have a lot of extra time on your hands to learn SEO fundamentals, working with a consultant will be a wise move.
There are courses you can take to learn SEO basics. But most business owners will earn more money and get better results by just hiring an expert.
If you’re considering doing SEO, these are the basics you’ll want to cover:
- Optimize your Google Business Profile
- Create SEO-optmized service pages for every geographic area you serve
- Create “pillar” pages that cover the main products or services you offer
- Create supporting blog posts that share information your ideal clients and customers need
- Ensure your home page is optimized to receive traffic
- Have a CTA (call to action) that makes sense for your business goals
- Ensure your footer and navigation bar are SEO optimized
- Make sure your home page is optimized for humans and the algorithms
- Get great photography for your business (this really helps!)
- If you have the budget, get one or more premium videos created to communicate the value of your products or services (again, this really helps!)
If you’re located in Vancouver, Canada please find out more about our local Vancouver SEO services here.
6 Signs You Should Hire a Local SEO Expert
1. Your Business Isn’t Appearing in Local Searches
If your business isn’t showing up in local search results, it’s a clear sign you need a local SEO expert. Google your products or services and see who comes up. Are you offering something better than your competitors? If yes, you should be doing SEO.
2. Low Online Traffic
If your website isn’t getting much traffic, a local SEO consultant can help you get more traffic.
3. Your Competitors Rank Higher
If competitors are consistently outranking you, a local SEO expert can analyze why and develop strategies to improve your ranking. In fact, they can often help you outrank your competitors. They might be ranking accidentally and not even because they have strong SEO!
4. Outdated Website
A website that isn’t optimized for mobile or lacks local SEO elements needs an expert’s touch. If your website looks old and needs a refresh, hire a website team that can also do SEO for you.
5. Lack of Localized Content
If your website lacks content that resonates with your local audience, it’s time to seek a local SEO expert.
6. You’re Busy Running a Successful Business
The complexity and continual evolution of SEO tactics make it challenging to stay on top without professional help. If you’re already successful, you probably don’t have time to be messing around with SEO.
Common Questions
Why hire an SEO consultant?
An SEO consultant brings specialized knowledge and experience in improving your website’s visibility in search engines.
An SEO consultant or agency can ensure you attract the right people which you can convert into customers.
SEO is not a hobby. It’s complex and time consuming, so it typically pays to hire someone who knows what they’re doing because it will save you a lot of time.
Why are local SEO services important?
Local SEO services are essential for businesses targeting customers in specific geographic areas.
They help improve visibility in local search results, which is crucial for attracting nearby customers. They can also help your Google Business Profile to get found and for you to show up on the Google Map Pack.
What does a local SEO specialist do?
A local SEO specialist optimizes your website and Google Business Profile to rank higher in local search results.
Basically, they help you get found online by the people in your area.
I love doing SEO for growing local businesses because often they’ve grown through word of mouth and have done very little advertising and zero SEO. This means that there can be a lot of growth potential that’s entirely untapped.
Take a look at whether your competitors come up in search results.
To do this use an incognito window and then search for some things that you think customers would use to search for your products or services.
Next, who comes up?
Is their website good?
Great, now what do you think the value to your business would be if you got found instead of them!?
How do local SEO services help your business grow?
Local SEO services help by increasing your visibility to local customers, improving traffic to your website, and enhancing your business’s credibility and trust. This leads to more foot traffic, higher sales, and increased brand recognition.
What is most important for local SEO?
The most important aspects of local SEO include having well-optimized pages for every single service or product that you offer. In addition, Google Business Profile optimization is critical.
Local keyword optimization on your home page may be important as well. Finally, you should have a process for getting good reviews.
Final Thoughts
Hiring a local SEO consultant is a strategic move for any business looking to dominate the local market. An SEO consultant provides the expertise needed to navigate the complex world of SEO, ensuring your business stands out in local search results. With their help, you can attract more local customers, outperform your competitors, and see substantial growth in your business.
More Related Articles
⭐Increase Targeted Organic Traffic to Your Website with SEO
⭐Why Should You Use an SEO Consultant?
⭐How To Hire an SEO Consultant
About the Author
Hi! I’m Colette Nichol. I’m a solo filmmaker, SEO, story strategist, and digital marketer based out of rainy Vancouver, Canada. I’ve been helping small local businesses and global brands since 2014.
In 2017, I started applying SEO to my work with clients and in my own business. The results were extraordinary, and I got obsessed!
If you’re interested in working together, please reach out. I’d love to hear about your business goals to see if we can help.
We currently take on a maximum of one new client per month and are typically booked 3-months in advance, so please reach out early.
