Originally published July 30, 2022 , updated on January 16, 2023

One of the key success factors that small businesses often overlook is having a marketing plan. When it comes to getting your business name out there, promotion is essential. But, it’s not merely about promotion – marketing is about being discovered by the right consumer at the right time.

How often have you Googled something based on location? For example, you might have tried to search “Italian restaurant near me” in the hopes of finding a place that makes fantastic pizza. If you were that restaurant owner, you would want your business to show up for the area that you’re in. To ensure your restaurant comes out on the top of the search page, you need to invest in Search Engine Optimisation (SEO). 

This practice helps your brand grow its long-term organic visibility. The problem is that it takes a considerable amount of time and consistent effort. When you’re a small business owner, your focus is on growing your business and being involved in every aspect of running it. Marketing and search engine techniques would fall to the bottom of the to-do list. This is when you need to begin your search for the best local SEO company.

You’re in luck. We’re going to discuss why local SEO is essential for small businesses. We’ll also guide how you can shortlist the best local SEO company for your needs. 

What Is SEO, and How Does It Work?

The first thing to understand about search engines like Google and Yahoo is that they have designed their algorithms to rank content that is useful to consumers above all other content. They want to show people who search for information online the most trusted version of information possible. In short, the content needs to cater to the questions searchers are asking. 

Google takes into account the quality of content and the use of phrases and keywords. It also looks at factors such as the frequency of content posted, the time the user spends on a page, and the existence of good metadata and links. 

All of this contributes to a website’s ranking. The higher your page ranks on search engine results, the greater your business’s chances of garnering new customers online. This kind of traffic drives conversions and sales. 

If this all seems too complicated, don’t worry! A local SEO marketing agency would be well versed in the combination of practices that go into driving successful search campaigns for small businesses. 

How the Best Local SEO Company Will Help Small Businesses Grow

Your small business ideally wants to rank for your product or service within your area and community. For example, if you’re an optician in Tampa Bay, you want your website to come up on a Google search when a user in your area searches phrases such as “eye examination” or “prescription lenses”. You can achieve this with content that factors in these keywords.

A local SEO services company will ensure that your location and surrounding locations are featured throughout your online copy. It would be in tandem with optimised keywords and phrases. 

Content can be many things. It ranges from the text on your website itself that includes a ‘Home’ and ‘About Us’ page introducing your business. This can also include text about making an appointment, getting into contact, and receiving a quote. 

Informative materials such as blogs and articles contribute to better SEO too. This content, which is usually longer, would follow all the best practices while giving the reader engaging, entertaining, and informative content. So, for an optician, this might feature tips around caring for your eyes or information on how often to do an eye test. 

This improves your ranking and helps your business get found in relevant searches. The more your small business can be found for local searches, the better this will be for your growth and traffic. 

Tips for Finding a Local SEO Services Company

Searching for answers online is very much a local entity. Next, we’ll uncover some of the key deciding factors to look for in a local SEO optimisation service to boost your marketing strategy. 

Don’t Think They Aren’t Good Enough if They Aren’t Ranked Number One

There’s a good reason SEO experts get to the number one ranking. However, as a smaller business, it’s advisable to look around at other well-ranked companies that may be closer to you geographically and will be as good. Doing so will allow your business to find some top-performing agencies that can provide more personalised service. 

If there is a local SEO company that can assist, they will be more au fait with your area and your community. Also, they will know best how to target them with localised keywords.

Do Your Due Diligence With Reviews and Case Studies

Being an online-based industry you can expect some of the best local SEO companies to have a great online presence. This includes having solid reviews and testimonials to back up their services. Before choosing a company, check out their Google reviews and search for them on sites such as TrustPilot.com. Knowing that others have reviewed their service and deemed them credible will give your business peace of mind. 

Some companies might even provide a portfolio that includes case studies of work done for other clients. In this case, the results will speak for themselves. You’ll quickly be able to see if they offered a great return on investment for previous clients, putting your mind at ease when selecting them. 

Find an Industry Specialist

Some local SEO services claim they can do it all. This may seem optimal, but it might be far better to find a company that specialises in search engine optimisation for your industry. If they can bring their expertise to your niche field, this might make a huge difference as opposed to using a generalised company.

For example, Goodman Lantern is an SEO content marketing agency that specialises in SaaS, telecommunications, accounting, finance, and a few tech specialities. These are the core industries we specialise in. However, we offer our services to a broader range of clients when we are approached to do so. We love expanding our repertoire. So if you don’t fall into one of these industries, we may still be able to help you optimise your site for local search.

Find the Best Local SEO Company With a Trial

Just like finding the ideal employee to do the job for your business, you need to find the perfect partner to make your small business stand out in local searches. Use our recommended tips to create your shortlist of experts. However, don’t be afraid to embark on a trial period to see if the company truly understands your market and your goals. 

Goodman Lantern offers a free content marketing trial and is ready to impress you with our SEO expertise. Reach out to us to produce relevant, optimised content for your brand and technical practices to make you shine on a local Google search. 

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