Making a name as a local business in the cut-throat digital realm goes beyond just offering a good In this age of competition, being a local business needs much more than a great product or service; it essentially needs visibility to the right audience at the right time.
Local SEO is at the core of visibility, while proper keyword strategies and the use of local keywords constitute the essence of local SEO. These are the phrases that tie your business to customers in the immediate area so you can show search results to someone actively looking for what you provide.
But how do you find effective local keywords, and how can you use them to achieve some actual results? It doesn’t matter whether you’re a small business owner, marketer, or content creator; understanding local keyword strategies can revolutionize your online presence.
This blog will guide you through the process of identifying high-impact local keywords and their efficient usage step-by-step, ensuring you get local visibility for your business in search results.
What are Local Keywords?
Local keywords are specific search terms that have location context and help users find businesses, services, or products associated with a particular geographical area. Unlike generic keywords which narrow down broad topic discussions, local keywords cater to geographic intention.
Such words are used majorly by people who need a solution urgently and in proximity and therefore should be put into consideration by companies that want to attract local consumers.
Some Exclusive Features of Local Keywords:
- Geographic Intent: These keywords typically indicate that the user is concerned with finding something for a particular location, whether it is a city, neighborhood, or even zip code.
- Action-Oriented Phrases: This often includes phrases such as “near me”, “best”, or “open now”, showing an urgency or convenience aspect.
- High Commercial Intent: Most local keyword searches are those meant for purchases as the user is usually closer to an action.
Finding local keywords that are relevant to your business will boost several aspects (apart from SEO). You will leverage visibility on Google Maps as well as among ‘near me’ searches.
Why are Local Keywords Important for Businesses?
Local keywords serve as a very important supplement for effective local SEO. They act as a bridge that connects businesses to their audience at the local level.
Using these keywords strategically has many advantages-from increased visibility to increased traffic, which can be in person or online. Let’s understand the core benefits of local keywords in a successful SEO campaign:
1. More visibility on search results
The use of local keywords would enable businesses to secure prominent spots in rankings in the search engine under queries made by users searching for a specific product or service in a particular area.
With search engines like Google, local results would take preference under queries initiated with a geographic intent, and applying local keywords informs these algorithms that your business is associated with such searches.
2. Enhanced rankings on Maps and local searches
Google Map rankings correlate directly with local keywords and the Local Pack: the three business listings that usually follow when local search results show.
Incorporating these local keywords into your GBP description, posts, and reviews can also increase your chances of showing prominently on Google Maps.
In a nutshell, businesses that employ local keywords and other SEO techniques such as reviews or NAP consistency have a greater chance of landing in a Local Pack, thus making it easier for customers to find them.
3. Draw customers locally
Local keywords attract a very specific, targeted audience such as the members of a place or travelers in search of services like yours. Because this reach is very specific, marketing efforts directed towards it will more often than not attract potential customers who are highly likely to be converted.
4. Overcome competitors
By focusing on specific local keywords, you can outrank the competitors that base their strategies on generic or outdated SEO. More optimization at the local level keeps you busy, thus enjoying the lead in search queries which would give you an edge over others.
5. Increase both offline and online traffic
They would find you on Google Maps or in local search results and would be likely to come to your location in person. You will be able to expect increased inquiries from them via phone, contact form, or chat service while interacting with the public online regarding your business.
How to Find Local Keywords Relevant to Your Business?
It’s the most important step in your local SEO efforts to find the exact local keywords. The whole process is organized here in a step-by-step guide telling you how to find local keywords that are built just for your business and your location.
1. Try searches like your potential audience
The first procedure is all about putting yourself in your customers’ shoes.
Consider the phrases and queries your target audience might use when searching for your products or services. For example, cheap car repair in [city] or the best Italian restaurants near me.
Jumble up the services or products you offer with the specific locations. For example, if you are an electronic florist, think about things like “flower delivery in [city]” and “wedding flowers [neighborhood].”
2. Search location-specific terms
Keywords that are targeting specific locations help to hit the right audience, having the right intent to locate potential buyers’ search queries that can be aligned with your potential audience.
Find search queries with higher search volumes in your area through some variations and related keywords to help complete the list.
As an example, “emergency plumbers [city]” should help you find other related terms, such as “24-hour plumbers [city]” or “same-day plumbing service [neighborhood]. “
Analyze and recognize the top-performing businesses in your niche to explore their top-ranking keywords and point out content gaps, strategy loopholes and opportunities.
