If you have a local business, then one of your top priorities should be to secure top rankings in search engine results. It’s crucial that you design a robust local SEO strategy; otherwise, you may lose out on highly qualified leads.

Additionally, SEO helps you drive high-quality traffic to your website and increase the conversions of your local business. This may sound easy, but it’s not.

So, here are some vital dos and don’ts of local SEO:

The Dos of Local SEO

Ask for Positive Online Reviews From Your Customers

Never hesitate to ask your loyal customers to write a positive online review for your business. A study from BrightLocal revealed that positive reviews encourage 68% of customers to visit a local business.

Therefore, don’t overlook the impact of positive review on your local business. Make sure to always ask your customers to give you positive online feedback and high ratings.

91% of consumers from 18-34 years of age believe online reviews as much as they trust personal recommendations.

So, the more positive online reviews you have, the easier it gets to win the trust of your target audience. It also helps you drive high quality and quantity leads to your business.

But, how do you ensure that your customers give you positive online reviews?

Here are some tips which will help you get positive online reviews from your customers:

You need to provide high-quality services or products to your customers. This will automatically motivate them to give positive online feedback. They may even turn into brand advocates for your local business and recommend it to their family and friends.

Also, it motivates your customers, even more, when you ask for a review in person once they have made a purchase or availled your services. If you cannot ask in person, then make sure to send them an email or a text message, requesting that they leave a positive online review.

Additionally, always make sure to reply to reviews from your customers. Local businesses often ignore the significance of responding to customers.

Always thank your customers for the positive review and invite them to visit again. And if you get a negative review, you need to respond to your customers and say sorry to them. Reply to them professionally and politely saying you will look into the matter as soon as possible.

The Don’ts of Local SEO

Never Add a Wrong Category in GMB

According to Moz, Google My Business (GMB) is the third most important factor which affects local search engine rankings. GMB also highly affects whether or not your local business can attract customers.

Often, marketers underestimate the importance and impact of GMB categories on their local businesses. You can check out the your business for various locations using a VPN.

Google frequently adds and removes categories. During the first half of 2018, Google decided to remove 36 categories and add 34 new categories. So, it’s crucial that you keep an eye on these changes and add the most relevant category for your business. When you add the most relevant category, it can help you secure top rankings in search results.

In addition to this, Google also changes the name of their categories frequently. So, you need to be really careful and don’t misunderstand the new name for an existing category as a new category.

The primary category of your local business in GMB is a significant factor affecting your local search engine rankings. Hence, be extra careful when selecting the primary category for your local business.

Do you want to master the art of local SEO and secure top ranks on the search engine? If so, then check out this infographic by Shane Barker for more information.