Gone are the days when writing about SEO tips only meant that we would actually start our speech with much dreaded Google algorithms, implemented from time to time, just to unsettle SEO marketers in general. By the time you were still learning the ropes of Panda and Penguin, Penguin hit you.

Local SEO, today, is much more evolved, quite far from the regulatory framework to which organic SEO had always been limited. Today, local SEO is more about strategic planning aimed at increasing your prominence just when your customer needs it. So there is a difference, clearly, whereas traditional SEO was clearly about your customers finding you online, today it’s about finding it right when they need it! Think of those micromoments when they are on the street looking for food, shoe stores or handbag stores. Only when you design your SEO strategy around these micro-moments will you be able to outperform your competitors.

Focus on NAP

This is basic. You can’t go wrong here. NAP stands for your business name, address, and phone number. Make sure there is no mistake when posting the details on various online channels: your website, online directories, business listings, social media channels, etc.

In that case, not only will your audience be confused, but they will also end up being penalized when the search engines discover the discrepancies.

Google My Business Page

GMB or Google My Business Page is crucial simply because of Google’s undeclared web monopoly. Be sure to enter the following details without fail:

  • Name, address, phone number
  • Work hours
  • Photos of your business

Be sure to verify their phone number, business address, and respond to reviews.

Local citations like Yelp, BBB, FourSquare, and Angie’s Lists are just a few licensed sites that enjoy unmatched trust among users. Be sure to include your business details here for better visibility.

Local dating is one of Google’s favorite algorithms!

Voice search

Make sure to prioritize voice search as well. In 2019, we look to a future where more than 50% of online searches will be done through voice search. Siri, Echo, and Alexa are the most recent examples. You can well see that people actually feel more comfortable spelling their searches verbally on Google rather than typing the same thing. You may also be required to make “conversational” settings to your content to make your content more compatible with voice search.

However, at the end of the day, make sure your articles don’t lose the organic connection with readers in your attempt to make it too search engine friendly. The user experience can be seriously affected if you end up filling your content with long-tail keywords or if you try to be forcibly informal. Keep a good balance to play the correct chords.

I hope these tips are helpful to you! Keep that connection alive by allowing room for reviews on Yelp, FourSquare, Facebook, etc.

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