If you want to reach the top of the local search engine results pages (SERPs), you are not alone. Hundreds—if not thousands—of websites are always competing to reach the top spot and, unfortunately, there is no easy way to get there.
Local SERPs, especially those of Google, is a minefield of competition. For that reason, you will need to double or triple the effort to see progress. While it may sound like a bummer at first, it is not all that bad if you look at it more closely.
Google is now prioritizing relevant, quality content to rank in SERPs. That means that while the competition is immense, there is a potential for growth since it is a healthy playing field. You will also be able to tailor your SEO campaign more effectively because you have various benchmarks readily available at the search of a keyword.
Here are some tips you can use to boost your climb to the local search rankings:
Use keywords that simulate what local users search
Keyword research is the bread and butter of SEO. If you want to reach the top fast, you will have to put yourself in the shoes of your target market and figure out what they will type in the search box. Keyword research tools are also available at your disposal, so make sure to create a keyword strategy that will benefit your local presence.
For example, use words like “near” and the name of your target location. If you are from North Carolina, incorporate something like “cheap SEO services near North Carolina.” Doing this will improve your presence if you are an SEO company based in North Carolina or nearby areas.
Use the information that the target SERP shows
Again, the immense competition in search results pages can prove to be advantageous. By studying your competitors, you will be able to pinpoint the most effective strategies and the ones that you need to drop.
This strategy can improve your marketing campaign in the long term as well. However, be careful not to base too much on what your competitors are doing, or you would end up copying them. If your website’s content is similar to your competitors’, instead of climbing the leaderboards, Google will track this as plagiarism or low-quality content.
Create relevant and high-quality content
What you need to remember is that SEO is more user-experience-based than metrics and analytics-dependent. While the latter does help a lot in achieving results, if your website’s content is mediocre at best, expect that you won’t be reaching the top spot anytime soon (or at all).
If you want to continue dominating the local ranks, create helpful blog posts, use high-quality images, and upload engaging videos to your website. These things will attract visitors to your site organically. As long as someone out there finds your content relevant and informational, you are always one step closer to reaching the top spot of the ranking leaderboards.
Conclusion
The competitive market of local SEO should not discourage you from keeping your website optimized. While it is indeed advantageous to secure a spot on the first page of Google results, it is still best to take it slowly but surely. Doing so will benefit you in the long term.
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