Local SEO is easily explained as search engine optimizing your website and your google business profile listing to show up on the search engine results page and google maps locally for your local business. This can be any type of local business.

Plain and simple, Local SEO for your business will cause you to get more business than other companies that are not utilizing this resource. And when we talk about local, we are not talking local to our own area, we are talking in a general sense of local SEO, wherever your customers are. We are located on the Weatherford side of Fort Worth, but we provide local SEO services all over the united states.

This is your guide to local SEO, you can do this on your own using this local SEO guide, or you can have The Nerd For That take care of your local SEO work for you. Either way, we are here to help you stay up to date in this fast-changing industry. We are your local resource to help you reach your local audience. So grab some coffee and learn SEO!

Types of local businesses that need local SEO:

Almost all types of local businesses need local SEO. People chose the company to go with based on local search. When they perform that local search and you are not there, then your local business website lost to the competition that did perform local search optimization.

Plumbers, Roofers, Accountant, Car Dealer, Chiropractor, Dental office, Doctor, Electrician, Lawyer, Locksmith, Nanny service/Housekeeper/Maid, urgent care clinics, Bars and restaurants, Pet services, Real estate, lawn care companies, construction companies, pest control companies, gift shops, florists, and the list goes on and on. Whether you are a brick and mortar business or run a local pest control company out of your house.

Basically, if your customers are local, then your customers are performing a local search to find you, or your competition, and therefore you need local SEO. Most local businesses do not understand this yet, but if you search on google and see your local search visibility, you might be surprised. That is the same search your potential customers are doing. You might even find other small businesses, smaller than yours even, have higher local rankings. That is because their local sites owner followed the proper local SEO tips to win over the potential customers, your potential customers at that.

Why does your business need Local SEO?

It is a great way to help get your foot in the door with a potential customer that may live or work near you. If people do not know that you exist then how are you going to compete?

It is also an important factor in the search engine results because it helps with local relevancy to your customers and prospects looking for a type of product or service in their area when they are using certain keywords when searching.

Test your local search results on the Google Map Results

Go right now and open an incognito or private window on your browser, and search for your business type. Now you see two or three results on the map, then you see “more businesses” Even though most people won’t click it looking for a business like yours, go ahead and do it. Now scroll through until you find your company. If you had to scroll, then most likely you are losing a lot of customers. But those top ones, are the ones getting them. You can try this on your phone as a mobile search, and on your computer.

Test your local SEO on google search

Now click back to the search results page. You will want to scroll down until you find your business website. If you went past 10 results, you lost. This is local SEO and why it is so critical. I am not talking about paying Google, Facebook, or any other platform money to get listed. I am talking about all organic, free, you never pay anyone. This is the result of a good SEO strategy.

I’m here to teach you about local SEO: I’ll show you how to get your business found in local search results. From review to references, link building to content creation, and beyond. How can local SEO help your business be successful?

Local SEO: More important than ever

There is no definite time frame for Google’s future new Search Engine Results Page (SERP). Google is constantly changing up its algorithm, It’s therefore vital to keep checking and improving your local SEO. By implementing my tips, you will ensure that your business does not fall off the SERP or maps, but climbs to the top!

Who is local SEO for?

Any local businesses will benefit from being local and following the guidelines outlined here. Local brick-and-mortar stores like restaurants, bars, laundry facilities, doctors, surgeons, law offices, and grocery businesses should also use this local SEO. Service-area businesses are eligible to practice local SEO will benefit even more!

If you are operating your service business out of your house, the likelihood that even your neighbors know what you do is slim. Much less someone that lives across town. I get it, low overhead, but if you want to really compete and get customers then you better get onto fixing up your local SEO presence fast. I promise, your competition is working on it!

The benefits of local SEO

When I was a kid in Fort Worth, my parents owned a locksmith company. It was AAA A1 lock and key and Anytime Lock and Key. Do you want to know why? Because at that time, that made them the number 1 and 2 result in the yellow pages. And they paid for a full-page, that cost them well over a thousand dollars a month. EVERY MONTH! This was in the 1980s, but they knew they had to if they wanted to stay busy.

Now starting your business name with AAA or A1 will not help, just like the yellow pages are not going to help. In this day and age, you need to learn marketing or pay someone that knows it. I will do my best to teach you on this site and my other platforms like youtube and such, but to be honest with you, If I was in your shoes, I’d pay someone like myself.

The reason being is to get all of the tools that I use would cost over a thousand a month, then I have spent a tremendous amount of time learning algorithms and the tools. I always encourage learning, but when I get started growing your business, you will no longer have the time to keep up with your SEO.

Before we get started…

1) Make sure to optimize your website for mobile visits.

2) Make sure you have google search console set up

3) make sure you have google analytics set up

4) Make sure you have a google my business listing

We will go over each of these later, but make sure it is done!

How do I best optimize my website for local SEO?

Local SEO in Google is an exciting topic, and it makes sense – we find businesses on a search that are physically close! Local SEO is an excellent investment, actually it is the best investment anyone can do for their local business!

