9 Tricks Businesses Can Use for Higher Local SEO Ranking

A local business does not have the same financial resources as a large company, so it depends on free or low-cost options to boost its ability to attract leads. Local search engine optimization (SEO) is one of the best ways to rank higher on search results and get more people’s attention.

A Philadelphia SEO company offers you tricks related to the following:

1. Keywords
2. Mobile optimization
3. Backlinks
4. Targeted PPC
5. Social media marketing
6. NAP citations
7. Competition
8. Brand reputation
9. On-Page SEO

There’s a lot to discuss, so get ready to take notes.

Let’s go!

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

1. Experiment with New Keywords

Local SEO works by using targeted keywords pointing to a specific location, for instance, “Bistro in Philadelphia,” “Rock climbing gym Philadelphia,” or “Philadelphia bike shop.” Search terms “...near me” and “...in my neighborhood” also return local results based on user location and proximity to a business.

You can also switch your strategy to target more specific locales (neighborhoods) to further refine your targeting; for instance, “Marconi Plaza coffee shop” and “Overbrook landscaping.” It pays to use diverse keywords in your local SEO strategy because they generate leads.

2. Optimize Your Website for Mobile

Thanks to smartphones, people no longer have to sit down at a computer and do round after round of searches to find a place they want to visit. Mobile search has made the discovery process of finding new shops and stores so convenient that people do it while on the go.

That means how your website performs on mobile devices matters for everyone — users, search engines, and, most importantly, your business. Switch to a responsive website design if you have not already, and embed a map pin of your store’s location to make it extra convenient.

3. Get High-Quality Local Backlinks

Earning and nurturing people’s trust is a major aspect of a good local SEO strategy because, for many people, choosing to patronize local businesses means taking a risk in some way. Small businesses, after all, may lack a pre-established reputation to fall back on and convince potential leads to become customers.

One thing you can do to build more trust in your brand is to get people’s votes of confidence. High-quality, authoritative backlinks, such as product or service reviews on popular local blogs or articles on the local news website, boost online visibility and interest in your brand.

4. Run a Targeted PPC Campaign

Targeting is one of the highlights of local SEO because it allows you to show your ads directly to people to whom your brand matters most. Ad platforms such as Google and Meta allow you to mix location and keyword targeting to customize the triggers for your pay-per-click (PPC) ads.

Some allow you to add other factors, such as interests, groups, and job positions, for precision. PPC does come at a cost, but you can automate the ad bidding process to manage how much you spend. Tracking results by action is also a plus because it tells you what works.

5. Leverage Social Media Marketing

Many people discover local and small businesses through social media apps, especially younger people who have pushed to support local industries over large corporations. The apps and platforms allow you to speak directly to your target market and make that connection.

Each platform has its uses and caters to different groups of people, so start by researching your target market’s online behaviors to leverage social media in your local SEO strategy. For example, Facebook has the largest user base, which makes it an all-rounder in terms of PPC.

6. Create Consistent NAP Citations

A NAP citation is any mention of your business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) on other websites or platforms. For instance, a reliable Philadelphia SEO company would recommend at least making a Google My Business profile to start building your list of NAP citations.

Business accounts and pages on social media, directories, and listings are also citations that experts say are a critical ranking factor in local searches. Google also hints at this, saying that it bases local research results ranking on “relevance, distance, and prominence” factors.

7. Watch Your Biggest Competitors

Observing the successes and failures of others teaches you a great deal; the same is true in business. This knowledge gives you a better idea of what you can do to achieve success. For example, if you already know that your competitors use Facebook, it might not be easy to stand out.

That does not mean you should skip or avoid Facebook or other platforms where your competitors thrive. However, explore apps other businesses overlook as an added option to give yourself a better chance of success. Competitive analysis includes other strategies, such as social listening, to help you find a niche.

8. Manage Your Brand’s Reputation

As any reputable Philadelphia SEO company would know, reputation can make or break local businesses, so managing it is important. Customer reviews on your website, social media, and business profiles are not the only sources and influences on your brand’s reputation.

Comments and posts from happy and angry users also affect your business because they can bring in new customers or turn away existing ones. Brand management is more than just responding to people. You must find the right tone and approach to keep them happy.

9. Apply the Best On-Page SEO Tactics

Local SEO does not operate alone; it takes elements from other types of SEO and uses them to make you rank better in search results. For example, on-page SEO tactics, such as adding your target keywords to your title, headers, and meta tags, also apply to local strategies.

Finding the best local SEO keywords is vital to this tactic, so having an effective keyword research strategy is just as important to ranking higher on local searches. Use free online tools, such as Google Keyword Planner and Google Trends, or paid ones, such as SemRush and Ahref, to identify keywords you can use in content.

Summing Up

Any business can benefit from a higher local SEO ranking, so having a solid local SEO strategy is important. For instance, keywords are more than just for ranking content. Local SEO keywords help you appear higher in search results due to your proximity to local searchers.

Need help reaching a higher local SEO ranking? Contact Digital Authority Partners to learn how we can help.