3 tips to choose the best Local SEO Agency near you
It’s 2023, the online competition is at an all-time high! Having a strong online presence is crucial for businesses of all sizes. Almost every small business that exists in Australia has a website but not all of these businesses can get any ROI (Return on Investment) from their websites.
One effective way to enhance the online visibility of a business and attract local customers is through local SEO (Search Engine Optimisation). However, implementing an effective local SEO strategy requires specialised knowledge and expertise. That’s where a reliable local SEO agency near you can make a significant difference. Having an agency that is local to you will allow you to meet with them in person, discuss your doubts and questions related to local SEO services and give you the confidence to make a wise decision.
Here is the TL;DR of the blog post for you:
- Role of local SEO in digital marketing
- Benefits of Local SEO for Your Business
- Breakdown of Local SEO Services
- How to Identify the Best Local SEO Agency Near You
- Why “Near Me” Matters in Local SEO
Role of Local SEO in Digital Marketing
Local SEO plays a crucial role in digital marketing by targeting customers in specific geographical areas to your digital destination aka your website. It helps local businesses attract customers who are actively searching for local services and increases the visibility of brick-and-mortar stores in the online landscape.
In the post covid world, local SEO has become even more important. According to HubSpot, 46% of all Google searches are local. This means that if your business is not optimised for local SEO, you could be missing out on a significant number of potential customers.
Furthermore, local SEO can also complement other digital marketing strategies, such as content marketing and social media marketing. By incorporating local keywords and location-specific information into your website and online content, you can attract a highly targeted audience and increase your chances of converting them into customers.
Is it worth hiring someone in-house to take care of your Local SEO needs or should you hire an agency instead?
This is one question that small businesses often find themselves bogged down with. I am going to help you understand how you can save both money and resources when you hire a local SEO agency near you.
Scenario 1: Hiring an employee to do Local SEO for your business.
When you hire someone, you not only have to pay them income and super but also take care of their usual employee benefits. You may also have to provide them an extra seat in the office etc. Sure, they can work fully remotely but that doesn’t justify them being an employee if they’re never involved in the office activities.
Plus, one person can never do Local SEO all by themselves. A person may be good at keyword research, but this does not mean they are good at SEO content writing too, which is important to increase the Domain Authority of your website. Sure, they can be good at all things ‘on-page’, but what about off-page SEO? Do they have enough skills to create high value backlinks for your website? May be not?
Scenario 2: Hiring a local SEO agency near you
When you hire a local SEO agency to help your website get better rankings on Google, you don’t just hire a person to do the entire job for you, you instead pay for the whole team. You simply save a lot on paying ongoing income and there is no super involved. The local SEO agency will put their team to work at different aspects of local SEO such as:
- Optimising Google My Business Profile
- On page SEO
- Off page SEO
Moreover, if the agency has a website development team, you get the best of both worlds. Every time you need technical help with your website, you will have one agency to fully rely on. Plus, with SEO many technical errors of the website have to be resolved from time to time (ever heard of Core Web Vitals?), something that only an experienced web developer can help you resolve.
Need help with Local SEO?
Book a 30-minute FREE consultation with Swarn, founder Dreamworx Marketing.
Select a Date & Time – Speak with Swarn from Dreamworx Marketing
Benefits of Local SEO for Your Business
Implementing an effective local SEO strategy can have several benefits for your business.
- Firstly, it can significantly increase your online visibility, making it easier for people to learn about your business and your services.
- Secondly, local SEO can drive highly targeted traffic to your website, leading to increased conversions and sales.
- Finally, local SEO allows you to compete effectively against local competitors. By targeting specific geographical areas, you can gain an advantage over larger businesses that may not have focused on local SEO.
In conclusion, local SEO is an essential component of any digital marketing strategy. By optimising website for local search, you can increase your visibility, attract targeted traffic, and compete effectively against local competitors. So, if you haven’t already, it’s time hire a local SEO agency to grow your business.
Breakdown of Local SEO Services
The following is a list of sub services that fall under the Local SEO service. Make sure you learn about them so you know if these essential services are covered by the local SEO agency that you hire.
- Technical optimisation: It involves optimising the technical aspects of your website to ensure it is crawlable and indexable by search engines. This includes optimising your website’s loading speed, fixing broken links, and ensuring proper URL structure. This might need a web developer to fix some of the code issues found on your website.
- On-page optimisation: It focuses on optimising individual web pages to improve their visibility in search results. This includes optimising meta tags, headings, and content for relevant keywords, as well as improving the overall user experience of your website.
- Link building: Also known as Off-page SEO, it involves acquiring high-quality backlinks from reputable local websites to improve your website’s authority and visibility in search results. A reliable local SEO agency should have strategies in place to help you build a strong and diverse backlink profile.
- Content marketing: It is also a crucial component of SEO. It involves creating and promoting high-quality, relevant, and engaging content to attract and retain your target audience. A reliable local SEO agency should be able to help you develop a content marketing strategy that aligns with your business goals and target audience.
- Online review management: Positive reviews from satisfied customers can help build trust and credibility for your business, while negative reviews can have a detrimental impact on your online reputation. A reliable local SEO agency near you should have strategies in place to help you manage and respond to online reviews effectively.
