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 In Marketing Insights

You’ve heard the saying “word travels fast in a small town,” but you can’t rely on word-of-mouth to sustain or grow your small town business. 

Take a look at these local consumer statistics: 

This is why using local Search Engine Optimization for your business’ online presence, especially a brick and mortar business, can be so helpful. 

What is Local Search Engine Optimization? 

You may be familiar with Search Engine Optimization (SEO) when researching the best way to get your business in front of eyes on a global scale. 

Local Search Engine Optimization (local SEO) is what gets your business in front of the eyes of people who are searching for local businesses near or in your own town. 

As a business owner in a small town, it’s easy to assume “everyone in town knows my business.” But if you don’t master local search visibility, then you will miss out on a lot of customers, including: 

  • People who are new in town 
  • Local people who are new to your market (For example, a new homeowner searching for a top-notch window company to replace their old house windows)
  • People who are visiting or traveling through your town (For example, people searching for a restaurant, antique store, local coffee shop, etc. to stop at) 

Below you’ll find three main ways local SEO can help your business, so you don’t need to worry about missing out on customers anymore.   

1. Local SEO Targets People Who Want Quick Results From Searches

As more generations grow up with technology at their fingertips, the more consumers are going to want (dare I say need) quick results from online searches. 

Imagine you are unloading groceries from your car after a weekly shopping trip. 

You finally finish hauling in all the bags and shut the trunk, only to realize your keys are locked inside. Now you need a locksmith!

What would you do? 

You’re most likely going to take your phone out of your pocket and look up a locksmith company near you.

This is a perfect example of when local SEO is going to help a business. The locksmith with the right local SEO is going to show up in searches quickly—making it much more likely for that locksmith to gain sales.

Consumers make purchasing decisions multiple times a day. Since 72% of consumers visit a business within 5 miles of them after performing a local search, your business can’t afford to not pop up in local searches. 

2. Local SEO Means A Mobile Friendly Website 

You know every business needs a website. Did you know every business needs a mobile friendly website?

Your website could look perfect on a desktop, but if it’s too hard to maneuver on a mobile phone or people can’t find specific information, then potential customers are going to exit and most likely never return. 

Local SEO includes a mobile friendly website that:

  • uploads quickly
  • is user friendly
  • showcases positive reviews from past customers
  • clearly presents your business information (the service you provide, address, phone number, hours of operation, etc.) 

Look up your business website on a smartphone right now. Do you think the current look of your website could drive sales? If not, then it’s time to invest in local SEO. 

3. Local SEO Could Save You Money Over Time 

If your business is optimized for local searches, then you could free up more of your budget usually spent on traditional forms of advertisement. 

Local SEO is a type of inbound marketing, meaning it drives consistent organic traffic to your business website over time. 

Your business doesn’t have to heavily rely on traditional advertising that potentially costs more money, like newspaper ads or time-consuming television commercials, if your local SEO is on point.

Additionally, local SEO is a way business owners can target specific consumers, rather than using traditional ads that— let’s face it—are known to target a broad audience. 

Take the guesswork out of leading customers to your business, and use local SEO to save money while targeting your ideal consumer.    

Improve Your Local SEO—It Just Makes Sense

If you don’t make the best out of your business’ online presence, then potential customers will go to your local competitors instead—which costs you sales and opportunity for growth!  

You want to make it as easy as possible for people to find your business. Local SEO will do it for you. 

If you’re looking for assistance in optimizing your business’ online presence, then contact us today to start the conversation. Our team of digital marketing experts at Elm Digital Marketing would love to help!

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