If you have yet to start optimizing for local SEO or you’re looking for a new angle to add some oomph to your strategy, it helps to have a reliable list of resources to help you reach your goals. Nearly everywhere you turn on the Internet, companies, and tools are claiming that they can take your local SEO rankings to the next level. The truth is that there is no magic bullet that will instantly improve your local SEO—it takes strategy and a mix of resources to take your rankings to the top of the search engines.
Whether you’re a business owner just starting out with local SEO or you’ve been in the game for a while, these resources will help jumpstart a new strategy or fine tine your current game plan.
Here are 5 resources to help you get better at your Local SEO
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Keyword Eye
Keyword research helps lay the foundation of any SEO campaign, whether your focus is local, national, or international. The truth is that many business owners rely on resources such as Google Adwords in order to conduct keyword research, although its reliability remains a bit questionable.
If you need in-depth and accurate results, you might need to shell out a paid subscription for a keyword research tool such as Keyword Eye. Keyword Eye is one of the lesser-known keyword research tools compared to SEMRush and Wordtracker, but it’s quite affordable at only $157 for the year. It also uses the same database as SEMRush, which gives you access to millions of keywords right at your fingertips.
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Google My Business
Google My Business is what used to be Google+ for businesses. This platform is essential for your local SEO strategy in 2018, as it literally places your local business right on Google’s map. You also can use Google My Business to upload photos of your storefront, employees, and post your hours of operation.
Google My Business is essentially a cross between social media and a directory. Having a presence on this platform doesn’t necessarily guarantee that your local SEO results will skyrocket, but at the very least it will give your online presence a boost in your local market.
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Local Directory Listings
Local directory listings help give your business website a leg up in the search engines. There are literally thousands of search and business directories all over the Internet. While you don’t have to necessarily list yourself on every single one, there are several top contenders that make a big difference for your local SEO.
Yelp is a popular and powerful business directly that nearly every brick and mortar business should be listed on. Yelp’s popularity attracts millions of visitors every year to write and read reviews on countless businesses, with some of those businesses even being in your own town. A presence on Yelp will help your customers get a good feel for your business with real-life reviews given by customers.
Another good directory to list your business is on Bing Places. Similar to Google My Business accounts, Bing will also let you list your own business website within their directory. This will help you tap into customers who prefer to use Bing instead of Google.
Several other popular directories include the Better Business Bureau, Angie’s List, and Yahoo!
If you’re looking for an in-depth directory list, HubSpot has an extensive list with 50 of the most powerful online local business directories.
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Moz Local Learning Center
Business owners who are looking to delve deep into the world of local SEO can benefit greatly from the Moz Local Learning Center. This is an extensive guide that wraps the ins and outs of local SEO into a neat gift box. It’s possibly one of the most in-depth guides to local SEO available on the Internet today, and Moz leaves nearly no stone unturned.
In the Moz Local Learning Center, Moz breaks down how business owners can use local SEO in their online marketing strategies. Furthermore, it explains how to get citations for your website, best practices for search engine optimization on your website, a glossary, and more.
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Synup’s Local SEO Checklist
If you’re looking for a straightforward checklist for local SEO, look no further than Synup’s Local SEO Checklist. For business owners wanting a hands-on approach to implementing SEO, this checklist features the most up-to-date techniques on optimizing your website for local search. The checklist covers everything from social media to reviews and title tags, and it’s the perfect resource to get you started on the right foot for local SEO.
How Does Your Local SEO Stack Up Against The Competition?
If you’re ready to move forward with a local SEO strategy for 2018, these resources will certainly help. Otherwise, you can contact the experts at Big Foot Media to guide you through the process and ensure success every step of the way.
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