Core Local Search Ranking Signals
Local search engine optimisation has become more and more difficult as the years go by.
More businesses are recognising the huge benefits of being found online and how having a well-optimised website can create a lead generating machine.
With Google providing limited visibility for local businesses on page 1 of their search engine, competition for this visibility has become fierce.
Digital marketing especially SEO has become of paramount importance to the online success of a local business.
So, what are the core local search ranking factors you should be utilising?
Google My Business
You need to claim or create a Google My Business profile as this is the profile that appears in the map listing.
It will need to be well-optimised to increase the likelihood of your profile showing in the top map positions.
Google My Business Categories
If you want to be found for particular search terms then make sure you have selected the right business categories.
Within your Google My Business account, you can change/add categories for your profile.
For the best results, be sure to use as few categories as possible and make sure they are highly accurate. This helps improve your relevance signals in Google.
Google My Business Photos
Adding photos of your practice including internal and external images, team images and treatment images all add credibility to your business. Not only this but Google also prefer showing business listings that have been fully optimised.
Online directories/citations
Creating profiles on online directories is important as Google look at online directories to help validate your Google My Business listing.
Many of these online directories provide an opportunity to build a backlink to your website as well to improve its authority.
Reviews
Your online reputation can make or break your business.
The majority of people will assess the online reputation of businesses in their local area when carrying out research. If your business profiles on review sites have too many negative reviews or no reviews at all, it may deter people from contacting your practice.
According to Google, “high-quality, positive reviews [on your Google My Business profile] from your customers will improve your business’s visibility and increase the likelihood that a potential customer will visit your location.”
The use of keywords in reviews will also signal to Google the business’ relevance to these keywords.
A business’ responses to reviews also contribute to local SEO especially responses to negative reviews. If you have negative reviews on your profiles which you have not responded to this will negatively impact your local SEO.
Social Media
Social signals influence your SEO.
It is important for all businesses to have a social media presence.
Claiming your social media profiles on several platforms and posting regularly on them increases the possibility that people will engage with your posts. It is this engagement that provides social signals to Google.
On Page and Off Page SEO
There’s a long list of on page and off page activities that help optimise a website, however, the main activities are:
- Ensuring your website has structured data markup.
- Publishing regular content on your website and including keywords and location terms where possible.
- Optimising the Title and Meta Descriptions of each page.
- Obtaining a diverse number of high-quality backlinks.
- Webpage speed optimisation.
If you need help with your online marketing, please feel free to contact Dental Design on 01202 677277.
Inspiration from Search Engine Journal
More posts from our team
Five Star
Reviewed Marketing
"Would definitely recommend to a friend"
"I cannot recommend Dental Design highly enough"
"Really great company to deal with"
"Very professional, efficient & adaptive to new situations"
"I cannot recommend them highly enough"
"Has been invaluable and gone out of her way to help us"
"We love the look of our practice website. Very professional!"
"Dental Design stood out both in their knowledge of the industry and their professionalism"
"The team and package offered at dental design was unrivalled"
"absolutely fantastic and are always on hand to help"
"Dental Design are fantastic to work with"
"always met with a swift and professional response"
