If your business relies on customer walk-ins and orders from local customers, then you need local SEO services. Whether you’re a small cafe or a lawyer’s office searching for clients, you cannot afford to lose the digital marketing game to your competitors.
According to Bright Local, SEO is:
Local SEO (Local Search Engine Optimization), sometimes referred to as local search engine marketing, is an incredibly effective way to market your local business online, as it helps businesses promote their products and services to local customers at the exact time they’re looking for them online.
Local SEO takes advantage of purchase intent, where users are looking to solve an immediate problem with a business nearby. Employing special tools for local search, businesses can reach local customers, especially mobile customers, to attract future customers. While you need to employ several digital marketing strategies and constantly monitor various different metrics, you need to start by hiring a local SEO company. Apart from offering all the SEO services of a large company, small neighborhood firms usually have in-depth knowledge about the local market and what the competition is doing.
But, can you master the nuances of the ever-changing world of local SEO, while still having time to manage your business, without the help of a firm specializing in local SEO? Probably not. Without much ado, the following are 8 reasons why you need to hire a local digital marketing company for your business.
Same Time Zone, Easier Communication
A lot of big SEO companies are forced to outsource their work. This means coordinating with specialists working in different time zones. As a client, you may need to schedule an early morning Skype call just to get the latest report. That’s just inconvenient. Working with a local SEO company gives you the freedom to get in touch with them during normal working hours. This saves a lot of time and is better for both the SEO company and you.
In-Depth Knowledge of Local Consumer Behavior
Local SEO services that specifically cater to local businesses have much more in-depth knowledge of how consumers behave. This knowledge helps them fine-tune local ads and social media posts to ensure a better response rate. They are also more aware of the apps and websites people like to hang out in and can thus target them more effectively.
More Equipped to Find Local Keywords
>While all good SEO companies should be able to find keywords, a local SEO firm can find those specific long-chain keywords that locals use to search for products and services online. That’s because they know the local lingo and slang and can thus target those keywords that have little to no competition.
Every once in a while, especially during the holiday season, you need to launch special promotions. This creates a buzz about your business and boosts word-of-mouth marketing. Local SEO services are much better equipped to find things that locals will be excited about. Be it a discount on a specific product or service or offering freebies that people would jump on.
Local SEO Services Are Usually More Cost-Effective
Local SEO companies usually have a small team and they understand the importance of pricing their services in a way that attracts owners of small neighborhood stores and businesses. Having worked with small businesses in the community, they understand that budget is a very real concern. This is why they usually have flexible payment plans and prices that are geared toward small businesses.
Greater Awareness of What’s Trending Locally
SEO companies can piggyback their client’s business on a local trend. However, they need to take action fast. Unfortunately, companies outside the community often take too long to detect these trends and take positive action before it’s too late.
Individual communities have their own tastes, events, and idiosyncratic products they enjoy. For instance, my family in WV introduced me to sausage rolls dipped in this unique pepper sauce. Yum. A local SEO firm knows that people love this and can position it to the local community in a way that appeals to them.
Much More Likely to Hit the Bullseye with Google My Business Optimization<
If you have a brick-and-mortar store, you need a Google My Business listing. That’s just obvious. People need to find your business’s name, phone number, and address when searching for the product or service you sell. Local SEO services can optimize your Google listing to ensure it shows up when people are looking for your business. They can also advise you on how to get positive customer reviews and improve your listing rank.
Local SEO Companies Care About Their Reputation in the Local Market
A company that works with global clients and has a presence in a range of different markets and industries usually do not have to worry about their reputation. They can always find new clients who have no clue about their past failures. In the local community, the word of poor digital marketing services spreads pretty fast. Some local SEO firms also have industry niches, which means they cannot possibly get away with providing an inferior service.
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Hausman and Associates, the publisher of MKT Maven, is a full-service marketing agency operating at the intersection of marketing and digital media. Check out our full range of services.
