You put a lot of effort into your business, and you put even more effort into marketing it online. It’s therefore aggravating when, despite your best efforts, your opponent outperforms you locally. In Google’s coveted three-pack, it’s your competition which appears.

The local SEO company you choose to work with can make or break your business. Therefore, you must take the time to find a local SEO company that is experienced and knowledgeable in local marketing, so they’ll be able to provide the high-quality services needed for success. This blog post will give you some helpful tips on narrowing down your search for the best local SEO company!

What Exactly is Local SEO And How Are Its Techniques Different?

You put a lot of effort into your business, and you put even more effort into marketing it online. It’s therefore aggravating when, despite your best efforts, your opponent outperforms you locally. In Google’s coveted three-pack, it’s your competition which appears.

Your local Search Engine Optimization (SEO) efforts, on the other hand, are aimed at achieving high-quality placement in the Google Maps local pack for relevant phrases, preferably in one of the three listings (the three-pack).

Pay close attention to what local SEO companies say about getting your organization into the three-pack listings when you chat to them about their tactics for your business. What strategies are they going to employ?

Although no two local search companies will respond in the same manner, in 2018, a good company will use a combination of:

• Google My Business optimization
• inbound link and citation strategies
• on-site optimization, especially in connection with NAP consistency (name, address, and phone number)
• Google reviews
• location pages
• keyword research for your targeted area
• strategies that will help your local SEO campaign dovetail with other online marketing efforts

Local SEO is a unique blend of art and science that changes like Google’s algorithm changes. Quality businesses adapt in lockstep with these shifts (without algorithm-chasing! ) while also anticipating algorithm and SERP positions changes. As a result, the agency will have a plan in place, if necessary, straight out of the gate and will be able to react fast. Quality organizations also keep track of site metrics to guarantee that their strategies are still working.

How Does Google Decide How To Rank Companies in The Local Pack?

“Local results are mostly based on relevance, distance, and prominence,” according to Google. These factors are merged to get the most appropriate match for your search. For example, Google algorithms may determine that a business located further away from your location is more likely to have what you’re looking for than one located closer, and hence rank it higher in local results.”

More information on how Google defines these three phrases can be found here:

Relevance: How closely a local listing fits what a searcher is searching for; the more precise and complete your local information is, the easier it will be for Google to match you with prospects.

Distance: Google will compare how close a listing is to a location phrase used in a search with a local search; if a location term isn’t used, Google will utilize what is known about the location.

Prominence: This refers to how well-known a company is, with well-known, more established store brands, for example, having an advantage; however, a company can gain online prominence by being visible online, such as through Google reviews and link-building campaigns that increase your online authority signals.

Why Google My Business (GMB) is Important To Have a Good Website?

GMB is a Google product that allows businesses to manage their information in Google. The tool is free, but claiming/verifying your business listing and properly optimizing it for the best SEO impact takes effort. Nevertheless, businesses who validate a GMB listing are two times more likely to have consumers regard them as respectable, according to a 2014 Oxera analysis published for Google.

In practice, having the correct information in GMB means that when people use Google Maps to discover your business, they will have access to accurate information, such as your address, phone number, hours of operation, website, and other important details.

In terms of why you need both (GMB and a website), Google says, “Google My Firm complements your existing website by providing your business with a public identity and presence through a Google listing.” In addition, Google Search and Maps will display the information you supply about your company.”

Here’s an even more condensed version of the solution. You won’t be able to rank in the top three without a GMB profile. Whatever the case may be.

The name, address, and phone (NAP) information on your website and in the schema that goes with it must match that of GMB (more about schema soon). Consider GMB as the Yellow Pages of the digital age, and you’ll understand why inaccuracies are a major issue.

If your NAP contains any inconsistencies, repair them first because accurate business data is critical for your site to rank effectively in Google’s local search algorithm. For example, Google’s maps section relies largely on reliable data so that users may dial the correct number and get accurate driving directions. Finally, if your online NAP information is wrong, Google will not trust your listing enough to display it prominently in search results.

Don’t walk away if a digital marketing professional tells you that you don’t need an accurate and optimized GMB to succeed online if you have a physical location. Run. Run even faster if an agency claims to manage local SEO efforts but does not include GMB in its mix of methods.

