Have you ever wondered how to use local SEO to get your business to appear on page 1 of Google? Read on to learn more about rankings and the secret sauce for organic listings.

First things first, local SEO is the cool kid on the block. It’s like the magic wand that boosts traffic for local joints and small fry companies. You know those ‘near me’ searches? Well, they shot up by a whopping 136% last year! Who knew typing ‘coffee shop near me’ could be so trendy?



Some of you may already be familiar with SEO and how it works, but, you may find refreshers in here that you didn’t know you didn’t know. For those of you who are new to the big wide world of SEO, we will explain it in an easy-to-understand way. Ready, REBEL? Let’s go…



Now, imagine Google as your personal matchmaker, always trying to set you up with the best local businesses around. That’s why using local SEO tricks to snag a top spot is like making your brand a superstar. Cue the applause!



Okay, it’s time to break down this local SEO thingy. Think of it as a two-parter:



You’ve got the ‘Map Pack’ & Google Maps Rankings and the Secret Sauce for Organic Listings.


The ‘Map Pack’ & Google Maps Rankings

When it comes to the Map Pack, it’s like playing the SEO game with Google’s ever-changing rulebook. There’s a bunch of stuff that makes Google go ‘Wow!’ and boost your ranking. Picture your Google Business Profile as the VIP pass—you gotta nail it for your brand to shine. And oh boy, businesses saw a 61% spike in calls during the pandemic thanks to their Google Business Profile. Score!





Reviews are like the cool kids in high school; everyone’s eyeing them. One thumbs-up can sway a potential customer faster than a cat video. Plus, they tell Google, ‘Hey, this place is legit!’ So, keep those reviews coming!



And let’s talk links—like a friendship bracelet, but for websites. Google loves it when you’re friends with top-notch websites. No spammy links are allowed, though. You gotta roll with the A-listers to land on Google’s good side.



Now, what about those ‘check-ins’? They’re like giving your business a high-five on social media. Snap those pics, tag your biz, and watch the magic happen. It’s a feast for Google’s eyes and a big boost for your street cred.



Moving on to the Organic Listings. These are the rockstars in the Google search world. Links are still the VIP here—get those backlinks to hit the top page, and your CTR skyrockets by almost 40%! Who wouldn’t want that kind of fame?



On-page signals are like your website’s fashion sense—what you wear matters! Sprinkle those meta descriptions, keywords, and catchy headers like confetti, and watch your website shine.



And oh, don’t forget the behavioral signals. It’s like popularity in high school—more clicks mean more attention from Google. Who knew your website needed to be a head-turner?



If you’re feeling a little ‘extra’ and you want to dive into deeper ranking waters, follow this line, Moz, for more about Local Search Ranking Factors: This resource provides comprehensive insights into the various factors influencing local search rankings.



Ready to get saucy…


The Secret Sauce for Organic Listings

Google’s RankBrain? It’s like the all-knowing genie behind the screen. It looks at what you want, where you are, and boom—here are your search results! So, when optimizing your site, make sure RankBrain gets a nod.

Understanding ranking factors and the way Google’s algorithm and RankBrain work is vital to understanding SEO digital marketing techniques and strategies. Implementing keywords and simple SEO methods won’t help you keep up with your competitors or get your business on Google Maps’s top page.

What RankBrain does for local search results is search through data with an interpretation model that goes through possible factors such as personalization, location of the user, and true intent. That’s basically how Google can deliver exact and relevant results for each search.

Google feeds data into its RankBrain from different sources. The algorithm then calculates matches to a variety of different signals like social, personalization, behavioral, and citation. These signals display a list of results based on search engine rankings. That’s why optimizing your business based on RankBrain methods is so important.

Implementing keywords and simple SEO methods won’t help you keep up with your competitors or get your business on Google Maps’s top page. You must use local SEO strategies if you want to compete with other businesses in your niche.


Let’s delve into some details:

What Are Link Signals?

Link signals are the number one ranking factor to getting to the top of a local Google search. As you can see, Link signals consist of 29% of ranking factors.

Link signals provide Google with an idea of how important your site is for its users. They’re when other websites link to yours.

Search engines like when this happens. It gives the algorithm the idea that other sites find you relevant for the search query.

What Are On-Page Signals?

On-page optimization consists of 24% of ranking factors. It’s important for local SEO and is one of the major ways businesses get on Google’s front page.

So, what is on-page SEO? On-page SEO is anything that can be taken directly from a website to improve its position in any search engine rank. That includes meta descriptions, alt tags, title tags, keywords in headers, and landing page optimization.

It’s a vital factor to improve when doing an SEO audit and improving your traffic, rank, and citations.

What Are Behavioral Signals in SEO?

Behavioral signals make up 11% of ranking factors in SEO and are based on the theory that the more people click on your website or directory listings in any search result, the more times it will show up for similar results in the future.

