How to Improve Local SEO: The Complete Guide for Edmonton Businesses

folder_openSearch Engine Optimization

With over 1.9 billion websites on the world wide web, getting yours noticed from the crowd is easier said than done. That’s why businesses invest so much in their SEO, particularly their local SEO.

If you’re a business owner in Edmonton, chances are you’re always looking for ways to improve local SEO for your business. After all, the competition is nothing less than cut-throat, and it can be tough to stand out from the crowd. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide on how to improve your local SEO.

Today’s guide covers everything from creating quality content to building links back to your website. So, whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been doing local SEO for a while, read on for some valuable tips that will help you get ahead of the competition.

How Does Local SEO Work?

Before we get to the gist of the matter, let’s first form a firm understanding of how SEO works. So how does local SEO work?

On the surface, local SEO works like regular SEO but is more “localised.” Usually, when you search for anything on a search engine, it will scan its index to give the best results for your query. However, local SEO will use a unique set of ranking signals, unlike normal SEO.

Some of these signals include:

  • The user’s location
  • NAP citations
  • Number of social media shares
  • Sentiments in online reviews pertaining to your business
  • Keywords used in online reviews of your business
  • Google Maps star rating for your business

These are some of the few key signals in local SEO. Local SEO strategies involve working on these signals, so you can rank higher on local search engine results pages (SERPs).

Given that 46% of all searches on Google are for local results, overlooking local SEO may work to your detriment.

How to Improve Local SEO and Increase Local Traffic to Your Site

Improving local SEO isn’t rocket science, but it does take some considerable effort on your part. Here are a few ways you can improve local SEO.

It All Starts With a Google Business Profile

Setting up a Google Business profile is a free and easy way to get your business on Google Maps and improve your chances of being found by potential customers.

To set up your Google Business Profile, go to google.com/business and create an account using your business email address. Once you’re logged in, add your business name, address, phone number, website URL, category, and opening hours.

Next, add some photos of your business and logo. This helps improve click-through rates (CTRs) and gives customers a better idea of what your business is all about. After that, verify your listing by phone or postcard so Google knows it’s really you.

Once your profile is set up, make sure to keep it updated with any changes to your business, such as new products or services, special offers, or changes to your opening hours.

Be Active on Social Media

Social media is a powerful platform that can help improve local SEO and increase traffic to your website.

Make sure you’re active on social media and regularly posting quality content that’s relevant to your audience. If you’re not sure what kind of content to post, think about what would be interesting or useful for your target customers.

You should also make use of local hashtags when possible, as this can help improve your reach and get your content in front of more people in Edmonton.

In addition to posting quality content, you should also interact with other users on social media. This helps create a sense of community and gives potential customers the impression that you’re a business that cares about its customers.

Finally, make sure you’re using social media to drive traffic back to your website. Include links to your website in your social media posts, and make sure your website is optimized for SEO so people can find it easily.

Creating Content That Touches on Local Events

While businesses tend to focus on content for marketing, consider taking a different approach to your local SEO. You need to create content around local news and events to boost local SEO. That’s one sure-fire way to grab your customers’ attention.

To do just that, consider:

  • Writing blog posts about local news and events
  • Having location-specific web pages for local news and events
  • Creating videos on local charities and events with organisations

If you can find a way of tying your business to the content, the better it is for you.

Have the Local Keywords Down Pat

It’s also important to use SEO keywords that resonate with your local audience. After all, they’re the ones you want visiting your site, aren’t they?

The only issue with so many keywords, keeping track of them can become quite the challenge. Thankfully, you can use Google’s own Keyword Planner to keep your keywords in check. This tool lets you filter keywords based on location to find the most popular keywords in a particular region.

You can use the Keyword Planner to find the most popular keywords in your particular region. Use them wisely across your website and watch your SERP ranking rise by the day.

Focus on Getting High-Quality Back Links

Google loves it when popular websites link back to yours. As such, it’s important to focus on building relationships with other businesses and bloggers in your industry.

A few ways of doing this include:

  • Reaching out to other businesses and bloggers in your industry
  • Building a strong social media presence
  • Creating informative and shareable content
  • Engaging in online forums and discussions

By building relationships with other businesses and bloggers, you’re more likely to get high-quality backlinks from them. These backlinks will do wonders for your local SEO. You can opt for blogger outreach if you’re having trouble finding bloggers to backlink to your site.

Leverage Online Business Directories to Your Advantage

Online business directories like Yelp and Yellowpages have revolutionised the business landscape for the better. By registering your business on these directories, you’ll improve visibility and boost local SEO.

If you choose to list your business in these directories, get all the right details on the listing. Your listing should include:-

  • your business name
  • Your business’s contact details and address
  • A link to your landing page
  • A brief but thorough description of your website

For the best results, ensure all details remain the same across all directories.