Google Business Profile, formally Google My Business

Also known as GBP. Your Google Business Profile can consist of any additional information about your local business. It feeds information into Google Map results and local listings for searching. A large part of your local SEO is making GBP as accurate as possible. You also want to be posting content on it as often as possible, at least once a week.

Create a Google Business Profile account

Google Business profile, formally Google My Business Profile will help us find a higher spot on Google Maps and improve search visibility. In order to see and view your profile, you must create a Google Business Profile account. To optimize your Google Business Profile, make sure that you use the correct information, including your physical location, and the correct way to optimize your listing which appears in the Google search. This is a critical step in local business marketing.

Google Business Profile, Bing Places and Apple Maps Listing

Google Business Listing is perhaps the most important part in promoting local SEO. Getting them set up is easy, well I say that loosely – just follow the guidelines provided by Google. Then do the same for the others!

Take advantage of online business directories

Online business directories include websites such as Yelp Foursquare MapQuest and Yellow pages, and other search engines. The addition of your name and address into this directory is good but will also enhance your SEO. Your company information should include the following essential things like: Company & Phone Number, along with your website URL and any other supporting information about your business.

Claim Your business Online Profiles – Especially Google Business Profile

For local searches, Google map’s 3 pack is often followed by Yelp and Facebook. Yelp and Facebook are other popular local review sites for business. The Google map pack are the 2-3 top results at the maps area of a local search. If you are on there, then you get business much easier, if you are on position 4 or further then you need to figure out why, and do it fast. Most of the time it is lack of original content. You need to post more into it, and make sure to include accurate information. Be sure to include all of your products and services.

Optimize for Google local search results.

Google Business Profile > Your Website

When you get your google map listing on the top two to three results you will see why it was so important. The regular search results do amazing things as well, and if you get both, well the story of your major business growth begins! Just know, any and all time that you spend optimizing this, or spending the money to have a local SEO Expert like The Nerd For That, is a long term investment, with an incredible return.

Actively manage reviews and ratings

Encourage your happiest customers to give positive feedback! You want them to be real reviews, and you want them to be thorough and include the main keywords of your type of business and town that you are in.

Express appreciation by responding timely to positive reviews. When you do, you be just as thorough any chance you get.

Resolve issues that cause negative reviews. You are better off giving refunds to make someone happy then getting a negative review. And if you do get a negative review, follow up and see if you can fix it with the customer so they might be willing to remove it.

Things you must avoid when asking for online reviews

In exchange for review, Google will not let businesses offer rewards in exchange. Yelp has forbidden any business from seeking reviews. Have local customers write reviews using their own devices and as their own accounts.

Don’t request too many reviews at once as this can appear suspicious. Once again gaining feedback should be a steady, consistent process for your business. You want a positive approach in order to influence new prospects.

Treat your customers good and make them aware that reviews can help you tremendously.

Customer reviews give a local SEO boost

Most people read reviews before making a decision on what company to go with. Research shows 98% of people say customer reviews matters to buying decisions.

Reviews also are often prominent in local searches. Acquiring review is a constant process in your organization. Many companies have negative reviews. But when you respond to a negative review, you must make it professional and personal.

Interact with your customers online

You must make your social media communications consistent throughout your whole business. If you want to make the time to post, you have to plan ahead.

Study analytics to find the best time for each platform. Also track performance on your posts. This includes many engagement metrics. Remember that a platforms change.

Expand your core terms with keyword modifiers

So lets say you are a pest control company in Weatherford. So you think you need to focus on the search term Weatherford Pest Control. Well you would be correct, but so are all the other Weatherford Pest Control Companies.

What you need to do is target that, but also create several other pages that target other keyword modifies, such as Weatherford flea control and so on. Then on those pages, you will want to link to your Weatherford Pest Control page. These are easier to get, low hanging fruit if you will, and will eventually get you on the first page result for what you want!

Local SEO Keyword Research

Keyword research within Local Search engine Optimization is basically one and done research. Unlike a blog, you don’t always have to find new keywords. In most applications, it justifies a few shortlist keywords to find your own local biz. The purpose is to show you how to find your way to a local search engine.

Hone in on local keywords

Google Keyword Planner can filter keyword searches by site location, thereby giving you an overall idea about the popular search terms found for that specific area. Please use local landmark and hotspot references in content. For example, in which your local restaurant is in the Weatherford square mention of “dining on the Weatherford Square” or something like “just steps from the Parker County courthouse”

Create local content.

Google needs to see how serious you are about focusing on customers in your town. You must create a local page. I created one on this site for an example, and to SEO. Just click on the Weatherford page above and take a look.

You should learn as much as you can about your town, and talk about it as much as you can on all of your pages, without content stuffing. It should seem natural, but enough of it to show the search engines that you are serious about your town.

What is a local search?

A local search happens when a user has a Google search with local intent on it. According to Google, 46% of search queries had ‘local intent’ Currently Local businesses can rank only for more high-intent searches Google can offer. Like ‘plumbers near me. The results surfaced based on these local queries are based on certain factors that affect local ranking, and we’ll cover all of them in this guide. Local SEO is extremely necessary as it can be a worthwhile investment for a website along with standard SEO. In short, Google is smarter than it was a decade ago.