Why Are Google Reviews So Important To Local SEO?

In 2017, SearchEngineJournal.com presented research findings showing that Google reviews were the most important ranking element in local search. Why? “The significance of reviews isn’t really surprising,” according to the paper, “since it’s a way for Google to crowdsource ranking factors, and it’s difficult to spam.”

However, simply having more reviews isn’t enough. It is what is said in them that is important. Reviews that include keywords and the city name, for example, score higher in the local pack on GMB pages.

Encourage satisfied customers to leave a Google review to increase the number of reviews you receive. You may make it simple for them by creating a one-of-a-kind link that will direct them to the correct area. However, do it slowly and avoid all of these no-nos.

• Do not allow customers to flood Google with negative reviews. This will come seen as spammy. The optimal pace appears to be measured and natural.
• Do not directly request that customers submit favorable reviews; ask those who you believe will provide positive feedback to do so.
• Offer no freebies or discounts in exchange for a review.
• If you want to improve your ranks, don’t submit a phony review.
• Also, don’t ask anyone else to write a phony one for you.
• Don’t say anything bad about your competition in their Google Reviews, and don’t encourage others to do the same.

What Are Citations And What Role Do They Play in Local Search?

A local citation occurs whenever a local business’s NAP appears on a website. These citations can be found in or on the following sources: 

• local business directories; in 2015, HubSpot.com listed the 50 best
• social media platforms
• individual websites and more

The citation on GMB is maybe the most essential. The advantages of being listed in multiple locations on the internet include:

• Quality ones will help you rank higher in local search engine results.
• People in your neighborhood can click on your citations to visit your website, resulting in more traffic, conversions, and sales.

It’s critical to concentrate on the following to improve your rankings:

• selecting high-quality sources for your citations
• raising the number of citations regularly
• ensuring that the information provided is always correct

If the information in citations contradicts each other, Google is less likely to trust your website, lowering your chances of ranking well. Furthermore, potential consumers may arrive at the incorrect address, contact the incorrect number, or visit your shop when it is closed, none of which is beneficial to your organization.

It’s also crucial to keep an eye on your citations because automatic aggregation technologies can easily make them appear without your knowledge. To avoid a poor ranking impact, as well as a loss of foot traffic and any associated revenue and/or reputation, errors must be identified and addressed as quickly as feasible.

So, here’s another litmus test: a good local SEO marketing company will offer citation production and cleanup. They’ll also be able to explain why these services are important. 

How Do We Find The Best Local SEO Company For Our Business?

There are numerous topics to think about and paths to take. But, before you go out and find a reputable local SEO company near you, make sure you have the proper expectations. Below are some of the qualifications we look for in our clients, as well as some questions you should ask yourself (since a competent local SEO firm won’t deal with just anyone):

• Who are you attempting to contact?
• Which places have the most demand for increasing sales?
• What products and services require further attention?

The more explicit your objectives are, the more effectively a skilled local SEO company can create a strategy and assess results.

Make sure you have enough time to supply your fantastic new local SEO firm with all the required information to accomplish their job well. Keep in mind that each marketing strategy is only as good as the information it receives. Also, be patient. It takes months for SEO to make a difference, and local SEO is no exception.

As a result, here are some particular techniques to locate the best local SEO firm for your organization.

Google searches

You should start by compiling a list of companies to contact. Making your list with Google is also a practical first step. However, choosing a business that ranks highly in your area for local SEO services isn’t always the greatest idea. This is because agencies who are swamped with client work put their website last. Therefore, you shouldn’t rule out top-ranked local SEO businesses outright, but you shouldn’t assume they’re the best either.

You may also gather suggestions by asking other successful local firms what digital marketing firm they use, looking into who has won relevant awards, and so on.

Online reviews

You can also look at online reviews, but this shouldn’t be your exclusive tactic because it’s quite easy for competitors to buy reviews. Google Reviews, Facebook, and other similar sites are good places to start.

If an agency has a large record of unfavorable ratings, this may be cause for concern. On the other hand, suppose there are a few negative ones among the generally favorable ones. In that case, the essential question to note down is how the agency handles negative reviews because you’ll want to be sure they have a sound plan in place if/when you receive one.