Basically, behavioral signals amount to a popularity contest when it comes to websites and content in general. This thought or concept is interesting because Google’s algorithm is still learning this particular theory in SEO.

Google has never really shared exact data on this theory. However, studies suggest that behavioral patterns and signals involving relevant search results and their popularity are major ranking factors.



What Does Personalization Mean for Local SEO?

Personalization makes up a total of 9% of ranking factors in local and traditional SEO. But what does personalization mean? It’s basically just the concept of maximizing your website, your content, and your business for a targeted audience.

Personalizing is content created just for the people you want to buy or use your services. Personalization isn’t just for a targeted audience, either. It’s for Google itself to show potential customers that your product or service is of value to a certain demographic.

Personalization in SEO is all about data and Google’s algorithm. Any time a person uses Bing or Google, that user is sharing information about their local listing, device, and web history. This information allows Google to give a more personalized user experience and search results for each individual person.



What Are Citation Signals?

In local search engine optimization, citations are just mentions of your business’s name, address, and phone number on a website that isn’t a part of your company. This is often referred to as NAP.

Local SEO citations are important when trying to establish domain authority. Local citations make up 8% of ranking factors.

Your web pages must have the correct and up-to-date business information across all directories because citations help Google confirm that your business is legit and trustworthy enough to show its users.

Contact information is a must-have for any citation directory. You need to have a clear way for any potential leads to either call or email, or you should even have a messaging system set up on your landing page so that your business doesn’t miss out on any sales.

Contact and business information aren’t just important for sales; they also tell Google that your company is a real business and will help you get ranked on Google’s top pages.





What Are Good Business Profile Signals?

Google Business Profile signals make up 7% of ranking factors in local SEO. Business Signals include “near me” searches of business categories. Keywords that are used to describe your business in Google Business Profile titles and other details play a major role in GMB signals.

A few business factors play a role in GMB signals, such as location, relevance, and authority. A great way to boost your authority with Google Business Profile is to have articles written about your business, reviews and ratings, and accurate information.

Also, if you make sure that you verify your business, that will heavily affect your niche authority. Remember that your competitors are using Google Business Profile, and that means that you should be, too.



What Are Review Signals?

Another factor is reviews. Reviews are extremely important when trying to get on Google Maps front page listings. As I’ve mentioned before, whether they are negative reviews or positive is extremely important for business.

Google knows if people like your business or not! Google checks your reviews on your business pages as a signal of relevance and conditional leads. Customers use reviews to decide whether or not they want to use your service and trust reviews just as much as personal recommendations. It’s super important to have good reviews!

If Google notices that your business doesn’t have many reviews or is littered with false positive reviews, that can make your company look fake or harmful to its users. In that case, your website and contact information may be lower on the ranking list or be removed from Google’s listings altogether.



Social Signals: The Buzz on Social Media

Okay, so social signals? They’re like the cool vibes your posts get on social platforms—likes, shares, comments—that jazz up your online presence.

When your content gets shared around like hot gossip, Google notices! It’s like telling Google, “Hey, people love what we’re dishing out here!”

Imagine this: Your epic blog about ‘San Diego’s Hidden Gems’ gets shared by tons of locals. That’s a high-five to Google, shouting, “Our content rocks!” Those shout-outs from Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn? They’re not just for fun; they’re your ticket to ranking town!

Show and Tell: Local SEO Success Stories

Who doesn’t love a good success story? Let’s spill the beans on local heroes who aced their SEO game. Picture this: A tiny taco joint that used local SEO magic to draw in hungry foodies, simply by jazzing up its Google listing and earning rave reviews. Tacos + Local SEO = Internet sensation! And not just on Tuesdays!





Ace Your Local SEO Game: Pro Tips Straight from the Masters

Here’s the secret sauce to rock your local SEO game:

Whip up keywords that locals dig, the ones that shout, “Hey, we’re here!”

Give your Google My Business profile a makeover—think snazzy pics, bang-on info, and updates that pop!

Reviews? Wear them like a badge of honor! Encourage them, respond to them, and watch your street cred skyrocket.

Get cozy with local directories and earn those backlinks—be the popular kid in the neighborhood!

Cook up specific web content for your peeps, those San Diego insiders who are hungry for local flavor.

Oh, and don’t forget the secret code—structured data markup! It’s like Google’s decoder ring for better search results.



Wrapping it up, local SEO isn’t rocket science; it’s more like a cool game of strategy. Want to win? Optimize your website, rock those keywords, and shine like a star on Google’s stage!



Hey, it’s a bit tricky at first, but we’ve got your back. Check out these cool resources to get you started. And hey, if you need a helping hand, we’re just a call away. Let’s boost your biz together!



Note: If this article has helped, please feel free to share. If you'd like to participate and post an article, please send your submissions to info@certificationpoint.org


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