The title here may sound bit odd How to Local Business SEO but in the world of online marketing, it is better to be prepared so that your website is fully taking advantage of all the new changes for your internet business.
Is Local SEO Different to Normal Optimization?
Yes and no, Yes because if your business is a local business targeting only people located in the City or Suburb you are doing business in. And No, if your website and business is targeting the visitors globally.
Google My Business for Local Marketing and SEO
If your website is not in Google My Business listing to show up in Google Maps, then by all means go and verify your website now to advantage of latest changes in Google. For example: now the right hand sidebar Ads are gone from Google search results page, so you would have noticed Local Business Listings show up on the right hand side of Google results page. That’s where you want your local business to show up as well.
Login to your Google account and press on this link to manage option
Once you press Add a Single Location you will be directed to Google Maps for searching for your Business to see if Google already has information about it (even if you didn’t verify your business listing, Google may have information about it (in which case you can verify and claim your listing)). Simply follow the prompts and you’re done.
Google My Business Account Versus Google+ Page
Don’t confuse your verified business listing with Google Brand Pages because you can have many brand pages (think of them as Google+ page for various reasons) and think of Google Business Listing as to do with Google Maps listing for your Local Business.
What If You Already Have a Google+ Page
You can still take ownership of the business listing and connect a Google+ Page if you already created one. However, only do this if you already have followers, if not, start a new with a brand new listing with a brand new Google+ page.
Focus On Content Sharing on Google My Business
Most small business owners just create their Google Listing and simply forget about engaging with visitors or customers, or they often just #hashtag and share links. If anything, you want to be regularly updating social media profiles such as Google Pages. Don’t let it go stale with no content. Furthermore, find ways to get reviews for your Google Business Listing as that seems to influence Google Rankings not to mention Social Proof for your online business.
Video Lesson Explaining How Google My Business Works
Use Schema.org Markup for Local Businesses
Google officially supports the different types of structured data markup including opening hours and customer support phone numbers. Use these techniques as they are great for Google knowledge graph for your Local Business. This will also help Google algorithms to better understanding your business when it finds information on external sites.
LocalBusiness Schema Markup Plugin
Download the Plugin (Now FREE)
Due to popularity of RankYa plugins, I decided to offer this plugin for free and absolutely no charge to you. NOTE: see the video in comment section for required update for LocalBusiness image and PriceRange
Press Here to Download the Plugin
Installation: Login to WordPress Dashboard > Plugins > Add New > (Select the plugin file you downloaded to your local computer) Install > Activate
