Posted in:

The Local SEO Audit: Identifying Opportunities and Fixing Mistakes for Improved Search Ranking

© by iStock

Local businesses of all scales and sorts have a common requirement in today’s digital age, and that is online visibility. The question is, do you know how to make sure that local customers find you rather than your competitors Digital Strategy Agency, 2022?

For enhancing visibility and bringing the target audience to you, local search engine optimization SEO audit is the most potent tool.

What is a Local SEO Audit? 

Strengthening the local SEO game is like achieving an online health check for an online estate. It runs a meticulous check of all your SEO strategies in the local sense to map out the strengths, downfalls, and rooms for enhancement. Ultimately, the purpose is to improve your online presence, take your business to page one in local search, and bring more customers your way.

General Local SEO Audit Advantages

Conducting a local SEO audit yields numerous benefits for your business:

  • Better Visibility. Use the audit analysis to improve your local search ranking. This will get your business to the top of the list for local search results with relevant local keywords.
  • Get More Website Visitors. The audit could also result in higher visibility for prospective customers searching online for what they want locally.
  • Improve Conversion Rates. Having a well-optimized website with local relevance may result in a higher likelihood of visitors becoming paying customers.
  • Gain Edge. You will gain useful insight into your competitors’ local SEO strategies. This will help you tailor your strategies to get a leg up in the industry.
  • Data-Driven Decisions. You can use the audit analysis as the basis for your SEO efforts to ensure you focus on what matters most. 

How to Perform a Local SEO Audit: Step-By-Step Guide 

Are you ready to do your first local SEO audit? Here is the roadmap to help you out: . Keyword Research. Refine your keyword search with local optimizations, such as [your service] + [your town] or [product] nearby.

  1. Keyword Research: Use keyword research tools to find out which keywords have a high search volume and competition, and implement those within your website content.
  2. GBP: audit it as well, the free listing on Google Search and Maps ensures local SEO success. Keep it up to date and complete by filling in: your business name, address, phone number, website URL, category, high-quality photos, and good reviews . Ensure it’s up to date all the time; keep a fresh content on Google Business Profile and promote special offers and answer reviews on it as soon as possible.
  3. Citation Audit: citations are mentions of your business. Search online to find where you’re mentioned and make sure your business name, address and phone number is on them and consistent across all citations online. Claim bad ones and fill them in with correct information.
  4. On-page optimization: include your keywords in your web copy naturally – in the page title, meta description, headers, and throughout the body. Make sure to create some locally-focused content, promoting your services, highlighting your expertise, and showing the audience why you’re the best local business to use. Make sure your website is mobile-friendly since a large number of local searches are made on a phone or tablet.

Research your top local competitors and analyze their Google Business Profile, website content, keywords, and online presence. Then identify areas where you could outperform them, such as creating more detailed content, garnering better customer reviews, or targeting a wider variety of relevant local keywords. A local audit through a data-driven approach by a trusted SEO company may also help.

Taking Action: Fixing Common Local SEO Mistakes 

A local SEO audit will reveal several common mistakes preventing your search ranking. Here’s how to fix them:

  • Inconsistent NAP Across: Your NAP information should be consistent throughout your website, social media profiles, directories, and citations.
  • Missing or Incomplete GBP: Claim and verify your Google Business Profile and ensure that all of the information is filled out accurately and completely.
  • Lack of local Content: Create local content that specifically targets your area and audience. This may include highlighting local events, promoting your local partners, or offering location-specific deals.
  • Negative customer review: respond to negative customers, and professional. 

Errors that take steps to resolve their issues and show that customer satisfaction is your top concern. With a local SEO audit and consistent effort, you’ll grow your business by attracting potential customers.