Date Published: 14-Dec-2011
A bulk of revenue for small businesses comes from its local area. Businesses must streamline their marketing strategies and efforts in such a way that the local market is thoroughly covered. Local Search Engine Optimization is a reliable marketing tool that gives business a feasible option to increase sales from its local area.
A study by TMP/comScore has revealed that 61% of local searches lead to a purchase. It was also found that nearly 80% of the customers searching locally, follow up office via a phone call or in-store visit or a purchase. Customers these days are checking the details about products, particularly in their local area before purchasing.
Google, one of the major search engines, knows that customers are looking for products or services in their local area. That is why it makes sure that local results appear above the organic results. In view of these observations, it becomes increasingly important for a small business to be actively present in local searches. Read further to know more about the role played by local SEO in adding value to a small business.
Get brand recognition
Brand recognition is the degree to which your customers are able to recognize your products or services. Local SEO helps in improving the visibility of your brand before the potential customers in your local area. Frequent exposure of your brand to your customers leads to enhanced brand recognition, which may eventually lead the customer to a purchase.
Improves website visibility on local listings
Local SEO attracts potential customers to your website. This is done by ranking your business higher in their local search results. A customer finds it comfortable to deal with businesses in his/her local area. By purchasing products from a local supplier, he/she eliminates unnecessary transportation and middlemen costs. So, when you are found in his/her local search results, chances are more that your business gets a new customer.
Website traffic and leads
According to Search Engine Watch, around 60% of the clicks in Google search results are taken by the results in the top three rankings. By investing in a Local SEO campaign, a business will be promoted higher in the local search results. This causes more number of people to click on the website. With an increase in traffic coming to the website, the number or prospective customers also increases, which may lead to increased sales.
Increases earning potential
Local SEO offers a business tremendous potential to increase earnings. The revenue you generate by using Local SEO will be many times higher than the investment with which you start. The improved visibility that a Local SEO provides will help a business in maximizing sales, leading to revenue generation.
In today’s competition, having a website alone does not signify a good online presence. Businesses must take significant steps to reach targeted customers. With a good SEO campaign in place, a small business can get maximum benefits even if it is not nationally well-known. With more and more customers preferring to buy locally, optimizing your website for local searches is one such step, which can be both feasible and effective.