Is your business using one of the most effective local marketing tools available – a local listings strategy? If not – you should be!
Having a local listing is key to drawing local attention to your business. A local listing gives your business credibility and makes it easier for local consumers to discover your business and learn more about it. And more search engine attention for your business means more foot traffic – and increased revenue! For example, 72% of consumers that did a local online search ended up visiting a store within five miles.
Local Listings Strategy In Action
For example, let’s say you’re in the mood for sushi. Unless you already have a “go-to” sushi spot, you’ll probably use a search engine to type in “sushi near me” or some variation of that phrase. What will show up on the search engine are various sushi restaurants nearby. The stronger the local listing, the higher it will rank. And there’s a good chance you’ll get sushi from one of the first few listings that showed up in the search. This means that setting up a listing – such as a Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) – is key to bringing in more traffic.
But to reap the benefits of having a local listing, you must be sure you have a strategy. Simply registering your business on Google isn’t enough. An excellent local listing strategy is necessary if you want to be found locally, gain new customers, increase foot traffic, and boost revenue.
What is a Local Listings Strategy?
A local listing is an online profile of your business and business information. For example, on Google, you can set up a Google Business Profile, which makes it easier for customers to find your business when doing a simple Google Search. Your Google Business Profile will have information such as your business name, what your company does, business address, business phone number, photos, reviews, and any other information relevant to your business. Think of it like a mini website for your business, with all the necessary business information available on Google.
So essentially, a local listing strategy is the strategy behind your listing or listings to boost local SEO. Good local SEO increases your business’s visibility within local searches. When a local consumer searches for something relevant to your business, an excellent local listing strategy will rank you higher in the search results.
The Benefits of a Good Local Listing Strategy
An excellent local listing strategy can get you far. Here are a few key benefits of having a good local listings strategy:
- Low-cost exposure.
If you know how to manage your local listings, then it’s essentially free. However, if you want to ensure that your local listing performs the best it possibly can, then a digital marketing expert can help. Hiring an expert to help you gain exposure with local listings is still one of the most cost-effective digital marketing avenues you can take. - It’s an effective SEO strategy.
It’s no secret that SEO is one of the best ways to draw organic attention to your business. And local SEO is enormous for bringing local attention. So, a solid local listing strategy is a surefire way to boost local SEO. - Brand Awareness.
With an excellent local listing strategy, you can cross-promote your website and social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, etc.
What Does a Good Local Listing Strategy Look Like?
Your local listings strategy should meet a few criteria. First and foremost, it should be accurate. You risk losing credibility with customers if you have inaccurate information in your listing. Your store hours, address, services, and all other information must be correct.
Your local listing should always be up-to-date as well. For example, if you update your menu, be sure to update it on the listing.
Curious about how effective your local listing strategy is? Get a full report on your local listings’ visibility, engagement, and more right here!
And if you need help setting up your local listing or managing a local listings strategy, check out our full list of resources or contact us for a free local listings consultation!