Taking On Local SEO in 2022

Search engine optimization can be a complex practice, requiring multiple strategies and tactics to succeed. In the past, the SEO strategies and tactics to get your website to rank high in the search engine result page (SERP’s) were much simpler than they are today. 

Those days are over now due to Google’s algorithm becoming much more advanced.

Local search marketing is integral for any business providing services in an area or selling products from a brick and mortar store. In fact, according to Google’s 2018 local rankings update, 66% of searches take place locally. 

That means that in 2022, it will be more critical than ever before to have a strategy for local SEO. This is because of the shift in the way people search for information, which has shifted from a linear search process to a more conversational one.

What Is Local SEO, and How Does It Work?

Local SEO is all about ensuring that your business is as visible in your local area as possible. This means that if you are physically located within a certain radius of a particular location, you have the best chance of ranking on search engines such as Google Maps and Bing.

Because it’s done locally, it’s less about getting the most backlinks from other websites—and more about optimizing your website for local search. SEO software can help with this process by creating content, performing keyword research, and more.

Local SEO software and tools are designed to help businesses rank higher in local search results. They can be used by companies of all sizes, from small local shops to large corporations.

The most popular SEO software and tools for local SEO include:

Moz

One of the most popular SEO software and tools in the market. Many companies have used it to improve their search engine rankings. Moz also provides various features that help businesses optimize their website for search engines.

SEMrush

An all-in-one SEO tool that helps businesses to improve their rankings on search engines. It provides a wide range of features that help businesses get the most out of their marketing campaigns. SEMrush has been used by over 10 million users and has helped them generate over $1 billion in revenue.

Ahrefs

Another popular SEO software and tool that helps users find the best keywords for their website. It has a free plan which allows users to track up to 100 keywords, but it also has paid plans which will enable users to track up to 10,000 keywords.

Rank Math

An SEO plugin that helps you optimize your website for search engines. It has many features that make it easy to use and understand.

The Difference Between Local SEO and SEO in General

Local SEO is a form of search engine optimization that focuses on the local market and not just keywords. By focusing on the local market, you can be sure that physically close people will see your website.

This type of SEO includes a variety of factors that determine whether your business will rank well in Google searches. Many people use the term “local SEO” to refer to the process of optimizing your website for search engines, which may include things like reviews, social media posts, citations, and more.

Local SEO is a relatively easy way to make your business shine in the eyes of potential customers. It is a process that begins with building your presence on search engines such as Google, Bing, Yahoo, and more. The most popular SEO tool for local businesses is Google My Business.

NAPs

NAP stands for “name, address, and phone number.” Google has been using this information to help people find local businesses for a long time. However, they have recently updated their algorithm to make it easier to see these businesses.

In order for your NAPs to be effective, it’s essential that someone on your team makes sure that all of these citations are consistent everywhere they are posted online. If Google’s crawlers are finding differences where your NAPs are posted, it can negatively impact your rankings in local search. Further, it can negatively affect your ability to capture clients/customers if they find an old phone number for your business that is disconnected.

Online Reviews

Online reviews are a great way to better your local SEO. They can help you get more customers and improve your ranking on Google. 

Online reviews are also an excellent way to build trust with potential customers, vital for any business. They have been around for some time now, but they have only recently become an essential part of the local search engine optimization process. The more positive reviews your business has on its Google My Business profile, the more likely it is to get into the top positions for local searches.

Local SEO Link Building

Link building for local SEO can be done in many ways, but the most common ones are:

• Guest blogging
• Social media outreach
• Local events

Guest Blogging for Local SEO

The most important thing to remember when guest blogging for local SEO is that you should make the reader feel like they are visiting your website and not just reading an article on someone else’s site. So, it would be best to focus on topics relevant to the region where your blog is published.

Social Media Outreach for Local SEO

Social media outreach is a popular local SEO strategy for businesses. It helps them get more customers and increase their visibility in the market.

One of the main benefits of this strategy is that it can be done very cost-effectively. Businesses can also outsource this task to an agency or freelance writer, as they can charge lower rates than an in-house employee.

Local Events

Local events are an excellent way for businesses to connect with their target audience. They allow for face-to-face interactions and create opportunities for networking, which can lead to partnerships and sales.

The most popular types of local events include:

• Local indsutry events
• Meetups
• Local festivals
• Local community events

How Local Search Engines Are Evolving

Local search engines are evolving rapidly. As these technologies advance, local search engines become more user-friendly and less reliant on keyword searches. In addition, they can now offer a range of content that is not just limited to text-based information but also includes images, videos, maps, and reviews.

Google has been using machine learning and AI for a while now. As a result, they have been able to use these tools to improve their search engine results, which has led to a significant increase in the number of clicks on their ads.

The evolution of Yahoo Local Search can be attributed to its use of machine learning algorithms and natural language processing (NLP). These two technologies have allowed Yahoo to provide users with more personalized results tailored specifically for them.

