If you’re looking to improve your local SEO and increase your visibility in search results, understanding local ranking factors is crucial. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the key factors that Google and other search engines look for when determining your local ranking. By optimizing for these factors, you can improve your chances of appearing higher in search results and attracting more potential customers to your business. Let’s explore local ranking factors and how to make the most of them.

Local Ranking Factors Explained: What You Need to Know

As a business owner, you want to be sure that your website is ranking well on the search engines, especially in the areas where you operate. Ranking in local search results is a critical component to your online success, and with over 46% of Google searches carrying local intent, it’s more important than ever to optimize your website for local SEO.

In this guide, we’ll cover the local ranking factors that you need to know to get your website higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). By following these guidelines, you’ll increase the visibility of your website, generate more traffic, and ultimately grow your business.

Introduction

Local ranking factors refer to a set of key factors that impact the visibility of your website in local search results. These factors vary from traditional SEO ranking factors because they take into account the user’s location, search history, and proximity to your business.

There is a lot of confusion around local search ranking factors and how they affect search engine results. That’s why we’ve compiled this guide to help you understand the most important local ranking factors that you should focus on when optimizing your website for local SEO.

Seven ranking factor buckets for local search

There are seven ranking factor buckets for local search, and here’s a summary of each one:

1.      Google My Business signals

2. On-page signals
3. Link signals
4. Citation signals
5. Review signals
6. Behavioral signals
7. Personalization

Let’s dive deeper into each category.

Google My Business signals

Your Google My Business profile is an essential component of local SEO.

Here are the Google My Business signals that have the most significant impact on your local search ranking:

• Business categories
• Accurate NAP (name, address, phone number)
• Verified listing
• Geographic keyword relevance
• Google My Business website
• Google posts
• Reviews

On-page signals

On-page signals are factors that are within your control on your website, including:

• Optimized content for target keyword and location
• Mobile-friendliness
• Page speed
• Internal linking
• URL structure and optimization
• Meta tags

Link signals

A high-quality backlink profile significantly impacts your local search ranking. Consider investing your time and resources into the following:

• High-quality backlinks from authoritative websites
• Quality of inbound links
• Anchor text
• Linking domain authority

Citation signals

Citations are references to your business on third-party sites. These citations can significantly affect your local search ranking. Try to focus on:

• Consistency of NAP across all citation sites
• Quantity of citations
• Quality of citation sources
• Unstructured citations

Review signals

Positive reviews have a significant impact on local rankings. Encourage your customers to leave reviews, as long as you comply with Google’s review policies. The review signals to keep in mind are:

• Review quantity
• Review velocity
• Review diversity
• Review authority
• The star rating of reviews

Behavioral signals

Behavioral signals are difficult to control, but they play a significant role in your local search ranking. These signals include:

• Click-through rate (CTR)
• Check-ins and photo uploads
• Mobile clicks-to-call
• Driving directions requests
• Time on site

Personalization

Google is increasingly tailoring search results to the individual user, which means that personalization is an important factor to consider.

Shortcuts to improve local ranking in less than 7 minutes

Now that you’re familiar with the seven ranking factor buckets, it’s important to know that there are also shortcuts to improve your local ranking. Here are some quick tips that take less than 7 minutes:

Geotag your photos

Geotagging photos is a quick and easy way to signal to search engines your location. Adding a location to your images helps search engines verify your business’s location.

Optimize your Google My Business description

Your Google My Business profile should include a detailed and accurate business description. Ensure that you include your target keywords and location within the description.

Add relevant secondary categories

Using relevant secondary categories has a positive impact on ranking. You can add these within your Google My Business profile.

Make sure your NAP is consistent

Make sure your NAP (name, address, phone number) is accurate and consistent across all online platforms.

Complete your Google My Business listing

Ensure that you have completed all the necessary sections within your Google My Business listing. This includes a description, hours of operation, and reviews.

Top priority is the Google Business Profile category

The Google Business Profile category is the most critical ranking factor for local search results. Make sure you choose a relevant and accurate category that represents your business.

Using relevant secondary categories has a positive impact on ranking

Choosing secondary categories that are relevant to your business can impact your local search ranking positively. Don’t just rely on your primary category; make sure you add relevant secondary categories to your Google My Business profile.

Getting high-quality links and citations is crucial for website ranking

Links and citations can significantly impact your local search ranking. Ensure that you’re building high-quality backlinks and citations from authoritative sources within your industry.

Geotagging photos and keyword stuffing are not recommended

While geotagging photos can impact your local search ranking, keyword stuffing in your Google My Business profile and online content is not recommended. Avoid stuffing your keywords in your profile, as this can result in a penalty or lower ranking.

Reviews play a significant role – the star rating and the review text impact ranking

Reviews can significantly impact your local search ranking. The more reviews you receive, the better, but the quality of reviews also matters.

Here are 5 unique FAQs After The Conclusion.

1. How do I claim my Google My Business listing?
2. Should I pay for citations?
3. How do I get positive reviews?
4. Does page loading speed affect local ranking?
5. How can I track my local search ranking?

Conclusion

In conclusion, understanding local ranking factors and their impact on your local search ranking is critical to your online success. By following these guidelines, you’ll increase the visibility of your website, generate more traffic, and ultimately grow your business.

Keep in mind the seven ranking factor buckets, focus on optimizing your Google My Business profile, and invest your time and resources into building high-quality backlinks and citations from authoritative sources. Remember to monitor your local search ranking regularly and adjust your local SEO strategy accordingly.