How to Optimise Your Website for Local Search - 13 techniques to improve your rankings locally

If you run a store-front business or offer a service that is within a specific local-based geographic area, then you will want to focus your marketing efforts on getting in front of local traffic.

Since many marketing initiatives are of a more global nature that don't help you at all, there's actually a few specific things you can do to ensure you get visible in front of the local people that you want to attract to your business.

Aside from using targeted Facebook and Google Ads, local search optimization can help your business be found in searches when people are looking for a business likes yours in their area.

So what can you do to get your website to rank better for local search?

Here's 13 techniques to improve your rankings locally:

How to add or claim your small business on Google

How does your business appear on a Google Search or in Google Maps? If it is not as good as your competitors it may be because you haven't claimed your business on Google!

This really helps you as you can update your profile, add your opening hours, gather reviews and start getting found.

This video, from Google shows you what you need to do help your small business and your Google rankings.

Learn the basics of Google My Business

Simple video here on the basics of how a Google My Business listing helps you reach customers on Google Search and Maps. 

How to add or claim your business on Google

How to Add Your Business to Google Maps

Previously known as Google Places, the Google Maps Function presently belongs to the dashboard of Google My Business, the dashboard of Google to track and manage your digital presence across different platforms of Google with the inclusion of AdWords, Google Analytics, Google+, Google Maps (Google Local).

If you are getting ready to start listing, just remember that in some situations, Google will show businesses from communities around in the Local search results; however, you are just permitted for registering your business in the city or town in which you stay physically.

Claiming or adding your business on Google My Business: