If your company has relied on effective local SEO services for a couple of years, you are probably very familiar with local SEO’s basic principles. You have seen them work for your company. But have you considered those services in conjunction with what your customers think and say about your business?
Keyword research is absolutely essential. Ditto for mentions of your business across the web. But it turns out that customers could be your most important local SEO asset of all. Why? Because word-of-mouth continues to be the most effective means of winning new customers.
Not Everything Has Changed
There is no arguing the fact that the introduction of the public internet revolutionized marketing. It created a whole new industry we now call digital marketing and SEO. But not everything about marketing has changed. Some of the most fundamental rules are still in place – including the longstanding rule about creating happy customers who will tell others.
Consumers are savvy enough to understand that every company attempts to market itself in the most positive light. Companies do not actively run advertisements distilling their weaknesses and explaining their failures. They spend money on advertisements that make them look like the greatest thing since sliced bread.
This explains why consumers trust what their friends and family members say. It explains why they make heavy use of online reviews before making purchase decisions. It’s why social media is such an effective tool for connecting with large numbers of consumers.
Written Content’s Limited Shelf Life
A typical menu of local SEO services includes at least some content creation. Content is placed both on the customer’s website and other relevant sites. The most successful local SEO services even take advantage of tools like Google My Business. However, most forms of written content have a limited shelf life.
For instance, did you know that a Google My Business post either expires or gets archived after six months? That’s why local SEO experts recommend regular updates. They suggest fresh content in order to guarantee that your Google My Business profile continues to turn up during local searches.
Content is only valuable as an SEO resource for as long as it remains relevant. As relevance fades, so does the value of a piece of content. However, there is one exception to this rule: customer reviews.
All customer reviews are considered relevant. Of course, reviews written five years ago will not be as relevant as those written last week, but the cumulative effect of all the reviews written by actual customers means a lot to local SEO. Of special interest are Google reviews. They are killer from a local SEO standpoint. The more positive reviews a company can get in Google, the higher the company will rank on organic search.
Taking It to Social Media
The Google My Business profile and legitimate customer reviews provide the undercurrent for local SEO. But there is more. Webtek Digital Marketing, a Utah company that specializes in local SEO services, explains that companies should not be afraid to take their SEO and marketing strategies to their social media outlets. Social media is fueled by likes, follows, shares, etc.
Liking a post you share equals an endorsement. Reposting what you have shared is an even more powerful endorsement. This all matters to local SEO because a consumer already familiar with your brand on social is more likely to look for it in a local search.
Lots of things go into effective local SEO. When all is said and done, do not forget your customers. They could be your most valuable asset in local SEO.They are killer from a local SEO standpoint.