With RanksPro, you can set location and find relevant location-based keywords easily. Just type your query followed by city or location name, and you will get several variations along with ideas.
Here, we searched for ‘architects in New York’ and got plenty of ideas along with search volume, search difficulty, cost per click (CPC), and various other metrics to compare.
You can create your own list of location-based keywords using these criteria through RanksPro.
3. Use Google autocomplete and Related Searches
Google itself is a great resource for finding local keywords. Begin typing a search into Google’s search bar, such as “best pizza in [city].”. Autocomplete will show popular searches based on real user data.
Scroll to the bottom of the search results page to see what related terms people are looking for. The suggestions often prove really useful when looking to add keywords to your list.
4. Analyze insights from Google Business profile
There’s a ton of information on your Google Business Profile (GBP) about keywords that people are already using to find your business.
GBP Insights shows the terms and phrases that are bringing traffic to your profile. Integrate these phrases into your broader local SEO strategy, ensuring it aligns with how users are discovering your business.
5. Include long-tail and conversational queries
Long-tail keywords are those with three or more words. These keywords are especially important for local SEO.
Users with specific needs and high purchase intent come to search for phrases such as “affordable vegan restaurants in [city] open now” or “best dog groomers in [neighborhood].”
Conversational queries like “Where can I get organic coffee in [city]?” become more important as voice assistants gain traction.
Taking above example of ‘architects in New York’, below you can see long-tail keywords that can narrow down the exact search queries.
Consider these types of local keywords for your campaigns and drive better results for your website and services or products.
6. Consider Seasonal and Event-Specific Keywords
Examples for search traffic may come from seasonal trends and local events. For example, “Christmas tree farms in [city]” or “summer fashion sales in [location].
Community events, such as a local food festival in [city] or a concert near a specific neighborhood happening this weekend can drive much needed search traffic.
How to Implement Local Keywords?
Local keywords remain one of the most effective marketing tools to achieve targeted traffic coming into your business, especially when correctly applied across different digital platforms.
Here’s an in-depth presentation on how one can apply such keywords for increasing local SEO potential:
1. Map local keywords throughout the website
The first and most obvious platform for displaying local keywords is your website. It affects user experience and rankings in search engines. Here are the tips to use local keywords throughout your website:
- Title Tags, Meta Descriptions, and Headers
Incorporate local keywords in these critical elements so that it is obvious to the search engines and users that your content is location-specific.
Example: Instead of “Quality Landscaping Services,” write “Quality Landscaping Services in [City] – Affordable and Reliable.
- Content Integration
Local keywords should be used organically in product or service descriptions, blog posts, and FAQ sections to increase relevance.
Example: “Our [City]-based bakery offers freshly baked cakes, pastries, and cookies daily.”
- Internal Linking
Local keywords can be applied in anchor text when linking pages internally. This increases keyword relevance and enhances user navigation.
Example: “Discover our wide range of home renovation services in [City].”
2. Optimize Google Business Profile (GBP)
Google Business Profile (GBP) is an important ranking factor in local search. Local keyword usage can dramatically increase the visibility of your GBP. Here are certain ways to do it:
- Business Description
Write a compelling description of your business, including your services and location.
Example: “ABC Dental Clinic offers advanced dental care solutions, serving the community in [City] for over 15 years.”
- Google Posts
Use local keywords in your updates, promotions, and announcements you share on Google Posts.
Example: “Join us for our grand opening celebration in [City] this weekend and enjoy exclusive discounts!”
- Customer Interactions
Answer customers’ reviews using the least effort of inserting local keywords. For example: “Thank you for your kind words! We’re thrilled you enjoyed our dining experience in [City].”
3. Develop Localized Content
Good content, therefore will increase your SEO as well as building up trust and community engagement by presenting content from your locale. To implement the local keywords in your content activities, just follow these ways
- Local Blogs and Guides
Cover down the core topics that will be relevant for your local audience. Make sure these topics match your services and products, or relatable to your industry. For instance: “The Best Summer Activities for Families in [City].” and “A Guide to Top Restaurants Near [City’s Popular Landmark].”
- Showcase Community Engagement
Try to push your content for local events, sponsored programs, and business partnerships that can help to tag your business along. For example: “We are proud to be the annual [City] Marathon sponsors – Join us this Sunday!”
- Seasonal Content
Keep an eye on the local festivals and events to cover certain articles and blogs. For instance: “Best Christmas Gift Ideas from Local Stores in [City].”
