Blogging is an effective tool that helps you create relevant content for your small business. It can also help you boost your SEO efforts, especially when it comes to local search, which aims to increase your visibility within a specific geographic area.
Because local SEO enhances brand awareness in your stated geographic location, it’s ideal for business to consumer (B2C) businesses that sell to customers in this area for sales. Not only can you create hyperlocal content with your blogs, you can rank for more long-tail keywords that are specific to your area.
Here’s how you can use your blog as a way of optimizing local search and getting access to your target audience.
8 Ways to Blog For Local Search
Before you try your hand at writing timely, helpful, localized content, consider these tips to maximize the local SEO benefits you can glean from your blog. As a side note: if you have no interest or time to craft your own blogs, look to us to provide expert content writing in Metro Detroit.
1. Come Up With a Content Plan
First, you need to strategize the content you will use. Creating content without a plan won’t give you the results you need. First, assess your current content. Is it relevant to your target audience? What offerings are you trying to sell? Part of this process is to engage in keyword research to determine what your customers are searching for in your area. Only then can you craft a content strategy.
2. Prioritize Helpful Content
Gone are the days where keyword stuffing has been deemed acceptable. Google is too smart for that. You have to make sure you’re answering the pressing questions and concerns posed by your audience. Providing comprehensive answers within your blog will prove the most helpful in addressing their queries and building trust.
3. Ensure Timely Content
Timely content is fresh and engaging. While some blog content is evergreen, it’s important to put out timely content that stays on top of current trends and will rank you higher with the search engines. Stale content won’t get you there.
4. Use Local Keywords
If you’re intent on ranking for local searches, you need to use local keywords. Incorporate long-tail keywords that include locations to drive local traffic.
5. Consider the Community
Often times, you can connect community resources with the services or products you’re selling. This is a good opportunity to showcase relevant resources that align with your brand. For instance, a pet food store may present resources about pet adoption, local shelters, and local groomers as within their blog.
6. Keep Your Google Business Profile Updated
Google Business Profiles must be kept up to date if you want to show up on Maps and local search options. If a customer shows up to your business after hours, and you failed to update those hours online, you may have lost a customer. If your customers go to the wrong address because you didn’t update it when you moved last month, they may just go to the next business on the list.
7. Create Local Content
People want to know what’s happening near them and how it’s affecting them. Creating content that appeals to local interests will engage more users. Tap into local holidays and festivals, for instance.
8. Add Local Images and Videos
Insert photos and videos of local landmarks, labeling them with the proper alt-text to reinforce your location and boost your search efforts behind the scenes.
In the end, if you’re looking to strengthen your local search strategies, you can maximize local traffic by blogging to that target audience and meeting them where they are.
Call Detroit Internet Marketing For a Free Quote and Consultation
We can help you use local SEO to target your ideal customers. Schedule an appointment with us today at (248) 234-4830 and get a free quote on our complete website design services in Metro Detroit.