Right in your own backyard – breaking down local SEO

 

 

As a business owner, you may have heard the phrase “local SEO” and wondered what is it and do I need it??  Let’s break it down…

WHAT IS LOCAL SEO?

Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a set of strategies and techniques that allow you to effectively digitally market your business to a geographically local audience. These efforts can help your business rank in Google’s Local Pack – the map that automatically shows up when you search for specific businesses or services.

 

WHY IS LOCAL SEO IMPORTANT?

Google knows where you are located even if you don’t type it in (creepy, right?). This is amplified times a million (okay, my math might be off a bit) when people use their smartphones and have their location features enabled. It is Google’s job to provide you with the best search experience – the least amount of clicks, the least amount of re-searches, and the best resulting information for your keyword or phrase. By serving up local businesses relevant to a search query, Google does its job and in turn, the increased online exposure will allow your business to attract more local customers.

 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF LOCAL SEO SERVICES?

Increase in website traffic

Local SEO drives quality traffic to your website. By complying with Google’s expectations, more people will find your website when they search for products/services you offer. Without local SEO to fit a particular search query, your site will not be found and that lead will go to a competitor. Boo!

VISIBILITY ON MAPS

Local SEO helps your business rank high in organic searches and on Google Maps. Searchers can then view and access your business contact information and website very quickly (assuming your Google My Business page is updated!)

BUILD YOUR ONLINE REPUTATION

A feature of local SEO listings is the ability to collect and display customer reviews. Having positive reviews will help you build a quality online reputation.  The better the reviews the more likely a searcher will click on your listing. Not sure how to get reviews? Just Ask!

TARGET AND ATTRACT NEW CUSTOMERS

When a user types a query into a search engine box, they are hoping to receive a listing for a business that can best serve their needs. Coming up in a local listing presents the searcher with answers to the following questions:

  • Who provides my desired product or service?
  • Where is this business located?
  • How can I contact them?
  • What are their hours of operation?
  • What do other customers think about them?
 

By answering these questions completely, accurately, and positively, your business is very likely to convert a searcher to a prospect and then ultimately to a customer.  And once that customer is happy, they are likely to become an evangelist for your business and leave a positive review or refer our business to others.

GET FOUND IN ORGANIC SEARCH RESULTS

Optimizing your content for local search will often lead to higher rankings in organic search engine results. Even when users search for a related keyword without a location, your local optimization will ensure that your listing shows up higher in the results than it might otherwise. Search engines like local SEO, and they reward those who use it well.

LESS MONEY SPENT ON ADS

With an effective local SEO strategy, you tend to spend less on paid advertising tactics. Who doesn’t like to save money?? As your business ranks higher on search engine result pages, there is less need to spend money on Google Ads.

DIRECTORY LISTINGS

Your local SEO listings will help provide business data to online directory sites such as Yelp, Yellow Pages, and others. These aggregator-type sites often rank high and can help attract more local customers to your business.

With the increasingly mobile world that we live in, local SEO is a must for any business. Users are looking for the fastest way to get comprehensive and accurate answers to a search query.  Local SEO helps put your business at the forefront and chances are that your competitors aren’t wise to it yet. So get on it

Contact us for a complimentary review of your current website and see if we can help maximize your local SEO opportunities!


MEET CLARE SRAJER

Clare is no stranger to small business having grown up with a mom-preneur who opened Around the Corner Candy in 1998. She grew from employee to manager to co-owner before deciding that she was destined for more than just the sweet life. Clare came to Stellar with a desire to learn new things and put her customer service skills to great use! As Marketing Assistant, she dabbles in a bit of everything from social media to email to web. Hardworking Clare fits right in with her love of animals, music, crystals and plants. Best known for her obsession with vintage horror, Clare’s house is decked out in paintings and prints from old movies & shows like Dracula, The Munsters, and The Twilight Zone.


MEET DEVIN WRIGHT

Devin grew up in a family business quickly learning that marketing is essential. Having graduated from Judson University with a Bachelor’s in Communications and a Minor in Marketing, Devin is infatuated with the art of storytelling. He can spin a client’s vision into a fantastic tale to create value and attract customers with flair. Devin is always one to dress for success… even if the situation doesn’t call for it. A ballroom dance instructor, Devin is an old soul who enjoys classic cars, old movies and collecting vinyl records.


MEET BRIA LANGWORTHY

Bria joined the Stellar team just 2 days after her college graduation… talk about a go-getter! She is driven to help businesses shine combining both creativity and analytics. With a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Bria is ready to take on the world… or at least our amazing Stellar clients. Bria spends her time outside the office thrifting for clothing and collecting antique tea cups. Her unique style is present in her desk décor and the handmade earrings she wears each day! She is a mother… to over 20 house plants.


