Search engine optimization (SEO) is always evolving. In the past, local businesses could often get by without keeping up with the latest trends in local SEO. But times have changed. Nowadays, virtually every business establishes an online presence, and customers expect to find their local companies in search results. If your business isn’t visible there, you’re missing out on potential opportunities.
In 2023, local SEO is placing an even greater emphasis on enhancing the experience for your customers. This includes optimizing for voice searches, ensuring your website is mobile-friendly, and understanding how these factors impact the overall customer experience.
Now, all this can be hard to implement if you don’t have the necessary expertise. Therefore, it is important to engage with a local SEO services company that can help you understand the intricacies of creating and implementing a viable local SEO strategy.
Let’s explore how these changes translate into trends, examine the relevant statistics, and discover actionable steps to succeed in this evolving landscape.
Prioritizing User Experience for Local SEO Success in 2023
In 2023, focusing on user experience (UX) is a crucial strategy for improving your local SEO rankings. Back in May 2020, Google made a significant announcement— – that it would consider various UX signals when determining website rankings.
These UX signals encompass factors like the speed at which your web pages load, the ease with which visitors can navigate your site to find the information they seek, and how well the overall user experience translates to mobile and desktop platforms. These elements are pivotal in determining where your website appears on Google’s search engine results pages.
To help businesses enhance their UX, Google offers a helpful tool called Google Search Console. Within this tool, you’ll find a section called “Core Web Vitals” on the left side of the page, which provides insights into how Google assesses your website’s UX.
So, what steps can you take to improve your website’s UX? For years, marketers have relied on pop-up and banner ads on websites, but users generally despise them. This has been common knowledge for a while, and it’s time to bid them farewell.
To drive this point home, consider this statistic from Business Insider: Users are 279.64 times more likely to have climbed Mount Everest than to click on your banner ad. Not only do these ads harm your SEO efforts, but they also frustrate your audience, which fails to compensate for any potential gains.
Is your website loading swiftly? There are online tools available for testing this crucial aspect. However, test your site’s speed across various platforms, ensuring it performs well on iOS and Android smartphones, desktop computers, and tablets.
Local businesses should also consider what users prioritize when visiting their websites and tailor their navigation accordingly. For instance, consider the essential information people look for on your homepage – can they easily locate your contact details, store hours, and address?
Google My Business (GMB): Your Key to Local SEO Success
Google My Business, often GMB, has become increasingly important in today’s digital landscape. Google now places greater emphasis on understanding user intent when delivering search results. It’s not just about matching keywords anymore; it’s about providing users with what they seek.
For instance, when someone searches for the “best realtor,” Google doesn’t simply display a generic list of realtors. Instead, it utilizes location-based data to present the best realtors in the user’s local area. This valuable information is prominently featured in Google My Business results.
But why is this so crucial for local businesses? Research indicates that 49% of local companies receive more than a thousand monthly views on their Google My Business listings. This level of visibility can significantly impact a business’s success.
So, how can you optimize your listing for better performance? The first good news is that setting up your Google My Business profile is entirely free. To maximize its effectiveness, complete your profile with as much information as possible.
Keep it up to date; if your business hours change, promptly update them in your listing. Posting fresh content every two weeks keeps your listing current and allows you to include more local keywords. The more engagement and activity your listing receives, the happier Google will be, ultimately leading to higher rankings in search results.
Ensure Your Website is Mobile-Friendly Websites
Customers who need to purchase their daily routine will likely search for it on their mobile devices. Recent studies reveal that 52.2% of website traffic comes from mobile devices.
If this statistic hasn’t convinced you to prioritize your website’s mobile design, consider this: Google now prioritizes mobile-first indexing for new websites. Simply put, Google assesses new websites primarily based on their mobile design, not their desktop version. And what’s on their radar? The user experience.
Google wants to see mobile designs that are user-friendly and load quickly. Is the font size on your mobile design adequate? Are the crucial links and information easy to find right away? Make sure your website is mobile-friendly to maximize results.
Why Voice Search Is Important for Local Businesses
When folks chat with their phones or smart speakers, they express their online queries more conversationally, unlike typing into a search bar. These spoken searches tend to be a bit longer. So, if you want your website to appear in local voice searches, it’s crucial to adapt your content to how people naturally speak.
Local SEO can be tricky, and it’s best left to experts with experience. If you’re unsure how to boost your website’s rankings, partnering with a local SEO services company is a good idea. They can cater to your specific needs.
If you want top-notch local business SEO services, Search Berg is your go-to choice. They excel at optimizing websites to improve search engine rankings. Contact them today to find out more about their services.
About The Author
Alex Parker is a seasoned digital marketing expert with a passion for staying ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving world of SEO. With plenty of experience in the field, they have successfully helped numerous businesses harness the power of local SEO to enhance their online visibility and drive organic traffic.
Alex Parker is a regular contributor to leading industry publications and blogs, sharing their insights on the latest trends, strategies, and predictions in SEO. Their deep understanding of search engine algorithms and local SEO tactics has earned them recognition as a trusted authority in the field.
