Local SEO 2024: How I rank my local business #1 in maps & search

Summary

This video script outlines a comprehensive local SEO strategy for businesses, focusing on optimizing Google Business listings and website structure for higher search rankings. The speaker shares insights on setting up and verifying multiple locations, choosing the right business categories, and crafting effective business names and descriptions. They also emphasize the importance of reviews and provide tips on website content, linking strategies, and creating valuable, niche-specific roundup articles to drive organic traffic and establish trust with potential customers.

Takeaways

• 😀 Local businesses can rank highly on Google without spending on Google ads by leveraging organic traffic.
• 📍 Setting up and optimizing a Google Business listing is crucial for local SEO, especially for businesses with multiple locations.
• 🏢 Using a team member's address as a 'satellite office' can help verify multiple Google Business listings in different service areas.
• 🔍 Google prioritizes proximity to the searcher, so having a business listing within city limits and close to densely populated areas is beneficial.
• 📝 Ensuring the Google Business listing is complete with accurate information, images, and regular updates signals to Google that the business is active and relevant.
• 📈 The business name in the Google listing should reflect the actual name of the business, and including relevant keywords can provide a ranking boost.
• 📑 Choosing the correct primary business category from Google's options is essential and can be aided by using the gmbb everywhere plugin to see top-ranking categories.
• 🗺 Including a comprehensive description in the Google Business listing that includes services offered and the areas serviced helps Google understand the business's relevance.
• 🔗 Linking the Google Business listing to the most relevant page on the business's website, such as a specific location page, enhances SEO.
• 💬 Gathering reviews for the Google Business listing is vital for trust and ranking, with a goal of 20 reviews as a starting point for new businesses.
• ✍️ Structuring the business's website with clear content, internal linking, and external backlinks is key for local SEO, regardless of the website builder used.

Q & A

What is the primary source of customers for the speaker's junk removal company?

The primary source of customers for the speaker's junk removal company is organic traffic from Google search, with 99% of customers finding them through website pages ranking in Google search and Google business listings.

What is the significance of setting up a Google Business listing for local SEO?

Setting up a Google Business listing is significant for local SEO because it is what potential customers see and what drives traffic initially, especially when a website is still building authority to rank in Google.

How can a business with multiple locations verify their Google Business listings?

A business with multiple locations can verify their Google Business listings by using a team member in each area as a 'satellite office location,' using their home as the office for that area, which has worked well for the speaker's company.

Why is it important for a Google Business listing to be within city limits where the business wants to rank?

It is important for a Google Business listing to be within city limits where the business wants to rank because Google Business rankings are largely based on proximity to the searcher, and Google rarely shows businesses outside of the city that the searcher is looking in.

What role does the business name play in Google Business listing optimization?

The business name on the Google Business listing should be the actual name of the business and should not be stuffed with keywords unless they are part of the actual business name. This can give a slight boost in ranking when someone searches for the exact term related to the business.

How can a business choose the best primary category for their Google Business listing?

A business can choose the best primary category for their Google Business listing by using a plugin like GMBB Everywhere to search for their main keyword and observing which primary category top-ranking businesses in the same industry have selected.

Why is it important to fill out the Google Business description with relevant information?

Filling out the Google Business description with relevant information is important because Google scrapes this description for any information about the business, and it helps Google understand what the business does and where it operates, ultimately helping the business rank higher.

What is the significance of reviews in a Google Business listing for local businesses?

Reviews are significant in a Google Business listing for local businesses because they establish trust and credibility. Without reviews, a business may be seen as untrustworthy and is less likely to rank or get clicks, especially in a competitive niche.

How can a business encourage customers to leave Google reviews?

A business can encourage customers to leave Google reviews by asking them directly, offering incentives like discounts or free services, and using automated review request software or personal texts to make the process easy for customers.

What is the importance of linking the Google Business listing to the most relevant page on the business's website?

Linking the Google Business listing to the most relevant page on the business's website is important because it helps direct potential customers to specific information about the services offered in their location, enhancing the user experience and potentially improving SEO rankings.

How can a business structure their website for effective local SEO?

A business can structure their website for effective local SEO by having a clear homepage with links to services and locations, creating separate pages for each service and location with in-depth content, embedding Google Maps, and including links to other relevant pages and businesses to create a comprehensive and authoritative resource.

What is the purpose of creating Roundup articles on a business's website for local SEO?

Creating Roundup articles on a business's website serves to provide comprehensive and useful information about a specific topic related to the business's niche, which can help the business rank higher in Google search results. It also builds trust with potential customers by offering unbiased resources and solutions.

How can a business identify keywords for Roundup articles that have high search volume but low competition?

A business can identify keywords for Roundup articles with high search volume but low competition by using keyword research tools like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or Moz, which provide insights into search volumes and competition levels for specific keywords.