The future of local search engines will be based on the user’s preferences, needs, and location.

Trends for Local Search Engines in 2022

Local search engines are becoming more and more popular. People use them to find local businesses, restaurants, and other places.

In 2022, the most popular trends for local search engines will be:

• Location-based searches: People will use their location to find what they need.
• Voice search: People will use voice assistants like Alexa or Google Home to find what they need.
• Mobile-first: People will start searching on their mobile devices first before using a desktop computer.
• More personalization: People will be able to personalize their searches based on their preferences and interests.

Challenges for Local Search Engines

Local search engines have been around for a while, and they have been evolving to provide the best experience for users. They are still in their infancy, but their challenges are quite different from what they used to be.

The challenges that local search engines face include:

• Increasing competition from mobile apps
• Increasing competition from other websites
• The need for more accurate information

What Is Google My Business, and How Does It Work?

Google My Business is a free service for businesses to further their online presence. It allows businesses to list themselves and be found on Google Maps and in search. You can add a ton of useful information into GMB that users looking for your business would want to know. These include operating hours, photos, posts, address, phone number, appointment links, and much more.

GMB has been designed so that it can be easily accessed from any device, anywhere, at any time. Further, users get a huge benefit from looking at the reviews other users leave on your business’ GMB. Since checking GMBs is so easy from any location, users can do it from the comfort of their own home, or while on the go.

Google wants to help people find the best place with the best services near them. Since search results can vary, they have developed a new algorithm based on location and reviews.

How to Optimize Your Google My Business Listing

Business owners need to optimize their Google My Business listing in order for it to become an effective marketing tool. A few aspects of your profile should be given careful attention, such as making sure all of your business info is correct and replying to all reviews in a timely manner. Users that take the time to leave you a positive review love to see responses, it gives them a deeper sense of engagement.

On the flip side, responding to negative reviews gives you the chance to apologize to someone who had a negative experience with your business and even possibly recover them to return. It also shows other people who might be looking at your reviews that your business actually cares about what its customers have to say and that you are putting in the effort to manage customer experience.

There are many misconceptions about what is and is not allowed for keyword listings on Google. For example, many people believe that only keywords that appear in the title or the URL are allowed to be used in a listing, but this isn’t true. Do not keyword stuff a ton of keywords into your listing with just the hope you might rank for it, because you won’t.

At Orbital Marketing we recommend adding in keywords that are related to your services or products in your listing, be specific but do not be repetitive.

What Are the Best SEO Strategies for a Google My Business Listing?

Google has made it easier for small businesses to create a Google My Business listing. Many SEO strategies can be used to optimize a business’s Google My Business listing for the search engine.

Google My Business Listing SEO strategies:

• Optimize the title tag and description of your business listing: Make sure that these are relevant and contain keywords you want to rank for.
• Include a link back to your website in the description text of your business listing:  This will help with organic traffic and increase visibility on search results pages.
• Add images to your Google My Business Listing: Images can rank highly on search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo! Images can also help with organic traffic and engagement on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram.

What Is The Google Snack Pack?

The Google Snack Pack is a feature that Google introduced in 2018. They are a collection of content that is relevant to the search query. The idea behind this feature is to provide users with more information about the topic they searched for, and it also helps them find more information on the topic they searched for.

It’s important for businesses to appear in this feature because it can help them get more local traffic and leads.

How to Appear in a Google Snack Pack

Google Snack Packs are a great way to get your brand in front of the right audience. They are a great way to increase your visibility and reach.

In order to appear in the snack pack, you need to implement all of the local SEO practices we have discussed in this post.

1. Create and Optimize your GMB
2. Make sure your customers are leaving reviews on your GMB, and resond to them!
3. Review your NAPs to make sure they are consistent.
4. Make sure you’re using relevant local keywords in your GMB

What Are the Key Trends for SEO Professionals in 2022?

SEO professionals are often tasked with finding ways to increase a website’s visibility by optimizing it for local search.

The list of local SEO trends for SEO professionals includes:

• Localization: Localization is the process of adapting your website to be relevant to the needs and interests of your target audience.
• Content marketing: Content marketing is a strategy that uses content to attract, engage, and retain a local audience.
• Mobile optimization: Mobile optimization refers to the process of making sure that your website works well on mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets.
• Social media optimization: Social media optimization refers to the process of making sure that your social media posts are optimized for local users of social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.

Conclusion

Local SEO is a crucial part of any business’s marketing strategy. Therefore, it is important to understand the trends and strategies that will be used in the future.

The future of local SEO strategies in 2022 will be heavily reliant on AI and machine learning. This will allow businesses to focus on their core competencies and not worry about the technicalities of local SEO strategies.
If you’d like to learn more about local SEO solutions, you can do so here.