SEO rankings are important for businesses to stand out

Last semester I took a course called Journalism Innovation where in our final project we worked in groups to draft a business plan for a new independent media outlet. To no surprise, I chose an outlet solely focused on local businesses. Our outlet, called Local Business Unite, essentially acted as a local business directory. All the information of local businesses would be in one spot for any local community member seeking to support.

During this process, one of the steps of a business plan was to list our competitors that offer a similar product. Although we believed our media outlet was a great resource that does not exist today, our main competitor was Google and Google Maps.

To begin my argument I want to ask, when you want to find a local restaurant or store nearby where do you go to? Is it Google? Is it Yelp? Do their reviews impact your interest in going there?

According to LocaliQ, SEO statistics are important for any business owner seeking to put their business on the map. More than 46% (99,000 per second) of Google searches are local. This platform alone is a huge opportunity for discovery. Additionally 80% of local mobile searches convert and 97% of people learn about a local company online than anywhere else.

To restate this, 97%...is huge!

Reviews on SEO rankings are also a main driver in supporting local where 90% of brands found that online reviews impacted local rankings. You simply cannot have a strong SEO strategy without business listings or asking for reviews. Don’t be afraid to ask, encourage it!

Although local SEO is becoming more competitive with the rise of the digital age, one way to help businesses stand out is through keywords to ensure you’re ranking for the most relevant searches. Some keywords that can be used are the areas you serve (towns, regions, neighborhoods) and core products/services (stay broad and think in categories).

Another important statistic I found interesting was that the average page in the top 10 local search results are oftentimes over two years old. Now if you are just starting a business don’t panic! One way to combat this is prioritizing consistent content to establish domain authority for the future.

Give it time, you will see success faster than you believe if these steps are followed.

SEO statistics according to LocaliQ

Given that 62% of consumers will disregard a business if they can’t find them online, the question is how do I set up an online presence?

The first step, and arguably most important, is a Google business domain profile.

The most efficient way I’ve found to start a Google business profile is through Google Workspace. Google Help also lists step-by-step how to kickstart your profile! There are many online resources and tutorials on how to get started.

The reason I am sharing this information is because I am strongly passionate about the success of local business. With a strong SEO and Google presence, a business can see a large increase in consumer interest and business.

Some other resources businesses can be a part of for a strong SEO presence are:

1. Yelp

2. U.S. Small Business Administration

3. Better Business Bureau

4. Foursquare

5. Yahoo!

6. Moz