Local SEO Strategy – Build The Foundation

When we first get started with a “local business” client, we start with “the basics” to lay the foundation to build a successful local SEO strategy.  The local SEO foundation includes Google My Business (Search, Maps, Google+), Locally SEO Optimized Website and Landing Page, Citations, Link Analysis, Reviews Analysis, and Social Optimization.

Google My Business

Google My Business connects you directly with customers, whether they’re looking for you on Search, Maps or Google+.  This will be the first place Skagit Marketing starts with analyzing your local SEO.

Find and Remove Duplicate Listings
Check email address – should be an email address with YOUR domain
Make sure Google Page is verified
Optimize Business Name with acceptable descriptor
Consistent Business Address
Phone Number Check – Should be a local phone number (not a 1.800)
Business Category
Check URL’s
Business Introduction Optimized
100% Profile Completeness
Photos Optimized
Business Hours
Posts on Google + Page

Website and Landing Page

In July of 2014, Google introduced a new algorithm which provides more useful, relevant and accurate local search results that are tied more closely to traditional web search ranking signals.  This means it is extremely important to optimize your website to beat out your competitors on the local searches.

Crawlable HTML NAP (Name, Address, and Phone Number) on Landing Page/Home Page
Business Hours on Site (math to google my business)
Landing Page Content
Landing Page is Indexed
Title Tag for Landing Page (not only keywords but your location as well)
Meta Descriptions
Heading Tags (the landing page of your site should have 1 H1 tag with city and state.
Google Map & Directions on Landing Page (bonus for end user)
Load Time
KML File (check google webmasters tools)
Mobile/Responsive Design

Citations

A citation is wherever your business is referenced on the web which include information such as a phone number, address, and/or website.  We make sure your name, address and phone number is exactly how it should be on your Google My Business page before we begin working with fixing citations. Fixing citations includes duplicates, mismatches and in-completes.

Link Analysis

High quality links are important to your SEO strategy.  We use Google Webmaster Tools and Google Analytics for link analysis.

Reviews

We analyze the online reviews for your business.  Online reviews are important for your rankings in local searches, can influence how many people actually click-thru to your business and can influence the client/consumer.

Social Media

Social optimization is another SEO factor.  We first start with the basics (varies by industry) – Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Yelp, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram.