There’s a lot of opportunity in Orange County, CA for businesses to thrive. To capture that potential, customers need to be able to find you! That’s where local search engine optimization (SEO) strategies come into play. Did you know that 46% of all Google searches are looking for local information and that 72% of consumers who completed a local search visited a business within five miles of their location? It’s true! These are just a couple of the reasons why using local SEO strategies is imperative for Orange County businesses.
Want to learn more? Here are some of our top local SEO strategies and tips for OC businesses.
Contact Details
This might seem obvious, but a good place to start for local SEO strategies is to double-check that your contact information online is accurate. Business name, street address, phone number and email address should all be confirmed. Also, make sure this information is consistent across all platforms and online sites.
Execute an Audit
Determine what is performing well and what isn’t with an audit of your local SEO efforts. If you Google your own business, does your information come up accurately? Review your website analytics and conduct a thorough competitor analysis to gain valuable insights. For your website, ensure that you have sharpened your linking structure, URLs, tags, headers, meta descriptions and other important website facets.
Update Directories
You’ll want your business to show up no matter where people are searching. This includes through Google, but also through other search engines and local directory listings including Bing, Yahoo, Safari (Apple) and potentially in places such as TripAdvisor and Yelp depending on your type of business. There are a few main data collectors that feed into various searches, so be sure that your business information is updated on Local Listings by Data Axel, Foursquare and Neustar Localeze.
Local Content
Want to attract local customers? Create local-based content and lean into local SEO strategies. Think about what information customers need in your neighborhood, city or even county, and write from there. From Brea to San Clemente, and Huntington Beach to Rancho Santa Margarita, there is an abundance of local SEO opportunities for Orange County businesses.
Engage with Customers
Connect with consumers through social media channels. Post regularly and deploy appropriate engagement strategies. Be responsive to feedback. Get a great review online? Thank your customer! Receive a complaint? Address your customer’s concerns appropriately. Show local shoppers and potential customers that you are invested in the community.
Optimized for Mobile
Here’s another stat: 88% of searches for local businesses result in a call or visit within 24 hours. That means that your website needs to be optimized for mobile and easy to navigate. Additionally, Californians are twice as likely to use cell phones to access the internet than just three years ago. So, having your site updated for mobile access is a savvy local SEO approach.
Create a Google Business Profile (GBP)
If your business hasn’t claimed its Google Business Profile , be sure to verify your business and complete your profile. This will allow customers to find you with a Google search, see you in Maps, write and check reviews and more. Interested in more tips on setting up and optimizing your GBP profile? Visit our blog with info on how to rank higher here.
Local SEO for Orange County Businesses
When you think about your customer base, it’s likely that most of your business comes from local customers. This is why it’s imperative that your company be on top of local SEO strategies. Ensuring that your customers can easily find and connect with your business will drive traffic to your location. Creating local content will also speak directly to your target audience and help move customers from top-of-funnel through to store visits and ultimately purchase.
We’re an Orange County business helping other Orange County businesses. Connect with the experts at Beyond Fifteen to learn how we can help your company boost local SEO strategies.