Have a Web Page for Every Product You Sell

Do you sell multiple products? If so, then you need to have a page for each product.

This is important for two reasons. First, it provides customers with all the information they need about a particular product before making a purchase. It’s certainly much better than lumping everything on a single page.

Secondly, It also helps improve your website’s SERP ranking, thus boosting local SEO. Creating separate pages for each of your products also allows you to target different keywords and improve click-through rates.

To improve local SEO, ensure you have a separate page for each product you sell. This way, customers can find all the information they need about a particular product before making a purchase.

You’ll also be able to target different keywords and improve click-through rates.

Adjust Your Internal Linking Structure

We’ve already talked about how high-quality backlinks are excellent for local SEO. While focusing on building quality backlinks, don’t overlook your internal links. Properly organising your internal structures will also boost local SEO.

Here are a few reasons why internal linking is super important:

  • It determines the website’s hierarchy and information architecture
  • It facilitates site navigation
  • Assigns page authority and determines page rank

Improving internal structure is an intricate process that might require some professional help. Liaise with web design experts and see how you can improve your site’s internal linking structure.

Ensure You Have a Mobile-Friendly Site

Did you know that half of all internet users access the internet via mobile devices? Having a site that isn’t mobile-friendly is locking away these users from your site. As you’d expect, this only hurt your local SEO.

If users still have to pinch and zoom their screen when visiting your site, you’re doing it wrong. Users should have a seamless experience across all devices, regardless of their screen size.

Use Google’s mobile-friendly test to check how mobile-friendly your site is.

Optimise Your Meta descriptions, Titles Tags, and Headers

One of the most important on-page SEO ranking factors is proper optimisation of your website’s meta descriptions, title tags, and headers.

Your title tags and headers should include relevant local keywords to improve your chances of ranking high on SERPs. They should also be interesting and captivating enough to encourage users to click the link to your site.

Participate in Community Events

Although it sounds farfetched, participating in local community events will also boost your SEO. The more you participate in local events, the more word gets around about your business. Do this consistently, and you’ll build what is known as digital PR.

If there’s a local charity event, ensure you’re part of that. Partners with a non-profit organisation and have a community event. That way, you can get the word going around your business and increase its mentions on digital platforms.

Include Photos of Your Location

It’s important to also include photos of your location on your website. That way, customers can know what to look for when in the vicinity. Use alt text and proper file names to give details about your location.

Remember, only use high-quality photos of your business in its location. Low-quality images will do the opposite of what you want them to do and hurt your SEO.

Include Google Maps on Your Website

Google Maps is an excellent way to improve local SEO. It allows customers to see your business location and get directions to your store. Once Google has verified you, you can include opening hours, reviews, and photos on your Google My Business listing.

Embed a Google Maps link on your website to make it easier for your customers to find you. Doing so is as easy as copying the link to your site’s HTML.

Talk to Local Influencers and Bloggers

Bloggers and influencers are among the best ways to engage with the local audience. Talk to bloggers and influencers around your area and ask them to promote your business. They can do this on their blogs or their social media outlets.

They can either talk about your products or backlink to your website. Either way works great for your local SEO. Just don’t forget to steer clear of low-quality backlinks that add zero value.

List Your Business in Local Directories

We already talked about how listing your business on online directories is great for SEO. Aside from online business directories, don’t forget to list your company on all local directories. All you need to do is find these local directories and list your name, contact information, and add a link to your website.

The more directories you list your business, the better it will boost your local SEO. Just ensure that all the information remains accurate and consistent across the board.

Work With Professionals in Edmonton

There’s no shame in admitting that you need help with SEO. The SEO landscape is ever-changing and keeping up with the trends can be difficult. This is especially true for businesses that are trying to do everything on their own.

Working with a professional agency that offers managed SEO services can take your local SEO game up a notch.

These agencies have the tools and resources needed to track your progress and ensure you’re always ahead of the curve. You’ll also have access to their team of experts who can help you with anything you need.

Most importantly, they use data-driven strategies to help you achieve your desired results. So if you’re serious about boosting your local SEO, consider working with an agency that can help you out.

Improve Your Local SEO Today

Local SEO is a great way to ensure your business is visible to people in your area. By following the tips and tricks we’ve outlined in this article, you can easily improve local SEO and get more customers through your door.

But remember, SEO is an ongoing process. That means you need to continuously work on it to maintain and improve your results.

Looking for help with your local SEO? Look no further than Snap SEO. We’re an Edmonton-based agency that helps businesses improve their online visibility.

Contact us today to learn how we can help you.

Tags: backlinks, link building, Local SEO, , Video Learning

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