SEO Ranking Tips for Las Vegas Businesses

Small businesses in Las Vegas depend on both locals and tourists to be successful. It's not unusual for tourists to look up local businesses online when they need something they can't find at their hotel. Of course, locals also use the internet to find goods and services around the Las Vegas area.

If your business doesn't show up on the first page for a local search, you're losing a lot of business. Whether it's a tourist looking for a chiropractor or a local looking for an auto repair, they need to find your business online. The way to do that is to hire a Las Vegas Local SEO Agency.

Want to learn more about the Digital Authority Partners approach to SEO? Watch this video!

What is Las Vegas Local SEO? 

Most of the potential customers for small businesses in Las Vegas are local, and Google and other search engines use algorithms to rank local business listings. 

Search engine optimization (SEO) focused on the Las Vegas area uses different methods to optimize your local listings. When your website shows on the first page for local search results, it naturally generates much more traffic. And more web traffic translates into more business. A Local Las Vegas SEO Agency understands the local audience and can optimize your site to rank higher with the search engines.

Types of Local Search Results 

Depending on the keywords, Google local search results come up in different ways. These are either organic search results or displayed as local pack listings. Local pack listings are grouped on and near the map of the local area.

Organic local search results are what a Las Vegas digital agency can help you with. This involves technical SEO techniques, keywords, content, and backlinks. The Google organic search results are below the local pack listings.

When someone clicks on a pack listing, they're taken to Google Maps for a better view and more details on the business. These listings use geolocation based on the user's cellphone. So if someone is physically near your business, your business likely will show up on the map. Another thing about pack listings is that they also sometimes contain user reviews.

Organic listings fill the rest of the search result page. This is where your business website can really shine with an enticing title and meta description. But Google and all of the other search engines constantly change their algorithms. To get onto the first page of organic results, you may need help from a Las Vegas local SEO agency. 

Las Vegas SEO Tips to Improve Your Local Search Ranking

There are several things you can do to improve your ranking on local Las Vegas web searches. Some are easy, and some may require the help of an SEO expert. In either case, your time as a business owner is already consumed with running your business. If any of this seems confusing or time-consuming, it’s the right time to outsource your SEO to a Las Vegas SEO Agency.

Set Up an Optimized Google My Business Listing

Google My Business is a free service provided by the search engine giant. The information you put here helps your business appear in pack searches. With only three spots available for the coveted pack listings, optimizing your business page is essential. 

However, be prepared for the verification process. Google needs to verify that yours is a legitimate Las Vegas business. They'll also need to verify that you are the business owner. Once Google verifies your business, your pack listing may also include customer reviews and photos. 

To optimize your Google My Business listing, you'll need a description of your business, your categories, business hours, and payment types. Also be prepared to upload at least three good photos of your business, as well as your products and services.

The Bing search engine also provides a similar service, Bing Places for Business. You'll also need to undergo a verification of yourself and your business. Be sure to sign your business up at Bing too.

Optimize your Business Listings on the Internet

Local listings on websites such as Yelp, TripAdvisor, CitySearch, and MerchantCircle often wind up at the top of Google. An important step for optimizing your local SEO is to ensure that your business listings are accurate and consistent.

For example, if you search “coffee shops Las Vegas,” the first thing that comes up is vegas.eater.com (Eater is a popular restaurant review site). So if you own a coffee shop in Vegas, you'll want to make sure Eater has something nice to say. Likewise, Yelp shows up at the top, so you'll want to claim your coffee shop on Yelp, write a good description, and upload some pictures.

Also, make sure your business is listed with respectable, local Las Vegas business directories. Check with the Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce and the local newspapers to see about their business directories. 

Make sure that your business name, address, phone number, and website URL are correct across every listing. Not only can inaccurate information hurt your SEO, it can also lose prospective customers.

Online Reviews are Vital

As we pointed out, review sites like Yelp often top the search results. Moreover, a survey revealed that 84% trust online reviews. That means bad customer reviews can be catastrophic.

The more authentic, positive reviews your business gets, the better it will do with the search engines. If you do get a bad review, respectfully respond with your viewpoint.

The most important places to focus on are your Google my Business page and Facebook for online reviews. If you don't have a Facebook page for your business, set one up right away. Facebook business pages also sometimes top the search results. Having good feedback on your Facebook page can reassure local customers. It’s also important to maintain good reviews on your Google My Business page.

Remember, the best way to get good reviews is to provide great products and customer service. 

Your Titles and Meta Descriptions are Crucial 

To reach local customers and display in local search results, you'll need to include Las Vegas or Vegas in your title or meta description. Also, place your keywords close to the beginning of your meta description. However, it needs to be readable, logical, and enticing. You want people to be curious and click on your link.

Also, you need to keep your meta descriptions short and sweet; between 120 – 158 characters is ideal. That's just around 10 or 12 words to describe your business and get people to click. This type of creative writing is something that a Las Vegas SEO agency excels at.

Local Business Schema Markup

This is something you might need an expert Las Vegas digital agency to do. A local business schema markup helps Google Maps find the location of your business. It also provides other, detailed information. This is extremely important for having your website to show as a rich snippet in the search results. 

If you are confused or don't have the time to pursue optimizing your local SEO, contact us today. We can help your business website rank higher, driving more traffic to your Las Vegas business.