MEET HARRY SEMERJIAN

If you need something cleaned, call Harry. Seriously! Even if it’s not his mess, he’ll offer to fix it for you. As Stellar’s SEO expert, Harry's insight into a client's business is a valuable tool reaching more than just online audiences, but customers in the real world too! Harry has owned a handful of businesses since the ripe old age of 13 ranging from manufacturing to real estate to business services. A true Renaissance man, Harry can speak with someone for less than 30 minutes and have a complete business strategy worked out in his head leading them to definite success. A father of two teenage boys, Harry knows a thing or two about dealing with people on the brink of insanity. He fits in well at Stellar.


MEET BODHI

Named after Patrick Swayze’s character in Point Break, Bodhi joined the Stellar team in May 2017 and we don’t know how we got through the prior 6 years without an office dog! Adopted from Animal House Shelter, Bodhi is a Pitbull/American Bulldog mix that his human Lindsay cannot believe someone gave up. Bully breeds definitely get a bad rap because there is nothing sweeter than this 65-pound “lap dog” climbing into someone’s chair as we gather around the conference table. With as much charisma as his namesake, Bodhi greets visitors to the office with a toy in his mouth ready to play. He hasn’t quite developed any marketing skills just yet, but he can spot a duck or another dog out the window like nobody’s business.


MEET KRISTIN KILIAN

Anything that gets thrown Kristin’s way is handled with ease… at least as far as we know. Coming from the retail industry, Kristin is no stranger to a fast paced, ever-changing environment and has no problem adapting to the chaos that comes with managing Stellar’s high profile clients. With years of experience managing all aspects of communications for Fortune 500 companies, Kristin is able to schmooze clients, conquer any task, and ensure everything is running smoothly… even when it’s not! A Hallmark movie fan, Kristin loves spending time with her firefighter husband and rambunctious toddler.


MEET STACY KRUPA

As an expert on all things entertainment, Stacy really knows how to roll out the red carpet for Stellar clients! Her background with Fortune 500 companies makes her well equipped to deal with the ups and downs of any industry. Stacy lives for creative marketing – finding award-winning ways to entice audiences to click, download, buy, or visit through branding, social media, web design, and merchandising. When she’s not dazzling customers, she’s hitting the gym or spending time with her family. A mom of two, she’s used to working well under pressure and taking the lead to make sure sh*t gets done – traits we welcome in the Stellar office!


MEET LYNNE HARKIN

Using a space heater at her desk year-round, Lynne is no stranger to turning it up. With a background in retail and corporate sales, Lynne brings practical knowledge to help Stellar clients determine their path to success. As our content writer extraordinaire, Lynne helps brands find their voice and reaches a whole new world of customers. You may hear her getting flustered from time to time, but it’s always short-lived. Her get ‘er done, take charge attitude works in her capacity at Stellar and as the busy mom of 3 busy boys.


MEET CHRISTINA WOJTOWICZ

As a lover of spicy treats, Christina is a no-nonsense, get the job done kind of a girl. Any task thrown her way is done quicker than you can say Siracha! As our resident Web Developer, troubleshooting issues is her specialty… just like at home as the mother of two young sons! Christina’s ad agency background and experience developing websites adds another layer of insight to our client’s marketing efforts. You’ll often see her hiking and biking with her family (with a stop off at their favorite Dairy Queen for a treat!).


MEET MOLLY FIVELSON

Known around the office as Molly Pee Pee Pants, our resident Graphic Designer has more than just a small bladder. Her experience designing logos, developing brands, and creating amazing materials for Stellar clients brings a fresh perspective and artistic flair.  Molly’s easy-going attitude makes her the perfect candidate to work with constant changes and multiple ongoing projects. When she’s not out saving lives along the side of the road, she lives as a baseball widow and chauffeurs her kids to all their activities.


MEET SIN VAN V

Known for her rainbow hair, Sin is never one to settle for just one style. She pushes the Stellar team to think outside the box and consider things they would have never done before. Her Bachelor’s in Graphic Arts & Illustration from the American Academy of Art is just the tip of what she’s learned. With real-world experience in business management, marketing and promotions, event planning, and vendor coordination, Sin’s experience gives Stellar an Edge over the competition (see what we did there?). Despite her edgy moniker, Sin is a kid at heart riding her scooter, dragging the Stellar team on crazy outings, and smothering her adult son and daughter with embarrassing hugs and kisses.


MEET LINDSAY COATS

Known as the Dream Crusher, Lindsay’s level head keeps the office running like a well-oiled machine. When everyone else is trying to get in human-sized balloons and doing mid-day yoga, Lindsay is crunching numbers in a spreadsheet – literally one of her favorite things to do. With a Bachelor’s in Business Administration, Lindsay has the know-how to help Stellar clients make the right decisions to reach their goals. She loves problem-solving and making things work. She has a soft spot for kids and animals… she’s been known to grab babies from strangers and roll on the ground with any dog that will snuggle her.