4. Generate Local Citations
Citations on online directories form a large chunk of the local SEO ranking factors. Building links through local citations help in engaging your target audience along with enhanced visibility in your targeted locations.
To utilize local keywords for generating citations, you can follow these steps:
- Maintain consistency with NAP information
Ensure your business’s NAP details are identical everywhere – the website, social media, and directories. Use the same formatting for an example like this: Address is “123 Main St., [City]” everywhere.
- Directory submissions
Submit your business to trusted local and niche directories such as Yelp, TripAdvisor, Angi, and BBB (Better Business Bureau). Also, consider niche directories that are specific to industry-relevant platforms, such as Zomato for restaurants or Houzz for home improvement businesses.
5. Use Keywords in Image Optimization
Visuals like images can play a role in SEO when keyword-optimized using local keywords. Rename your image files to have descriptive local keywords. For example, rename “image123.jpg” to “best-pizza-in-[City].jpg”.
Add alt text with local keywords to enable the search engine to understand what’s on the image. For example, “Freshly baked pepperoni pizza from XYZ Pizzeria in [City].” Add location-specific information on the image caption or description for better relevance.
6. Leverage Social Media
The local SEO efforts will be amplified with the strategic use of social media platforms. These platforms work as a medium to attract visibility towards your brand.
Here are some creative ways to utilize local keywords on social media platforms:
- Local keywords in hashtags
Hashtags are powerful elements of social media marketing, and when combined with local keywords, you can add a competitive edge to your brand. For example: #BestBakeryIn[City] #AffordablePlumbing[City].
- Location Tagged Posts
Tag your location in posts so they are discoverable to users near your location. For example: Take a photo of your café and tag it with: “[City], Downtown Area.”
- Localized Campaigns
Develop local promotions or campaigns. For instance: “This weekend only! Enjoy 20% off all services at our [City] branch.
7. Using local keywords in paid campaigns
Paid campaigns are also useful when it comes to boost conversions and lead generation. Using local keywords in PPC can direct quick results to your campaigns. Here are the ways to use these keywords:
- Google Ads and Facebook Ads
Add local keywords to ad copy to improve click-through rates. For instance, “Book our expert cleaning services in [City] for just $99!”
- Geo-Targeting
Use location-based targeting in your campaigns to target users within a specific radius. A good example will be – “Show ads to users within a 10-mile radius of [City Center].”
This will ensure that the local keywords are effectively used throughout your website, GBP, social media, and paid campaigns to create a coherent strategy that will strengthen your online presence, attract local customers, and help you outrank competitors in local searches.
Use RanksPro to Find Local Keywords
Businesses can differentiate themselves by finding the right local keywords and gain a competitive edge. These keywords are a way to enhance your visibility, rankings and gain the quality traffic.
With RanksPro, an all-in-one SEO tool, businesses can seamlessly uncover local keyword opportunities tailored to their niche, location, and audience.
Here’s how RanksPro’s keyword research feature can elevate your local keyword strategy with its robust features:
- Search by Location & Language
With RanksPro, you can find keywords that best suit your geography and the audience’s preferred language. You should focus on the city, region, or country-specific search terms and customize the searches according to the language preferred by your target audience, thereby making it more relevant and accurate.
- Check Cost-Per-Click (CPC) for Keywords
These are necessary for the effective planning of paid campaigns. Understand the cost-per-click (CPC) for the keyword. Gauge the competitiveness level of each keyword in paid advertisements. Prioritize the high-value keywords that provide maximum ROI from your budget.
- Get Monthly Search Volume Numbers
RanksPro provides information on how many times a keyword is searched each month. Concentrate your efforts on steady or rising search volume keywords, not low-traffic keywords with minimal results.
- Get Keyword Ideas
RanksPro provides an ample amount of keyword suggestions according to your niche and location. Explore related keywords in line with the core offerings of your business. Extend your content strategy with the help of trending and long-tail local keywords.
- Analyze Keyword Difficulty Level
RanksPro helps you calculate the effort you need to spend to rank for a particular keyword. Balance your strategy by bringing in a mix of high-value and low-difficulty keywords.
With RanksPro, businesses have the most comprehensive toolkit designed to make local keyword research easier and more effective.
It is easier to find and apply local keywords to your content optimization, Google Business Profile optimization, or even a paid campaign through RanksPro. Take your local SEO game up a notch with RanksPro!