Local SEO Case studies and testimonials

Once you’ve compiled a list of local SEO agencies that you’re interested in, visit their websites to see what local SEO case studies and testimonials they have. Most SEO firms have several case studies, but how many of them are for local SEO? Consider it a red flag if they don’t list any.

Conference call

Set up conference calls with the SEO agencies on your shortlist, and ask if a local search is one of their specialties when you speak with them. Inquire about their overall approach to local SEO. Because they construct and optimize location pages on client websites, some organizations may claim to “perform local SEO.” While this is an important aspect of local SEO, it is only one part of a larger strategy.

The truth is that a digital marketing firm can be very good at organic SEO but have little experience with local SEO. Furthermore, while some ranking elements are similar in organic and local SEO, additional aspects are unique to local search, and you need and deserve a business that specializes in local.

When speaking with an agency, discuss your exact requirements with them and pay attention to whether they answer your queries or try to evade them. Do they mean it when they say they’ll get back to you with information? What did they say they’d do when they claimed they’d do it? And here’s the bottom line: Do they say anything that makes sense?

It will most likely be evident who the finalists are after one round of calls.

“What did I learn?” ask yourself after your initial calls with possible local SEO firms. Before doing business with you, a professional agency will examine your SEO and local SEO signals. On the other hand, if the call was more sales in nature, with you learning more about the agency than your personal needs, this is most likely a red flag.

Before you sign

When you’ve found the best local SEO company that you like and trust, ask for client references and follow up with the people listed. If all goes well, it’s time to finalize what the agency will do for you, at what cost (we’ll talk about price later), and on what timeline. It’s not reasonable to expect your local SEO business to detail the specific steps they’ll take, but it is reasonable to inquire about the procedures they’ll use.

Inquire about the frequency with which the agency will call your organization to discuss progress and answer queries. Inquire about who you will have access to. For example, some organizations bring in the big guns during sales calls, only to hand your account over to an inexperienced junior consultant. Inquire about how often you’ll receive progress reports and what will be included: rankings? Traffic? Is there a breakdown by location? What else is there to say? What should you do if you have a question in the middle of a meeting? By e-mail, perhaps? What should you expect in terms of reaction time?

How Much Should My Company Pay For Local SEO?

The quantity of citation management and local link building done, as well as the number of business locations involved in the campaign, all effect pricing. The average local SEO strategy we build costs between $1,500 and $2,300 per month for one brick-and-mortar business. The following is an example of a typical breakdown:

• A basic technique for local SEO is to have your business listed in the top 50 web directories. You may require up to 100 citations in some sectors. The monthly cost of monitoring citations ranges from $50 to $150.
• Quality link building is another important aspect of local SEO, and it can cost anywhere from $500 to $1500 per month.
• Although there are economies in work being done and the associated pricing, if you have one website showing several business locations, you should still budget $750-$1,500 per month for each new location.

Finding out how much local SEO costs is merely the first step in the process. The amount of value delivered and your return on investment are what count.

Why Should We Choose Local-Interactive For Local SEO?

One of our key services is local SEO, and we’re known for regularly delivering excellent results for our clients.

We will conduct the following in your local SEO strategy because Google is one of the most significant marketing channels for a local business:

• Conduct keyword research to learn how people search for your company, as well as the items and services you offer.
• improve your website to provide Google and other search engines the right local signals,
• create online citations, and assist in ensuring that internet directories contain accurate business information
• Examine your company’s marketing efforts.
• To make the most of your company ties, create high-quality local links.

SEO strategies come and go, and they’re always changing. So rather than wasting your money on the latest Google algorithm, we base your local SEO campaign on tried-and-true marketing techniques. In addition, our focus on the most important elements aids in the creation of long-term local visibility and puts you for natural ranking growth over time.

Thoughts

We’d love to speak with you whether you’re new to local SEO, have already spent too much money without seeing results, or simply want to work with people you can trust to put your best business interests first in all they do for you. Whether you choose Local-Interactive as your next local SEO company New York or not, we hope this article has provided you with enough information to make an informed decision. However, if you’re looking for affordable local SEO services company, contact us today!