10 Best Local SEO Tips to Grow Your Small Business in 2022

Are you hoping to better promote your small business in 2022? Learning to leverage local search engine optimization (local SEO) will help you meet this goal by boosting your website to higher ranks on Google’s search results pages. This will draw new users in your area to your website and increase your in-person foot traffic and sales numbers as a result.

This incredibly effective approach is sure to work for your business, but it will take some time and effort to implement. Read over our list of 10 top tips for local SEO to learn how to get some critical aspects of this strategy in place for 2022.

10 Tips for Your Small Business’ Local SEO

1. Make Use of Google My Business (GMB) and Google Business Profile (GBP)

Though Google My Business is still used, Google has announced that they will be changing to Google Business Profile in 2022. This comes with the retirement of the GMB app, but will introduce new features.

In the meantime, GMB remains one of the most essential marketing tools available to small businesses dependent on local traffic. Claim your company’s GMB listing, fill out its details, and add a few pictures to complete your profile and immediately make your website easier for local searchers to find.

Over time, experiment using the Posts feature to update your customers on current events with your business. These updates will provide your business with a valuable SEO boost and may stir up some interest from users who see your profile.

2. Get Some High-Quality Backlinks

Backlinks from reputable sites provide a valuable source of additional traffic for your website and let Google know that your site is considered authoritative and valuable. To get these links, submit guest posts and articles to relevant high-authority websites in your niche and add a backlink to your business in the text or as part of a footnote.

Because backlinks are in such high demand, it can be difficult to get other websites to accept your guest posts. If you are having trouble with this part of the process, ask an SEO agency like WSI Comandix for help. These companies work with significant websites all the time and know exactly what their editors are looking for, and most offer guest posting as part of their local SEO services.

3. Embrace the Power of Keywords

Keywords are the keystone of SEO, determining what search terms you will rank for and which sites yours will be competing against inside those rankings. Choosing yours carefully is critical to making your website more visible to your target audience. There are dozens of keyword research tools you can use to find keywords that are relevant to your business, receive a healthy number of searches each month, and are not overcrowded by your competitors.

4. Focus on On-Page Keywords

Once you have chosen a strong set of keywords, you must take the time to place them appropriately to maximize their effectiveness. They should appear in prominent places on each webpage, such as:

• Title tags
• Meta descriptions
• Heading tags

When working with multiple keywords, try to place them close together in the text to amplify their SEO effects.

5. Use More Video Marketing

Now that so many people are using platforms like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram daily, video marketing has become much more viable than it was in years past. Small businesses can exploit this trend for local exposure by creating paid video ads through Facebook or Google Ads. Remember that video marketing is also a popular SEO service at most digital marketing companies, giving you an easy way to get the video content you need to promote your brand without investing in expensive equipment and editing software.

6. Voice Search

Voice search is an extremely popular feature with a high search volume, especially on mobile devices. Since mobile users are more likely to be local users with high purchase intent, catering to them is essential. Think about how the typical user might phrase something when conducting a voice search, then use that phrase as a long-tail keyword in your content to help attract those users.

7. Publish Valuable Content on Social Media

Today’s internet users spend a lot of time on social media, giving marketers another channel through which to reach audiences. To take advantage of this opportunity to improve your local SEO, post relevant content on platforms that you know are popular with your target demographics (e.g. TikTok for teens or LinkedIn for professionals). Content that is easy to digest, such as short videos or infographics, does especially well in this channel. Ideally, the user should be able to absorb most of your message just by casually scrolling through their feed.

8. Understand the Needs of Your Customers

Effective local SEO is founded on a strong understanding of your customers’ motivations. What interests your customers most about your business or the products or services you sell? What types of questions are they most interested in knowing the answers to? You can learn more about what brings most users to your site by implementing a comprehensive first-party data strategy for your business, then use this information to make your content even more appealing to the audience you have cultivated.

9. Use Images with Text and Infographics

User experience is a significant factor in local SEO, and it is typically measured using metrics like bounce rates and session lengths. Infographics (especially those formatted with searchable text) and graphics with added text can significantly increase the appeal of your website and help keep users on your site for longer periods of time. They are also helpful for engaging users who have an easier time processing visual content than written material.

10. Understand RankBrain and Revise Your Content

Introduced in 2015, Google’s RankBrain is a specialized AI that helps determine how a website will rank for specific search terms. Like all of Google’s algorithms, RankBrain is continually evolving to better select for the criteria that real users want to see. In its current form, it has a relatively sophisticated understanding of search intent. This means that it will display search results in whichever order is most likely to show the user what they wanted to see, regardless of exact keyword matches.

Keywords are still useful, but you really need content that answers users’ questions in a digestible and engaging way. Go over your past content (and your plans for new content!) and ensure that everything you publish is meaningful, direct, and adds value for the user.

This Year, Bring Your Business Above the Competition with Effective Local SEO

Mastering local SEO will significantly enhance the visibility and profitability of your small business. By taking the time to investigate these techniques and learn how to combine them in the way that works best for your marketing goals, you will put your business on the right track for success in the new year.

For best results, consider investing in expert help with local SEO services from WSI Comandix. Our assistance has helped many thriving Toronto companies secure the local patronage they rely on. Contact us today to discuss how we can bring similar benefits to your business.