Table of Contents
No matter what kind of business you own, if you have an online presence then SEO is important. SEO helps you to rank well in search results which, in turn, will generate more traffic to your website and business. There are many ways to go about implementing SEO and it can be quite overwhelming if you don’t know where to start. Below we will discuss some eight tips for franchises and their locations in order to create an impressive SEO strategy that will leave your business ranking high on Google.
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Content Marketing
When you have an online presence, having content on your website is crucial. Customers who visit your website will not be impressed by a blank canvas. Content will allow you to connect with your customers on a more personal level, especially if your content is geared towards location-specific subjects. You could always write content associated with your niche, but for location-specific franchises, it’s important to also have content that is more local.
Content regarding local news is okay, but try to put some content that refers to local fundraisers and events pertaining to your niche and make sure that you are using location-specific keywords, which we will discuss below. If your business is in Chicago, Illinois, make sure to mention that.
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Keywords
According to Webcitz, a local search optimization agency, an essential and obvious part of any SEO plan is to apply related keywords to any content that you do have on your website. With location-specific businesses, you will want your keywords to relate to where your business is located. Using broad keywords may get you ranked, but if the customers who visit your website live in another city or state, then it will not do you any good.
You can make use of a keyword tool, such as Google Keyword Planner, which will assist you in choosing the best keywords for your business. While Google Keyword Planner is not free to use, there are alternatives that are. An example would be WordStream.
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Listings
When it comes to location-specific SEO, creating listings and profiles is beneficial. For example, a Google Business will help in getting your business listed at the top of the search results. Should this happen, ratings and data from your business will appear beside your Google Business profile. This will help in generating more clicks.
Don’t just stop at a Google Business Profile, though. You will want to create as many profiles and listings as you can in as many directories as possible. Foursquare, Angie’s List, Yelp and TripAdvisor are four other important directories where you can create a profile and list your business. Make sure you’re getting the most out of these websites – ensure that you are adding appropriate information, images, and keywords.
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Backlinks
It can be challenging when it comes to creating backlinks, especially when it comes to ones that are location-specific. Although challenging, creating these backlinks is vital in terms of ranking.
Avoid collaborating with competitors. Instead, reach out to local schools, charities, and other organizations in your area. You can then determine what you will offer in trade for linking to your franchise.
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Schema Markup
When you have a website and want to generate organic traffic, you should think about using schema markup. Schema markup is an HTML code that will help you in enhancing how your page is characterized in search results by helping search results in better understanding your content. Understandably, using schema markup can be intimidating. However, there are many guides that will assist you in utilizing this important strategy.
For example, Ahrefs guide on schema markup will help you to understand schema markup and will walk you through the steps in applying it on your website.
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Social Media
Social media platforms became popular in 2004 with MySpace. Still today, social media is extremely prevalent and people from all over the world use it. Platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok have millions of users so it makes sense that having a good social media presence is vital.
Not only will social media let you to connect with your customers and allow them to share and follow your content, but you will also be able to share important news regarding your products and services.
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Mobile-Friendly
Not everyone has a computer. In fact, more people have mobile devices than they do laptops or desktops. Even if someone owns a computer, sometimes it’s easier to just pick up a phone or tablet, especially if you’re on the go.
This is why it’s so essential to guarantee that your website is mobile-friendly. If your website lacks responsive web design, you may lose out on potential customers which can hurt your business and its ranking in the long run.
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Customer Reviews
Lastly are reviews. Every reputable company will have them and potential will want to see what others say about the products or services that you offer. Obtaining positive reviews will also help search engines like Google in deciding on how to rank your page. Moreover, you will want to make sure you interact with the reviews. Authenticity goes a long way, so make sure your responses are genuine and not automated.
Having customer loyalty is important. Your loyal customers will help to bring awareness and spread the word of your services, not just online but also to their friends and family in person. This is essential in bringing in new patrons.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a business owner who sells products like coffee or food or one that sells services like roofing or handy work, you should be using SEO. While there are many tips and tricks out there to make the best of local SEO strategies, these eight tips are some of the best and will help you in ranking high on search engines if executed correctly. However, if you want to take it a step further, we do recommend dipping your toes in local SEO tools. There are many tools at your disposal such as BrightLocal, BuzzStream, Ahrefs, and more. These tools will help in getting you a higher rank and generating more traffic to your website and business.
