Fasturtle’s Brett Levreau joined us on Money Radio to discuss local SEO ranking factors. The goal of optimizing for local search is simple: get your business at the top of SERPs when people nearby search for you, or for products and services you offer. You’ve likely searched for businesses near you, and found results in the Local Pack:

okay, partly we’re #1 because I searched from inside the office and proximity is a ranking factor. But also, look at our accurate GMB category and our reviews!

The local pack features 3 results, mapped and complete with business information, including reviews. So, what do you need to get a spot in the local pack?

Google My Business Listing

To show up in the Local Pack, you need to set up a GMB page. Don’t skip steps – you really do want to fill out the description and upload photos – and make sure everything is accurate.

On-page Local SEO Attributes

Put your business’s NAP (name, address, and phone number) on every page of your website.

Make sure your website is mobile-friendly.

Put your city or region and a relevant keyword throughout your landing page:

• in the URL
• in the title tag
• in the h1 tag
• in the page content
• in the image alt-text

These are HTML elements that search engines use to analyze and rank your page.

Citation and Link Building

A citation lists your NAP, while a link directs visitors to your website. Build citations in local directories, local news articles, and affiliate websites. It’s essential to make sure your NAP is consistent across all sources. Citations can include links; you can also attract links by publishing authoritative content.

Reviews

Encourage your customers or clients to leave reviews across web platforms, including Google, Yelp, and Facebook. Your customers might love you, but they won’t necessarily take the initiative to review you unless you put a clear call to action on your site.

Other ranking factors, such as increasing click-through rates and decreasing bounce rates by offering useful content, overlap with a general SEO strategy. You can hear Brett talk shop about local SEO on the podcast.

Need help getting your business on the map? Contact Fasturtle for a free assessment.

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