What is Local SEO?

Local SEO is the practice of optimising a business’s online presence to appear in relevant local search results. It’s like creating a big sign on Google, directing people to your company website.

When people in an area search for something they will always be shown local businesses first. Working on local SEO ensures that you are one of the results they see. Most people only look at the top 3 search results. So this is crucial if you want to get noticed in your area.

This approach differs from general SEO and suits the needs of businesses who operate in defined geographical areas and who want to attract local customers.

Search engines use the information you provide them with to show the best local results. When someone searches for “best pizza in Leamington Spa” or “Window cleaner near me,” your business is the one they are shown, not your competitors.

Local SEO also takes into account features like Google maps and Google reviews. This can help you be found in the map results on search engines, which is key to attracting customers nearby who want to know about local services.

Why Local SEO Matters for Your Midlands Business

Many people want to shop local and support local businesses. They are looking for local businesses to buy from, so help them find you by investing in local SEO.

Google statistics show that 78% of local mobile searches result in an offline purchase, this shows the importance of businesses targeting local customers to ensure they maximise potential sales. 

Optimising for local search also builds trust and customers are more likely to engage with businesses that they know are close by.

Local SEO Strategies for Midlands SMEs Optimised Google My Business Profile

Ensuring you have an up to date and complete Google My Business profile is key to local SEO. Businesses with a complete Google My Business profile are 2.7 times more likely to be trusted by consumers. Try to ensure your include high quality images, encourage and respond to reviews and stay active to boost your local listing.

Local Keyword Research

Tools such as Google Keyword planner are crucial to helping you find high-traffic search terms. Research keywords specific to your areas such as “Warwickshire Catering” or “Midlands Catering”. Use these keywords naturally throughout your website content to help search engines understand what your business is about and what it wants to be ranked for.

On-Page SEO Optimisation

Alongside the content on your site you also need to pay attention to your website’s headers, meta descriptions, and title tags. These are all used to indicate to search engines what your website is about, so using keywords throughout them will improve your local search results.

Local Backlinks

A site’s authority and trust can be improved by a high number of backlinks. Backlinks are links from other reputable sites to your website. Building backlinks can be done by joining local directories, guest blogging and getting featured in local press.

Mobile Optimisation

Over 60% of all Google searches now come from mobile devices. Ensuring your website is mobile friendly plays a huge role in local SEO. Google penalises sites that do not have mobile optimised sites as they are always aiming to provide the best experience for it’s users.

Google Analytics to Track Local SEO Performance

Using Google Analytics is essential for measuring the success of your Local SEO strategy. It can be used to track all the key activities and their impact on your site. If you want to know if your SEO strategy is working, you can look at things like website traffic, user behaviour and conversions. This ensures you can adapt your strategy until it works for your business.

How Local SEO Drives Business Growth for Midland SMEs

The Midland economy is home to a large number of growth focused SMEs and many of them want to attract more local business. Local SEO helps to ensure that your business can be found locally and that you present clear information to local buyers.

Local searches are increasing all the time so optimising your online presence is a crucial element to your business being found by local people actively looking for products or services nearby. 

Additionally, being shown in local search results can boost customer trust, many people prefer to work with local businesses and consider them to be more reliable.

SEO is a long term strategy that will keep bearing fruit many months and years after a social media post has been long forgotten about. Using SEO Midland SMEs can strengthen their long term growth and see real impact on their bottom line.

Why Choose ADAO for Your Local SEO Needs

At Adao we are experts in all areas of SEO, with a keen understanding of what it takes to generate lasting results. We treat every business as a unique project, with no one size fits all approach to building online visibility. And we play the long game, ensuring your business has longevity and consistent growth.

ADAO also understands the specific challenges and opportunities businesses face in the region, and being local means you can come and visit our offices and get reporting from a real person.

Interested in working with Adao? Get in touch.