Nowadays, SEO for businesses in 2017 will be more innovative.
With more than 3 years, now it has been easier to find more businesses, nearby stores, generating a shift in user’s intent and search behavior over the web.
Users no longer have to include their location in search queries, such as “Auto Repair Shops in Canby, Oregon” into Google.
This SEO trend has given a way to the “near me” search queries. For example: if a user searches the phrase: “Auto repair shop near me” from the location: “Canby, Oregon”. Google is now smart to show the local results of “auto repair shops” based on the user’s locations and device.
So, it is more important to take a note of the below 4 things to consider for Local SEO in 2017:
#1: Title and Meta Descriptions Still Play a Vital Role
Title and Meta Descriptions are one of the important Onsite HTML Elements that reflect the content of the page and shown in SERPs and browser tabs as text. While in 2017, Google has increased the SERP Width to 600px, the length of title tags must be between 40 and 50 characters as per search guidelines. Search Engine will allow up to maximum 70 Characters, it will truncate the titles if longer than 70 characters. While the Meta descriptions should be maximum 160 characters, if longer than 160, it will be truncated in SERP.
Title and Meta descriptions must be unique, persuasive and descriptive, as this can affect CTR from search results to your page. Make sure your Titles and Meta description must include the keywords you are trying to rank for.
Using the length guidelines of Google, you should make sure your titles and Meta descriptions are showing in full on SERP without truncation. You can use various tools like WordPress Yoast’s SEO Plug-in and SEOMofo to check how your title and descriptions will stand out in SERP.
#2: Keyword Research: One of the important Aspects of the SEO Campaign.
Keyword Research is a very important aspect of SEO Campaign if it has been done properly. Keywords can drive traffic and rankings for your web pages. Keywords signify terms and phrases people use to type as search queries to find local businesses.
Keyword research in Local SEO engages optimizing web pages for important keywords with geo-modifiers- e.g.: place names and locations. For Auto repair Business, a generic, non-local keyword must be “auto repair shop”, but for business optimizing for Local SEO, acceptable keywords would be “auto repair shop Canby” or “auto repair shop Canby, Oregon”.
There are various tools to find good and relevant keywords which are important for your business.
- Google’s Auto Suggest Tool
- Google Keyword Planner
- Long Tail Keyword Strategy (Best for Featured Snippet):
- Answerthepublic.com
- ‘People Also Ask’ Section in Google SERP.
To optimize your keyword research for Local SEO, brainstorm keywords with geo-modifiers that users might use when searching for your business. You can check those keywords through Google Keyword Planner to get keywords idea with monthly search volumes and traffic stats.
It can be time-consuming, but pleasing when performed properly. You can check this in-depth guide for keyword research here.
#3: Ensure to optimize your Business for Google My Business and Bing Places and other Local Citations perfectly.
Google My Business, previously known as Google Places, allows you to show your business hours, phone number, and directions to your office on Google Search and Maps.
When optimizing your Google My Business Page, you will need to add all the business details such as Name, Address, Phone, Website, Hours, Category including proper business logo, photos of your business.
For Some online business with no physical location, you can skip the address, but ensure to fill in and validate all another piece of information entered. A False phone number or address can result in losing all your customers and revenue.
#4 Local Structured Data Markup
Structured data markup, sometimes, referred as schema markup, are a piece of codes added to all the pages of the website that provide the search engine with an in-depth idea of your product, services, business offering, location based offering and much more. A majority of the websites use schema markup on a very basic level as per the Business. Schema markup help makes your business looks out in the SERP which will improve your CTR.
Conclusion:
All the above points are a drop in the ocean for optimizing the local SEO in 2017, but implementing the above points will definitely help you to increase and generate results and better conversion rates.
