Experts predict that local SEO trends will change drastically over the next few years, and if you’re a small business, you’ll want to stay ahead of the curve in order to capture new customers who might not have heard of you before. With so many changes expected over the next several years, it can be difficult to keep track of what’s important and what will matter most to your business; this guide breaks down the major trends that are going to impact your local SEO efforts in 2022 and how you can prepare today in order to adapt when the time comes.
A recent study shows that as many as 75% of local businesses don’t have an online presence at all, and of those that do, only 20% have any online reviews, which leaves over half of them missing out on the top two most powerful local SEO ranking factors. But there are still plenty of opportunities to get ahead of the curve and beat your competition to the punch when it comes to local SEO Sydney in 2022, even if you’re just starting out in this field.
Improved User Experience
More and more, users will rely on mobile devices for their web searches. So, it’s important that you design your website for mobile users. You want it to load quickly and easily navigate from any device. Today, customers expect a seamless experience across multiple platforms. This means that what works for Twitter or Facebook won’t necessarily work for Instagram. Local search experiences are improving all over social media, which is good news for those invested in local SEO Sydney. So, focus on improving user experience for better results.
Google My Business
Unlike other entries on our list, Google My Business is a service offered by Google that helps businesses register and create pages for their locations. If you have multiple locations, or if you work with local distributors or franchises, then setting up GMB profiles can help users find your business more easily. Also make sure to fill out all of your contact info, including phone numbers and addresses.
Zero Click Results
If you want your local business to rank for competitive, location-specific keywords, you need a marketing strategy that makes it easier for customers to find you on Google. And what better way is there than zero-click results? In other words, users who search for a local-area query and then select your listing from within Google Maps or Search.
Optimise Your Website for Local Search
The days of having a website that only works on desktop are long gone. Today, almost more than half of all Google searches were done from mobile devices—and it’s projected that more than three-quarters of searches will be conducted from smartphones and tablets in the future. If you want to attract more customers and improve local SEO, make sure your website is optimised for mobile.
Voice Search Matters for Local Search
More and more people are beginning to use voice search via devices like Amazon Echo and Google Home, meaning that businesses will soon have to optimise their websites for voice search. If you haven’t already optimised for local organic search, you should do so now before it becomes even more of a necessity.
Get Great Quality Content for Your Customers
Getting great quality content on your site is essential for any local optimisation strategy. Investing in great content can help you rank higher for relevant terms, which brings more potential customers to your website. You can invest directly by hiring the best SEO company Sydney who can create well-tailored content for your business.
Video Content Matters
Video content has skyrocketed over recent years and it shows no signs of slowing down. The rise of social media and mobile devices have encouraged brands to get on board with video, but they aren’t focusing on where it will make a big difference—in local search. Video content is an amazing way for businesses to engage potential customers and get found at an even deeper level than before.
Maintain a Solid Online Reputation
Your online reputation is your public face. If you want to boost local SEO, you need a solid online reputation—and that means managing your social media profiles and online reviews consistently. While some service providers can help with these efforts, it’s also important that you know what you stand for as a company and how you want your brand image portrayed online; after all, there are just as many ways to go wrong on social media as there are right.
Run Local Deals for Customers
As more and more people begin searching for deals online, running a deal for local customers can help boost both brand awareness and sales. If you have a brick-and-mortar store, consider offering a service which gives users coupons for area businesses. If you don’t have a storefront but offer services like massage or painting instead, consider starting up an independent e-commerce site to reach new customers online.
The Bottom Line
As you probably know, Local SEO has become a top priority for small businesses in recent years. In fact, local search now accounts for most of all online sales – and it’s only going to get bigger. In addition to this growth, Google will be making changes to their algorithm that will affect the way local search results are presented and ranked. With these updates imminent, now is the perfect time to make sure your business’s local SEO strategy is up-to-date. So, watch out for the above trends in order to prepare yourself and your business for the future of Local SEO in 2022. Get in touch with an SEO specialist Sydney now for more.
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