Though there is no question that for a small business seo services are critical, there is one major component of the industry that is often ignored. Most small businesses seek to draw business mainly from consumers in their immediate geographic areas. Though link building and better search engine rankings are important, even more important is local search optimization. Local SEO strategies help small businesses to be seen by people in the community, the consumers they’re really looking to reach.

So what is local seo? A lot of it has to do with social media, though local search SEO also plays a major role. In this article we’ll tackle the “What is local SEO?” question by providing a brief overview of the important components and the goals of those strategies.

Social Media

Small businesses are in a better position to benefit from social media exposure than almost anybody. Seventy percent of social media users in North America are connected through their profiles to at least one local business. Local businesses are in a unique position on social media sites because users have the impression that they are more personal and more likely to post interesting information relevant to their communities. The best local search companies will help small businesses develop content that will help them appear personal and relevant to their fans and followers, ultimately helping them to stand out beside the competition.

Search Engine Optimization

The major focus here is on Google. Google owns between 65 and 70 percent of the search engine market share and offers amazing options for local businesses. Simply by creating a complete profile on Google, a small businesses’ chances of being seen increase exponentially. When users engage in local searches, they are more likely to click on the businesses that have provided contact information, descriptions, photos, and websites.

Another important element of search engine optimization for small businesses is mobile optimization. Half of all local searches are initiated from mobile devices, and more than half of all consumers are more likely to make a purchase from their devices if the site is mobile optimized. Simply be creating a site that adjusts to a user’s device, a business can increase its chances of making a sale.

So, what is local SEO? Local SEO is the process by which small, local businesses attract attention online from their own communities. Social media and the completion of Google place page profiles can make a world of difference, as can mobile optimization.