Appearing in local searches is something businesses need to be taking very seriously. The rise of mobile has made this concept even more prevalent. In fact, a study by Google[1] found that 88% of ‘near me’ searches were conducted on a mobile device.
It’s important to realize that ranking on a local search (in any capacity) is no overnight job. Local SEO is extremely competitive and when it comes to any sort of SEO strategy, there is one thing to keep in mind: it changes constantly.
There are many different factors that come into play when etching out a name for yourself in the local market. Here are eight fundamental steps to get you started.
Prioritize titles and meta description tags
Titles and meta description tags[2] are customizable elements that let users know what your website, or webpages, are about. Remember, most users scan the results of online searches very quickly, so these descriptions should be concise and easily absorbed.
When looking at title tags:
- The typical title length is between 50 and 60 characters
- Meta descriptions are between 160 and 200 characters
- Each word needs be used strategically to give the user exactly what they want to know.
If you use WordPress, you can easily preview and analyze the descriptions of your web pages using the Yoast SEO Plugin[3].
If you want to attract local searches, be sure to include the name of the city or geographic area that you are targeting and try to position the keyword as near to the beginning as possible.
Writing titles and meta descriptions is an art form: you need to make every single element matter.