The ability to build a successful local business comes down to being able to set up a well-thought out SEO plan and that is why we are going to teach you how to build your 2024 local SEO plan!
A well-thought out local SEO plan includes building a website, creating a Google Business Profile, adding professional content, interpreting analytics, optimizing photos, focus on reviews, updating business citations, and building a social media presence.
Website
First of all, you need a website. Plain and simple. We don’t care what your business is, it needs a website. You might be relying on word of mouth in order to get your business out there but a website is essential to achieve your business’s full potential.
A website:
- Teaches your potential customers/clients about who you are and what your business is all about
- Answers Frequently Asked Questions
- Acquire contact information (store hours, locations, phone numbers, etc)
- Allows a platform to improve local SEO by adding keywords and phrases so search engines recognize you as a legitimate business
- Builds authority
So if you don’t have a website, then you need to create one.
Google Business Profile
Every business should have a Google Business Profile so that people can find your business. Within your business listing you should have photos of the interior and exterior of your building, pictures of your products, and some pictures of your staff.
Make sure that all of your contact information is correct and up-to-date so that people are able to find your business and receive accurate info. Add products and services to your Google Business Profile so that people will know exactly the type of services you offer and products you sell.
Content
Content is becoming more and more necessary to stand out among your competitors. Proper content can successfully drive traffic to the website and content can also turn traffic into leads.
Content comes in many forms when it comes to your digital marketing strategy. All content, whether it be landing pages, ads, or blog posts, should be written by a trained SEO writer. Even if you are convinced that you are a good enough writer to create the content for your website, a SEO writer can effectively please search engines through On-Page writing tactics.
Landing Pages
For each of your keywords there should be a landing page that answers the readers questions about said keyword. Any word that you are trying to rank for deserves its only landing page that is professionally written.
Blog Posts
It is an absolute necessity that you provide your readers with a blog that is jam packed with keywords, keyphrases, FAQS and important information that your readers might be interested in learning. Companies who have a blog attached to their website receive a substantial amount of leads compared to their counterparts who don’t have a designated blog.
Thank you Page
Even the thank you page is an important piece of content that can leave your customers feeling good about their choice to choose you. You certainly don’t want your customers leaving with regret or with a sour taste in their mouth after reading your thank you page.
Analytics
Understanding how to read and interpret analytics is essential. If you don’t know how to read your analytics then you won’t know if what you are doing is working or if you are being successful. Knowing analytics will help you understand which posts and landing pages are doing well. You will be able to tell how many leads you are receiving and how your website is converting.
Photos
An important aspect of your 2023 local SEO plan is to ensure that all of your photos are optimized. The photos should be the proper dimensions and should be clear. Although stock images are fine, unique images of your company do a lot better for SEO.
Photos should also include proper file names, accurate descriptions and clear alt-text.
Reviews
Reviews are very important and essential to the success of your business. People base their decisions on which company to use by viewing the reviews on multiple business listings. It is important to focus your efforts on getting business reviews.
Citations
Your company should show up on multiple websites and all platforms should have the correct business information. Make sure that your company shows up on websites such as Yelp, Google, Bing, Nextdoor, Angie’s List, Yellow Pages, etc.
Social Media
Social Media is a great way to get free advertisement and to create brand awareness. The key to creating a proper social media plan is to not try to do everything all at the same time. It is too complex to try to make it big on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Twitter all at once. You will just wear yourself out and it will be a big mess.
The best thing that you can do is pick one social media platform and get the hang of it.
Hiring a Professional Marketing Team
Building your 2023 local SEO plan might seem extremely overwhelming. It might even seem impossible for you to manage all of the aspects of running a business in addition to your entire marketing plan. We recommend you hire a professional marketing team to help with creating and implementing a proper plan.
