What is Local SEO?
Local SEO means making your online presence so that your business shows up in local search results on Google. When someone searches for a service or product followed by a location (e.g. “Web Developers in Surat”), local SEO ensures that your business shows up. The goal is to connect your business with people searching for services or products in your area.
Local SEO Checklist
1. Optimize Google My Business (GMB)
2. Use Consistent NAP (Name, Address, Phone)
3. Target Local Keywords
4. Optimize Your Website for Mobile
5. Get Customer Reviews
6. Create Localized Content
7. Build Local Citations and Listings
8. Optimize for Voice Search
9. Add Location Pages on Your Website (if applicable)ness (GMB)
10. Add Schema Markup for Local SEO
11. Post Regularly on Google My Business
12. Monitor and Track Local SEO Performance
How Local SEO Can Help Small Business in Surat Grow
If you are a small business owner in Surat, everyone looks up to search engines for recommendations, having an online presence is a must to stand out. This is where Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) comes in. Local SEO doesn’t just get your business to show up on Google; it gets you connected with people in Surat who are actively looking for your services or products. Here’s how local SEO can help your business grow.
P: Problem – Why Small Business in Surat Lack Online Visibility
For small business, Surat market is an opportunity and a challenge. The competition in sectors like retail, hospitality and services is so high that it’s hard to grab customer attention.
According to recent data, 76% of local searches result in a phone call or visit to the business within 24 hours. But without proper local SEO, your business might be missing out on these local searchers.
In simple terms, think about how many times people in Surat type “best salon near me” or “cafes in Surat” in their phones. If your business isn’t showing up in these searches, your potential customers might end up choosing your competitors who do show up.
A: Agitation – The Cost of Not Doing Local SEO
Not having a solid local SEO strategy means your business might not be part of the 33% of local searches that lead to a purchase. Imagine a clothing boutique in Surat that doesn’t do local SEO. This boutique has great products and a beautiful website but if it’s not showing up when people search for “fashion stores in Surat” it’s missing out on hundreds of potential customers every month.
Take for example a bakery in Surat that wasn’t showing up in local searches and was struggling with foot traffic. After doing local SEO including a well optimized Google My Business profile and targeted local keywords, the bakery saw 25% increase in monthly foot traffic and online orders in just 3 months. Without local SEO this growth would have been impossible as the business was invisible to searchers looking for “fresh bakery in Surat” or “best cakes in Surat”.
S: Solution – The Role of Local SEO in Connecting You with Potential Customers
Local SEO connects a business with its customers when the latter is most likely to purchase. Here’s a simple way local SEO can help grow your business in Surat:
Google My Business Optimization
Claiming and optimization of the Google My Business profile are crucial. It isn’t a luxury option; rather, it is essential. According to a recent study, businesses with an optimized Google My Business profile engage their customers twice as much compared to those with unoptimized profiles. Providing accurate contact information, business hours, and quality images in the GMB profile greatly increases the chances of being featured in local search results. For restaurants in Surat, this could mean appearing at the top of the results when searching for “lunch spots in Surat.”
Local Keywords in Your Website Content
A robust keyword strategy brings about the inclusion of terms that residents of Surat would search for, such as “affordable electronics in Surat” and “reliable plumbing services in Surat.” Integrating such keywords seamlessly into the web content, blog posts, and meta descriptions implies relevance to the local market in the eyes of search engines.
A small electronics shop in Surat reported a 20% increase in visitors to its website within one month of optimizing its efforts for the keywords “affordable electronics Surat” and “best gadgets store Surat.” The shop also recorded a growth trend in sales generated online as well as through walk-ins.
Gathering Customer Reviews
Positive reviews build trust and also increase the possibility of ranking higher in local search results. As per research, 82% of people read online reviews about local businesses. A response to such reviews can also enhance engagement and demonstrate to potential customers that a business is actively involved in keeping its customers satisfied.
A dental clinic in Surat leveraged customer reviews as the centerpiece of its local SEO efforts, prompting clients to write reviews whenever they visited the clinic. Six months down the line, the clinic’s Google rankings improved considerably, resulting in a 15% increase in new patient appointments.
Optimizing for Mobile and Voice Searches
An increasing percentage of local searches are conducted on mobile devices and through voice-activated assistants. Indeed, 65% of all searches on Google are done via mobile. Making your website load quickly and be easy to navigate on a phone will allow you to capture this traffic. Also, including FAQs that address typical local questions will optimize your site for voice search.
A plumbing company in Surat optimized its website for mobile and added a common question like “emergency plumber near me.” Within three months, the company experienced a 10% increase in local leads, predominantly from mobile users.
Local Directories and Listings
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Get listed in local directories like Justdial, Sulekha and other Surat based platforms. Listings with consistent information across the web increases your credibility and local search rankings. Make sure your business name, address and phone number (NAP) is same on each platform.