Optimising a website for local search results is known as local search engine optimisation (SEO). Typically, local search results are displayed when a user enters a query like “in XYZ” or “near me,” and the search engine understands that this places restrictions on the search based on the user’s location.

Businesses can boost their presence in these local search results for phrases relating to their company and their products or services by implementing local search optimisation tactics.

The question, however, is why? Why is local SEO for small businesses so important? Read on to find out, as we have a number of answers to this one question that will help you understand why you need to implement local SEO techniques for your small business.

It Helps You Be Competitive

The simple fact of modern business is that you will have a lot of competition. There are sure to be other entrepreneurs who have started similar businesses to you, perhaps even at roughly the same time. Thanks to modern technology, starting a business is easier than ever (although making it successful is much harder, and it’s good to remember that), and therefore you’ll have more competition than ever before.

Even if you’re not utilising the benefits of local SEO, you should be aware that your competitors may well be. The ones who are doing best will certainly be using it. This means they are getting ahead of you, and you are falling behind. Imagine if someone searched for your type of business in your town and only your competitors showed up in the search engine results because they use local SEO for small businesses, and you don’t. This happens all the time.

To test the idea out, run that search yourself. Where are you? Where are your competitors? If they are above you, it’s time to implement a better local SEO for small businesses strategy – or start one if you don’t currently have one.

People Like Buying Local

There is more and more emphasis being put on the benefits of buying from local businesses. Although it’s true that larger, more well-known companies will probably be more successful than local ones that are much smaller, that doesn’t mean you can’t use your local SEO techniques to boost your profits – if even a small percentage of people start buying from you rather than a big corporation, that will make a huge difference to your bottom line.

People are supporting and boosting their local economies by shopping at local businesses more and more. As people become more critical of big-box stores and online powerhouses, they want to put their money where it will make a bigger difference. By making yourself known as a local business and getting more people to visit your website, you’ll find out how many local customers want to help you grow.

This is where local SEO for small businesses will help hugely. If no one knows you exist, they won’t choose you over a large business. Showing you’re there through the right SEO tactics is crucial.

You’ll Find Customers Who Are Ready To Buy

Statistics show that 80 percent of local searches turn into actual sales. It is suggested that the reason for this is that when people are searching for a local business, they are ready to buy – they want to place an order or visit your shop or restaurant (or whatever other establishment you might have) and spend money with you.

A vaguer search that doesn’t contain the local element is more likely to be about research, meaning the person searching is only at the start of their buying journey. By the time they add the local area to the search, they are much more ready to get serious and part with their money. Wouldn’t it be great if yours was the business they chose when they were in this position? With good local SEO for small businesses, it could be.

It’s Cost-Effective

Local SEO is a relatively cheap form of marketing. There is a financial outlay required to employ effective search engine optimisation and digital marketing services. However, it’s important to remember that these expenditures are tied to fruitful outcomes over the long run.

Websites that have effective local SEO tend not to disappear. Even though you’ll need to keep up the SEO and promotion, your website will remain search engine optimised at no ongoing cost beyond the marketing assistants.

This is not the case with several other forms of advertising. Putting ads in the paper or on the radio requires a substantial investment. If you go the pay-per-click (PPC) route, you’ll need to keep shelling out cash if you want to keep your site at the top of search results. When compared to traditional forms of marketing, local SEO’s organic outcomes come at a much more reasonable price.