Local Ranking Factors 2017 | Where To Focus Your SEO Drive

Page ranking, local ranking, site traffic, user volume, visitor retention, online visibility, SEO tactics – all these are important key points and play an irreversible role for brands, service companies, and retail businesses to succeed in making a name in the local web, eventually promoting good business.

Internet marketing, digital media, and website promotion are three major platforms that could ultimately make or break a business owner’s dream of climbing up the ladder of success. What will it take to achieve such success? Will it involve thousands or hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of investment? Well, the answer can be a no, depending on how well you leverage search engine optimization.

With SEO Albany, we have seen how proximity immensely influences the ranking of a website or local business. This is in line with Google’s recent search algorithm updates and search indexing, where top local businesses are being featured at the top of search results.

Proximity: A User-Based Ranking Factor

In the recent MozCon, Darren Shaw revealed the top local search ranking factors in an annual report that summarized quantitative and qualitative input from SEO experts and keyword data samples. This report showed that local ranking is now more personalized, competitive, and valuable. What can this mean for small companies?

It means getting a head start on the competition with the right marketing strategy and by studying the latest top ranking factors.

Location Proximity – Is the user close to your location at the time of their search? Search results vary per user depending on where they are exactly. If the customer is just a few yards from your store, mostly likely you’ll be included on the top 20, if not in the 3-Pack map at the top of page 1.

Google Local Categorization – Is your company properly categorized in Google’s listing management platform, previously “Google My Business”? A coffee shop is different from a coffee and pastry shop.

Backlinks – Are the links pointing to the business’ website trustworthy and legit? These links to the website are of value when visited by potential customers in the same area.

Citations – Is the name, address, phone number (NAP), and business details the same across non-Google sites? Posting your business NAP and description on several directory websites such as Yelp and Apple Maps get your site indexed right away.

Unless Google decides another update is necessary or that the ranking factors will change completely, what else should you focus on to help you grab a spot in maps listing?

While Google Local focuses on establishing an online business account for your local business, it’s no longer enough. Valuable content will never lose its flare in keeping a website legit, valuable, and trustworthy.

What Else Should We Look Out For?

Don’t ignore the fact that with proximity as the top key point, Google also values the impact the business has in its neighborhood.  Our SEO Worcester team has integrated these key points in our current clients, and seen great results.

Also, making a presence through localized press releases, business news, awards, events, and other community-based activities will give your company bigger credit and value. This is what local business owners look to achieve anyway, isn’t it?

The post Local Ranking Factors 2017 | Where To Focus Your SEO Drive appeared first on Neovora.