Is SEO For Local Results Worth It?

[Gordon Taylor]

Oh, you bet it is!

If you have a business that has a brick and mortar (physical) presence as well as your online efforts then nothing is more important for you.

But, what if you're web based only? Well guess what, it's just as important to get your site listed in the SERP's as having a physical storefront!

Here are some important facts about getting found in the local results SERP's.

   
• 71% of users value the information provided in local search results
• 36% of them think that the local results are convient
• 14% use them to find a local business each month

However, here is the really important statistic and it's mind blowing!

A staggering 61% of those local searches result in a purchase ONLINE!

People prefer to shop from someone local, even if it's via their website, therefore the only sensible conclusion anyone can make is:

Don't skip the local aspect of your SEO objectives!



Page Space is Limited

Google displays many elements in local results – addresses, reviews, star ratings, and much more. Above that, it also displays AdWords ads and organic results. All these elements take up precious "page estate," limiting the number of local results per page.

Getting Results Takes Time

Seeing the results of local campaigns is tedious and time-consuming. Without going into too much detail, there are plenty of platforms to verify, manage, and claim profiles on. Each one has its own set of rules; making sure your profiles comply with them takes time.

Big Retail Chains Do Local, Too

It doesn't mean, however, that you can't overcome them. It does mean a fierce competition for local results and more resources you need to devote to secure your listing.

But working with local search doesn't only mean following best practices and devising strategies.

A major aspect of local SEO work revolves around other activities:

   
• Monitoring your progress
• Finding new citation opportunities
• Conducting regular site audits

You will definitely need dedicated tools to accomplish a good local listing and there are several tools out there that are invaluable and very reliable on getting results.

*Whitespark
*BrightLocal
*SEMrush (my favorite one)
*LocalVox
*LSEO
*Conclusion

Using one of those programs will get you're local results popping in no time and they are easy to use to keep track of your progress!

[Natashawilliams]

It depends where you are targeting for. If you are targeting only local areas then you must focus of local results but if you are targeting both local and global results than you should focus on both results as the same time.