“Google says that over 20% of searches contain some sort of reference to locality.”

Local search is a term that has been popping up time and time again. Before the Internet, we used newspapers and phone books to search for a local business. But the fact is that many of us have turned to the Internet to find what we need. If you’re a small business owner, getting your business online and getting found will allow you to reach potential customers without having to compete against multinational corporations on traditional media advertising budgets.

This post will examine how a business can leverage local SEO to improve their online presence.

1)      Local Listings

Major search engines allow you to claim a listing for your business. For example, if you claim a listing on Google, you ensure those trying to find a local business on Google Maps will see all your contact information including address, phone number, website, hours of operation, and photos. With more and more people using smartphones, listing your business will also help them find your business on the run. Be sure to list your business on industry-specific search engines whenever possible as many of them arrange information for the user according to location.

2)      Geographic Keywords

Say you operate a Mexican restaurant in Tokyo. Some keywords you select to explain your business online should include a geographic description, in this case ‘Tokyo’. When people search for local businesses online, they often include a descriptive word to indicate the location of the business, such as country, city, or neighbourhood, which is why it is important to include geography when describing your business.

3)      Localization, not Translation

We refer to localization as the process of changing a website to suit a different market. On top of problems with inaccurate translation software, certain words and meanings do not translate well directly between markets (or culture), so ensuring that written content on your website speaks to your market accurately should be a top priority.

Locality is important for promoting your business in the Internet era, but it’s also a good idea to keep up with methods relating to locality to improve your online presence. More recently, you might find location-based coupon services a valuable method to attract new customers. There’s no doubt that local businesses can find ways to leverage new services to gradually grow their businesses online without having to prepare large budgets. For this reason, it is important to continually seek methods that will enable you to effectively promote your business online.