Create content based on local news stories or events

If an event is happening in Weatherford, talk about it on your website and post about it on your GMB! If something big happened, in Parker County, it is well worth your effort to mention it and mention how it effects your business. Again all of this shows the search engines that you care about your local community.

Local Voice Searches

20% of searches on Google Mobile are now voice searches. The main difference between keywords and vocal search is that voice search tends to be longer and have natural speech. There are no tools to help you locate voice search keywords, but there is something you need to keep in mind when you’re going through this process. Consider a term from slang such as : plumber in Weatherford that is open right now. If the search was done over someone’s voice, it could be several different search phrases. Think about what all it could potentially be.

Benefits of Local SEO Solutions

Local SEO Strategy – Marketing your service/product for local leads. If you’re a Weatherford-based company, I know you can’t stand it when a company out of Fort Worth ranks over you. The thing is Local SEO solutions allow you to take advantage of opportunities from these types of local searches.

Those DFW companies have put in a lot of SEO effort, well a DFW SEO company actually put in a lot of effort to get them there. If you want to win, you need an SEO expert in your corner.

Google’s local map pack VS. organic results

The google map pack is a box on the first page of results when a local intent search operation is executed through Google’s search engine. It pays off handsomely to get there.

Don’t forget that search within Google is done across multiple devices and apps. So be sure you search in a private browser that has no affiliation to you as the local business owner. And check it on other devices as well. When you use me for your Weatherford SEO company I will be doing this stuff for you and keeping you in the loop.

Use location pages or a location-specific “About Us” page

Location pages are mandatory for businesses that have more than one location in an area. Keep an eye out for multiple locations, and you’re creating unique content for each page. What i recommend. A florist shop can write about their services from their “About Us” page. When using one location an ‘About us’ page dedicated to local details is important. If you want at least two locations make a special page for both.

Optimize your website for mobile

The biggest majority of local business searches are done on mobile. That should come as no surprise, in fact, odds are you are actually reading this on your phone. You must be sure that your website looks amazing on your phone!

Create a unique web page for each product/service you offer

You might find it tempting to combine all your services in a single web page. Instead, you must choose a single page describing a particular product you offer. If you’re in business without different products having multiple locations, you must write for all of it. And write a lot of optimized content. This is another reason I say most business owners do not have the time to do proper SEO.

Improve your internal linking structure.

Internal link structure also improves your SERPs. This is linking in your content from one page to another, along with your menu system. As you learn from your google search console and analytics you will find the best keywords to use in the internal links.

Local organic ranking

Google’s local results for organic searches are roughly the Same. To optimized your website for local organic rankings will include your keyword in your text title tag and URL and all your usual online SEO stuff.

Identify your keywords and track your position on the SERPs

With a Position Tracking Tool you can locate and evaluate multiple geographic locations and devices within the same single project. These tools can search a target radius of your company with several specific keywords in a searchable area. With some of these tools you get to track local SEO results and even understand how your competitor is doing in the search engine search results.

Know Who you’re targeting

You need to learn your typical customer base, such as median income, age, and consumer spend.

Build a social media presence

There are many online platforms to expand your internet presence. The first step is selecting multiple platforms and coordinating a multichannel strategy that create uniform messaging everywhere. YouTube, Pinterest Snapchat TikTok LinkedIn and others. Select which one best suits your brand identity, and how each social media platform can help your local SEO efforts.

Claim other social profiles to improve local SEO

You also need to establish relevant social media profiles. Follow our social media practice guidelines. You get more visibility when you set up this profile. You supply search engines with more information about your business that will help increase your search ranking. Keep in mind consistency is a key element to establishing a successful profile across various social media platforms and providing identical information.

“Normal” SEO still applies

Google still applies the classic ranking factor 100% local. The higher you rank in organic SERP, the more you’re ranking on map packs! In the quest for generating SEO content, optimizing pages and building links remain crucial. A great example is If you are a member of the Weatherford Chamber of Commerce, ask them to link to your website. Any site that has authority in your town can help!

Optimize your MetaData.

Pages have a title tag in which the city in which you wanted to be targeted should be included. It will help search engines to find you. Optimize your pages name for Weatherford. If you optimize for local SEO, your website title should be also include in your product or services title. It’s huge an effect in making a possible visitor to your website.

Optimize URL title tags headers meta description and content.

Each blog post or page for your website is a new page indexed that targets a geographic search term. Use highly detailed keywords for the URL, title and description of the body. Besides creating content for geo-targeted audiences, the best ways to get this content together are to highlight your case studies and customer successes.

Optimize your website.

When doing your local SEO, always include the city name in the code of your website. It tells search engines what geographic location you’re targeting.

Use Google My Business for Local Ranking

Make sure to fill out every available field on Google My Business (GMB) Maps information all useful information like hours of operation, contact info, and much more. Google My Business will also allow users to find your website and contact information on search results locally, which is super important for local rankings!

Conclusion: Now you know why this is so important and how it works. I hope this was helpful. If you still have any questions about how to do a proper Local SEO please don’t hesitate to text me at the number below!