In the last few years, Search Engine Optimization has become an essential part of every good marketing strategy. For those who are not familiar, SEO is the process of optimizing your website for relevant keywords that potential customers and looking up online. A subsect within this strategy is optimizing for localized search terms, which is otherwise known as Local SEO.

In order to help maximize your visibility for local search terms, we have sat down with 8 small business leaders who have mastered the art of Local SEO. Check out their tips and tricks below!

Create a Business Listing on Google My Business

Create, or claim, a business listing on Google My Business to get more visibility on the local level. One of the first ways a customer will find you is through a search engine, so by having a Google My Business listing, you are more likely to appear in their search results. Google My Business also allows you to list specific details about your organization in a quick, easy to read format right on the results page to make it easier for your target audience to reach you.

Candi Luciano, Y Scouts

Choose Local Keywords

It is SEO 101, but choosing the best keywords will be key in your Local SEO strategy. Trying to target keywords that are dominated by large corporations will not be beneficial for small businesses because there is simply no competition in those categories. Small businesses should choose more specific keywords relating to their area, such as their physical location or well known terms unique to their city, that will help local audiences find their business.

Carey Wilbur, Charter Capital

Set Up Your Google Search Console

Make sure to set up your Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools accounts for your website! This simple step will help ensure that the search engines have the correct information for your website. It will also alert you to any potential errors on your website from the search perspective. These errors might include sitemap issues, AMP (accelerated mobile pages) if it’s applicable to your business, and more.

Chesley Heath, ASU Cronkite School

Take Advantage of Local Directories

As an SEO professional, I know all the tricks to getting my clients more visibility on a local level. One tactic that people often overlook is the power of local directories. By submitting your business to a variety of local directories, you can improve your domain authority by generating new links to your site in addition to improving your “prominence”. Prominence is a variable that Google looks at when generating local pack results, and it is directly influenced by the number of local links pointing to your site. Long story short: submit and create profiles on any local directory you can find!

Nikitha Lokareddy, Markitors

Weekly GMB Posts

Don’t underestimate the power of weekly posts on Google My Business! Ever since my marketing agency started performing this activity for me, I have been seeing more visibility in local packs and more leads in my immediate area. It is also an easy way for me to share specials or other important information with my customers.

Eric Blumenthal, The Print Authority

Request Links From Other Local Businesses

An easy way to improve your local SEO in Arizona is to write about other businesses in the area and then request that they link to you. For example, you could interview the owner of the business, or simply write a research report on what you can learn about the business via Google. These articles will be considered to have local relevance in search, and the links will be helpful too. A lot of people think you need to be featured in the New York Times to get the benefit of a link, but when it comes to local SEO, a relevant link from a local law firm or real estate agency can offer a big boost too.

Michael Alexis, TeamBuilding

Continuously Update Your Local Platforms

SEO depends on great content and the more relevant you can make it, the better. For local businesses, I recommend maximizing local platforms to ensure your content is accessible and relevant. Are your local business profiles up to date? Is there a clear path back to your main website? Does a customer even need to go to your website or do they just need an address and hours? These are things to consider in your overall strategy.

Lukas Ruebbelke, Briebug

Network in Local Industry-Specific Forums

Networking in industry-specific forums is a great key to visibility. Belonging to Arizona groups and being visible locally allows for collaboration with instant results and the opportunity to meet like-minded professionals in the area. It can magnetize your offerings and help gain a stronger presence among potential clients to see that you participate in the community.

Nykki Stenger, Insperity