Why is SEO so important for today’s local business? It doesn’t take a rocket scientist, or even a halfway decent computer science major, to explain exactly why search engine optimization has catapulted up the list of things business owners choose to invest in.
Consider this: according to Motorola Solutions, when a consumer walks out of a store without purchasing something, 40% of the time their action was influenced by a smartphone. And of the billions of search queries that take place on Google every week, 43% are for local businesses.
Are you interested in finding a good SEO company to handle your small business’s needs? Here are four things you should keep in mind.
1. Search Engines Aren’t Always Killing Your Storefront
Many small businesses are wary of the internet because of the perception that it kills their actual storefronts — why would anyone visit in person when the internet can provide? Yet according to a recent study published in Search Engine Watch, mobile phone searches that converted bring customers into a store 75% of the time. Affordable SEO companies can help you convert clicks into paying customers.
2. Find a Company That Knows What They’re Doing With Local Search
Not all good SEO companies necessarily know how to handle local optimized search. And if your focus isn’t on ranking nationally for “pizza,” then you’re really going to want a company who can deliver localized SEO so that you don’t waste your money on selling Californian pizza to someone in Florida.
3. Local SEO Companies Can Work With You to Build Up Local Listings
If you’re a pizza company, local online listing websites such as Urbanspoon, Tripadvisor, Google Local and Yelp will be important. Each one allows you to create a free profile. If you don’t spend a ton of time online, it’s easy for profiles to fall through the cracks — this can mean you either don’t have a profile, or your profile has inaccurate information regarding your open times, menu, and more. Affordable SEO companies help get you in charge of your local listings.
4. A Local SEO Agency Can Help You With Mobile Friendly Design
These days, most websites that specialize in helping businesses with online marketing can also do website development. Why is it important to make sure your website has mobile-friendly design? About 80% of both smartphone and tablet users report using their devices to find information on local businesses. When people want options for tonight’s dinner, they want a site that loads — they’re not going to run back inside, start up their computer and view your website that way.
How can affordable SEO companies help your local search? Let us know in the comments. Read more like this.
