Local vs. Traditional SEO: Which Is Right for My Business? 

Implementing a search engine optimization (SEO) strategy for your business is an important part of bringing in website traffic and building leads. For many businesses, though, there is confusion over whether a traditional SEO strategy or a local SEO strategy is more effective. Here’s what you should know about traditional vs. local SEO and the best option for your company—

What Is SEO?

SEO stands for search engine optimization. Essentially, it’s the process of optimizing your website and the content on your website so that it is easier for search engines to find. Not only do you want your website to be easy to find, but you also want it to be optimized so that search engines publish your website towards the top of a search engine results page when a user makes a query that’s relevant to your business. One way to improve SEO is to include keywords—words and phrases that describe your business and the products and services you offer. 

What Is Local SEO?

Local SEO is the process of optimizing a website so that search engines understand that location is relevant when a search is done. For example, if you search for “bowling alley,” Google will probably assume that you mean a bowling alley near you. On the other hand, if you were to search for “How to bake a chocolate cake,” location will likely register as less important in Google’s algorithm. 

If it’s important that your business can be found by locals, then you definitely want to optimize for local SEO.

The Benefits of Local SEO

For local businesses who are targeting a local audience, local SEO efforts have numerous benefits! Ranking high in local searches will help your target audience be able to find your business; if you’re not on the first or second page of a search engine results page, chances are low that users will ever make it to your website at all. In addition to helping your target audience find your business, if you rank high in local SEO, you’ll also open the door for opportunities for cross-promotion with other businesses, especially on social media. 

Integrating a Local SEO Strategy

The good news is that implementing a local SEO strategy doesn’t have to be complicated. In addition to making sure you have a great website with relevant content, you can start adding your location name to your content (i.e., Northwest Indiana cakes). You can also start to mention or feature local landmarks or businesses in your content, especially on social media sites. 

At NUVEW, we are experts at search engine optimization. For local SEO support, you can trust another local business. Call us today.