Does Your Business Need Local SEO? For These Industries, it’s a MUST.

How important is local SEO to your business? With entrepreneurial pursuits at an all-time high, competition is fierce. Whether you’re just starting out or have been established for some time, local SEO can benefit your business. But for these service industries, local SEO is a must. Is #localSEO important to your business? These 5 industries won't survive without it. #localsearch #getonthemap Click To Tweet

5 Industries that Need Localized SEO to Survive

Service industries, which make up quite a bit of the small business population, have an undeniable need for a solid local SEO strategy. If you’re the owner or manager of a service-based business, you know how intense the competition is. When someone searches for a local business, they typically have an immediate and urgent need to find a reputable service provider who can help them fast. You want your website to appear in those top search results to increase your chances of getting these hot and qualified leads. If you’re a service industry like the ones listed below, you’ll want to do everything you can to remain competitive in the Google Local 3-Pack.

1) Plumbers and HVAC

When you need a plumber or AC technician you need them fast. If you own or manage a plumbing business or HVAC company, you want to appear in local search. Someone searching for these types of services will most likely view only 3-4 companies before making a decision. Position yourself to be found and follow through with top-notch service and you will often gain a repeat customer for life.

2) Healthcare  

Typically when you search for a doctor or dentist, you’re facing an urgent health situation of some kind. Whether you’re looking for someone to do an emergency root canal or treat the chronic pain you’ve had for months, you want to find a healthcare provider fast! Even if you’re the most skilled doctor or dentist in your area, it won’t matter if people can’t find you in their local search results.

3) Restaurants

Do you own or operate a fantastic new restaurant? Pass out flyers and hold your grand opening. You will surely attract a large crowd. At first. But don’t neglect local search as part of your marketing strategy. The most common way to find a place to eat is using the popular keyphrase ‘restaurant near me’. If you aren’t positioned to compete in the local search results, you will miss out on hundreds to thousands of people searching for somewhere to eat – many of whom would likely become regular patrons.

4) Tech Support, IT

If you own a company providing technology solutions, you know how competitive your industry is. People looking for tech support love dealing with local companies. With search results swimming with IT companies, make sure you know how to position yourself to compete in your local area.

5) Realtors, Property Management, Investors

The real estate industry is very local by nature. When people search for an agent to help them move, especially if relocating from another area, they want someone who knows the city they will soon call home. Not only do you want to make sure you appear in the local search results, but your website content should speak the language of your local community.

Understanding Local SEO

Local SEO has changed a lot over the years. No longer is it best practice to simply do some keyword research and add all the locations + key phrases within your web copy. Do you service multiple locations? You’ll need a local landing page for each one. Is your Google My Business listing up to date? Local search marketing now involves many ranking factors to get the attention of search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo! 
Not sure how to get started with optimizing your website for local SEO? Wondering how your current website is performing? Contact us and ask to speak with an SEO strategist. We’ll help you develop a competitive SEO strategy for your industry.