- Google My Business optimisation: It involves creating and optimising your Google My Business profile, which includes providing accurate and up-to-date information about your business, such as your address, phone number, and business hours. A reliable local SEO agency near you should be able to help you optimise your Google My Business profile.
By choosing a local SEO agency near you that offers all of the above comprehensive local SEO services, you can ensure that all aspects of your website’s search visibility are taken care of, leading to improved organic rankings and increased visibility for your business.
We increased our website traffic by 80% all through the power of effective blog writing.
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How to Identify the Best Local SEO Agency Near You
Evaluating the Agency’s SEO Knowledge
During the initial consultation with a potential agency, ask them about their approach to local SEO. A reputable agency should demonstrate a deep understanding of the latest SEO industry trends, algorithm updates, and emerging strategies for local search optimization.
For example, a top-notch local SEO agency will be well-versed in the importance of optimising your website for mobile devices. They will understand that mobile searches have surpassed desktop searches and will be able to explain how they plan to optimise your website for mobile users. They may discuss the importance of responsive design, fast loading times, and user-friendly navigation on mobile devices.
Checking Client Reviews and Testimonials
Reviews and testimonials from past clients can give you valuable insight into the agency’s reputation and service quality. Look for agencies with positive testimonials and high ratings, especially from clients who operate in a similar location.
When evaluating client reviews, pay attention to specific details about the agency’s performance. Did they deliver measurable results? Did they demonstrate good customer service and responsiveness?
Assessing the Agency’s Transparency and Communication
Clear and open communication is key when working with an SEO agency. Make sure they provide regular progress updates, and reports, and are responsive to your queries. A transparent agency will also be willing to explain their strategies and answer any questions you may have throughout the process.
During your consultation, ask the agency about their reporting practices. A reputable agency will provide detailed reports that outline the progress of your SEO campaign, including key metrics such as organic traffic, keyword rankings, and conversion rates. They should also be able to explain the data and provide insights into how their strategies are contributing to your business growth.
Important: In addition to regular reporting, a transparent agency will actively seek your input and feedback. They will value your partnership and strive to align their strategies with your business goals. Look for an agency that encourages collaboration and keeps you involved in the decision-making process.
Is your website getting you organic leads?
By ignoring your website SEO, you are leaving money on the table. Those organic leads are going to your competitor because they have their SEO sorted.
Their is no time to waste. Book a 30-minute FREE SEO consultation with Swarn, founder of Dreamworx Marketing.
Select a Date & Time – Speak with Swarn from Dreamworx Marketing
Why "Near Me" Matters in Local SEO
When potential customers search for services, they need help with, they often include the “near me” phrase in their queries. Google’s algorithm recognises the user’s location or specified location and provides search results accordingly. Here’s how a local SEO agency can capitalise on this trend:
- Optimising for “Near Me” Searches: A local SEO agency understands the importance of optimising your website for “near me” searches. They ensure that your business is listed in relevant local searches, increasing your chances of appearing in the local pack and Google Maps results.
- Mobile-Friendly Approach: Many “near me” searches are conducted on mobile devices. A local agency can optimise your website for mobile responsiveness, ensuring a seamless user experience and better search visibility.
- Voice Search Compatibility: With the rise of voice-activated assistants such as Siri and Alexa, people are now using voice search for “near me” queries. Local SEO experts can optimise your website content for voice search, increasing your chances of being featured in voice search results.
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Frequently Asked Questions
While remote agencies can offer valuable services, a local agency’s proximity allows for in-person consultations, better understanding of local audiences, and on-site visits, giving them an edge in local SEO. It is fair to say that an agency that understands Australian businesses and customers will be a better choice for your business than any agency present overseas.
Absolutely. Paying someone to takecare of your local SEO needs can help you gain results faster as compared to doing it yourself. While you may be able to add keywords in your website content, you may not necessarily understand critical aspects of SEO like volume of keywords, character length for Meta tags, the kind of backlinks to be generated etc.
Local SEO is an ongoing process, and results can vary based on factors like competition and the quality of optimisation. However, you can expect to see noticeable improvements in a few months itself.
Apart from improved search rankings, a local SEO agency can enhance your online reputation through reviews, increase website traffic from local audiences, and boost overall brand visibility within your community.
A Melbourne SEO specialist may charge you an hourly rate. This is generally between $70 – $200 per hour. A Local SEO agency on the other hand usually charges for the total number of keywords they will optimise your website for. The more the number of keywords, the higher will be the charges
Look into these 3 things when finding a good SEO agency for your business: their past case studies, their online reviews, their knowledge of SEO through their social media posts or when you speak with them during consultation. These will give you a clear indication of whether the agency is the right fit for you or not.
Need help with Local SEO?
By ignoring your website SEO, you are leaving money on the table. Those organic leads are going to your competitor because they have their SEO sorted.
Their is no time to waste. Book a 30-minute FREE SEO consultation with Swarn, founder of Dreamworx Marketing.
Select a Date & Time – Speak with Swarn from Dreamworx Marketing
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