Local SEO: A Priority For Every Small Business

According to a recent study, 82 percent of local consumers use search engines, not phone books, to find local businesses. The death of the yellow pages means that ranking high in a local search – and therefore local SEO – are priorities for any business trying to drive local traffic.

Studies show that web users are extremely satisfied with their local search results, even though they often cannot locate a specific known business. The literal bottom line is that customers who can’t find your business are going elsewhere – local search identified a similar business that satisfied their needs. Put in a more positive light, a business that connects with local search users can generate leads in a big way.

Local SEO starts with the fundamentals of good SEO, but also employs local keywords. Setting up local search gives your business a big boost on searches performed near its location, and also when the location name is part of the search phrase (such as “airlines in Tampa”). Local businesses should also enter their data on the free, public listings provided by dozens of search engines, such as Google Places or Bing’s Local Listings. The initial setup might be a chore, but it can really pay off … down the road.