SEO is an essential part of marketing for any business that wants to achieve an online presence. For your target customers to find your business online, your website must be sufficiently optimised for search engines. For ultimate results and to reach customers locally and globally, your website must be suitable for both local and general searches.
Here, we look at the difference between SEO and Local SEO.
Local SEO
SEO (search engine optimisation) is the best way to ensure the highest quantity and quality of traffic and potential customers visit your website. If a potential customer enters a product or service that they desire into a search engine, you will want your website to appear on the first page. Therefore, it is essential to focus on your exact niche and use the most effective keywords.
Local SEO means you are targeting a local customer base. For example, if you were looking for a Brentwood bakery, you would enter ‘bakery in Brentwood’ into the search engine. You will find a range of results for bakeries in the Brentwood area. You may go one step further and enter ‘bakeries that deliver’ or bakeries cupcakes’ to refine your search. This will filter the results to the closest matches.
Local SEO focuses on not only the service or products you offer but your geographic details too. Ensuring this is done effectively means improved visibility and traffic and a potential increase in physical visits from your customers to your store or office. It is easier to stand out with local SEO as you target those in a specific area wanting what you are providing.
Progressing from Local SEO
If you are looking to reach a larger target market than your local area, you will need to implement effective general SEO. This means ranking for keywords that attract vaster audiences to your website, rather than merely customers in your local area.
It takes some work and time to enhance this traffic when aiming for nationwide or even global audiences. Content marketing, social media and advertising are all areas that will need an investment of time and money. You should prioritise answering queries and helping potential customers, even offering a space for feedback of conversation such as live chat help.
Verdict
While building a solid online presence with local SEO is vital, it is ideal to blend both local SEO and regular SEO to achieve optimal results long-term. A combination of local and general SEO is the best way to make sure everyone can find your business online.
For more information on how Green Tornado can help with your business SEO marketing, contact us on 01277 849161.
