SEO Local refers to Search Engine Optimization applied in the context of a specific business location. It optimizes a site for local search engines so the business appears in results for nearby customers.

How does local SEO differ from global SEO?

Both affect natural rankings in unpaid results of programs like Google AdWords, but local SEO and paid local ads are limited to a specific region. Results vary depending on the market area where the business is located.

SEO Expert Interview

What’s the Difference Between SEO Local and Global Search Optimization?

Q: What methods improve local search rankings?

Common methods include creating meta tags in HTML coding, building local citations in web content, setting up a Google Places account with business details, maintaining an updated Google Maps page, and using social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

Oct 4, 2021

—

Jeanette Staten

in Local SEO

SEO Local

What’s the Difference Between SEO Local and Global Search Optimization?

SEO Local targets search rankings tied to a specific business location, while global SEO optimization reaches a broader audience without geographic limits. Local campaigns rely on location-specific keywords, meta tags, Google Places, and Google Maps to drive nearby customers to a business, while paid ads under programs like Google AdWords can also be limited to a local region. Choosing between the two shapes how a small or medium-sized business spends its marketing budget.

What Is SEO Local?

SEO Local refers to Search Engine Optimization applied in the context of a specific business location. It is a method of optimizing a site for local search engines so that the business appears in results for nearby customers. For small to medium-sized businesses, local SEO has become a marketing tool used to increase targeted traffic and boost sales.

How Is Local SEO Different From Global SEO?

Like general SEO, local SEO affects the natural rankings of a webpage or site in the unpaid results of paid search programs commonly known as “Google AdWords”. Paid advertisements remain an effective way of reaching a target audience. The key difference is that paid local advertising is limited to a local region only, so results can vary greatly depending on the market area where the business is located.

How Do You Choose Keywords for a Local SEO Campaign?

The success of an SEO Local campaign starts with the selection of the relevant keyword. The selected keywords must be relevant to the business and to the location in which it is being displayed. Keywords should be simple but unique enough to make the site easy to find when someone performs a search using those terms. Once the keywords are set, the website itself needs to be optimized, and several methods exist for optimizing web pages for local SEO.

What Methods Improve Local Search Rankings?

Meta Tags in HTML Coding

One of the most common methods of local SEO is creating meta tags in the HTML coding. These tags tell the search engines what keywords are related to the website, and keywords are one of the main factors used by search engines in ranking web pages. The meta tag of each individual web page can be found using Google’s website tools.

Local Citations in Web Content

Another method of local SEO is creating local citations in web content. Citations are statements or reviews that webmasters publish about their websites, with examples found at Local Web Facts. Such citations give search engines an idea of the categories the site fits into, and they also help build link popularity to the site, increasing its inbound links.

Google Places and Google Maps

To get the best results, creating a Google Places account for the business is helpful. The account can be used to put a business description, photos, events, menus, and other details pertinent to the business. This allows people to find the business faster and opens up more opportunities to network locally.

After setting up Google Places, a Google Maps page should also be created for the business. The Google Maps page should be updated frequently so that people know where to go for various business transactions. Properly labeling the page is essential, and different colors can be used for different categories so customers can easily understand where to go for assistance. Alternate contact numbers can also be provided when necessary.

How Can Social Media Support Local SEO?

SEO local may seem like a complicated endeavor when it comes to search results, but there are several things that can help boost the chances of getting ranked highly for that specific local area. Social media services such as Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube have become useful tools for SEO because they allow a business website to be featured in the news feed of many different websites across the globe, giving the wider internet a way to find out about the business.

Related coverage