Growing a local business can be a challenge. When you have a limited budget, investing in local Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) can seem like a big expense. But the reality is that your customers are online, and they’re using search engines like Google to find the businesses in their area. That means your website needs to show up in the search results, and investing in SEO is the best way to claim the #1 spot.

The good news is that there’s heaps of opportunities for local businesses to succeed using SEO! In this article we’re going to cover some of the basic tips and tricks you can use to kickstart your local SEO Brisbane strategy.

Our Top 5 Local SEO Tips and Tricks

1. Claim Your Google My Business Profile

One of the best things you can do to boost your local SEO campaign is to claim your Google My Business (GMB) profile. GMB accounts function a little bit like a social media page, but they are closely tied into the Google Search and Google Maps results.

If you search for a local business on Google Maps and click on the pin that comes up, that’s a Google My Business listing. Your GMB contains all sorts of important information, like your location, products, services, contact details and more. Setting up a GMB profile means your business will appear front and centre in those local searches, and potential customers will be more likely to call your shop, check out your website or visit your location.

2. Get Social

Maintaining social media profiles can be time consuming for business owners. But it’s one of the best ways to show that your business is active in the local community! Most businesses should maintain an Instagram, Facebook or Linkedin profile, or a combination of the three. Posting on a regular schedule (we recommend at least 2-3 times per week) demonstrates that your business is ongoing, and it helps to make your business more visible online.

Social media is also one of the easiest ways to interact with your customers. Encouraging conversation, responding to comments and messages, and engaging with customers helps to build valuable relationships. Those relationships may not turn into immediate sales, but the more effort you put in, the more likely your customers are to spread the word about their positive experience with your business.

3. Research Local Keywords and Content

Keywords and content are the backbone of every SEO strategy. Small business owners often think of SEO as a game that’s limited to the large players, but it’s actually an effective tool for businesses of all sizes.

When doing local SEO, it’s important to focus on local keywords. If you can find keywords that people in your area are searching for, you’ll be able to create content that attracts nearby audiences. Look for keywords that pertain to your area. For example, a plumbing business might like to target the phrase “blocked drains repairs [suburb].” Similarly, a local restaurant might target something like “best restaurants in [city]” by writing a blog and reviewing some of the area’s best eateries.

4. Build Local Backlinks

No SEO strategy is complete without backlink building. Backlinks are the hyperlinks that point to your website from a third party site. Google sees these links as a vote of confidence that the content on your website is high quality and that it offers something of value to customers. The more of these links you collect, the higher you appear in the search rankings.

For local businesses, the best strategy is to focus on building links with other local websites and directories. This is typically done by reaching out to the owners of other websites and asking them to place a link back to your own site.

When building backlinks you should avoid your direct competitors. Instead, look for businesses that complement your own. For instance, a local plumber could approach a local hardware store and ask them to place a backlink. This could be done through the hardware store’s blog, and the plumber could even supply a how-to article containing the backlink for the hardware store to publish.

5. Optimise Your Website for Mobile Users

More than half of all web users are browsing using their smartphone or mobile devices. That’s important for every brand, but local businesses stand to gain the most. You see, 78% of all local mobile searches result in an offline purchase. Meaning the customers in your area are out and about, using their phones to search for local businesses, and there’s a high chance they’ll visit your location and make a purchase.

Optimising your website for mobile users is fairly simple these days. Platforms like WordPress allow you to install “responsive” website themes that automatically adjust to suit the size of the user’s screen. But don’t rely on pre-built themes alone. Get out your phone and double check that everything works properly. Make sure that buttons and calls to action are highly visible and easy to use, and ensure your website’s content encourages visitors to become customers.