Mastering SEO basics for manufacturing and industrial companies is a powerful way to drive business to your website and convert prospects to customers. Local SEO for manufacturers helps you reach a more targeted audience, drive foot traffic to your location, and increase sales and revenue.
Ninety-three percent of today’s shoppers use online searches to find a local business. Whether people want to be able to see products firsthand, test them out before purchasing, or avoid shipping delays, local shopping is in high demand. Stand out from your competition by targeting customers in your area through local SEO and drawing them to your business for relevant solutions that are also easily accessible.
Keep reading to learn more about local SEO, why it’s important, and how to boost local SEO for manufacturers.
Key Takeaways
- Local SEO is optimizing your online content with location-specific keywords and information to attract customers in your area.
- Local SEO revolves around three main elements: proximity, relevance, and prominence.
- Generating qualified leads and increasing visibility are some reasons you need local SEO.
- From researching local keywords to optimizing for voice search, you can boost your local SEO in five main ways.
What Exactly Is Local SEO for Manufacturers?
It’s no secret that SEO is an effective tool when marketing for manufacturers. While traditional SEO helps you increase visibility with higher search engine ranking placements, local SEO helps you target and connect with customers in your area. Local SEO revolves around three main elements:
- Proximity: How close your business is to the person conducting the search.
- Relevance: How effectively your solution meets the searcher’s needs.
- Prominence: What others say about your brand, goods, and services.
Any time someone conducts a local search, search engines identify a user’s location through their IP address (on a desktop) or geolocation (on a mobile device). The search engines then use that information to determine which results are most relevant for that user’s location and show them a listing of possible solutions in their area.
With local SEO, you can optimize your website to ensure you reach the right people with the right information at the right time. Local SEO enables prospective customers to find you through an online search, guiding them into your brick-and-mortar location for higher sales potential.
Why Is Local SEO Important?
People looking for local solutions make up nearly half of all Google searches. Local SEO uses specific keywords that are connected to your location. When consumers conduct online searches with phrases like “manufacturing businesses near me,” you want your company to be among the top search results. Location-specific keywords and updated contact information are website must-haves for manufacturing companies that can help earn you high-ranking local SEO listings that set you apart from your competition.
In today’s digital marketplace, local SEO is essential for driving business to your doors. By targeting your area audience, local SEO can help:
- Increase foot traffic: When people learn about your business online, they’ll realize the solution to their problems is in their vicinity and will want to visit in person.
- Boost sales: On average, 80% of local searches convert to sales.
- Generate qualified leads: People who find your business actively seek your goods and services.
- Increase visibility exponentially: Local customers will share your information with their personal networks, thus increasing your visibility exponentially.
Local SEO is a critical piece of brand marketing for manufacturing companies to gain market share in your area. The following video explains local SEO in more detail and explains why local search is important for your business:
Source: Yoast on YouTube
5 Ways to Boost Local SEO for Manufacturers
The key to maximizing local SEO for manufacturers is to get your company noticed online. Here are five ways to boost local SEO and catch the eye of prospective customers in your area.
1. Research Local Keywords
Relevant keywords are key to successful content marketing for manufacturing companies. Keywords help to align your material with user searches and stand out to search engines as a useful resource to its users. To resonate with local customers, you must use local keywords. Tools like Google’s Keyword Planner help you identify keyword searches based on area. This research helps you compile a list of targeted keywords that are likely to bring success. Other keywords to include are mentions of area-specific landmarks and destinations to connect with local searchers.
2. Optimize Free Listings
There are several free online business listings you can use to your advantage. Include updated contact information (address, website, and phone number), accurate hours of operation, and a clear description of your business. These virtual profiles can help boost your local SEO and increase the likelihood of local people finding your business. Google My Business is an especially useful tool, enabling you to appear in Google Search local results and Google Maps.
3. Get Local Reviews
Online purchases mean people aren’t able to test a product before buying. As a result, consumers rely on the reviews of other shoppers who have experienced brands and products. Today, 79% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations from family and friends. Use this to your advantage with local SEO. The more positive reviews you can get from your local shoppers, the more influence they’ll have on others’ purchase decisions.
Whether you ask for an in-person review after a sale, email customer surveys, or offer an incentive on social media, it’s important to seek positive reviews from your local clientele. Not only will it boost your search engine rankings, but it can also earn you even more revenue and overall success.
4. Create Hyper-Localized Content
Create content that focuses on local events or activities. This material can include hyper-localized sections, meaning you can target keywords and create links to businesses, cities, and even neighborhoods. All content must provide value to the reader, so you’ll need to research these areas and events and provide meaningful information about them in your web pages and articles. Hyper-localization enables you to create even more personalized content that resonates with your readers.
5. Optimize for Voice Search
Many local shoppers are searching for solutions while on the go. That’s why 41% of adults use voice search at least once daily. Voice search allows people to ask questions aloud on their mobile devices without manually entering information. It makes online search highly convenient for today’s multitasking consumers. Capitalize on this audience by optimizing your digital content for voice search. Consider long-tail keywords and conversational question starters, like “where” and “how.” This kind of SEO can help you earn higher search rankings on local SEO lists.
Make Local SEO Work for You
Shanahan Strategy capitalizes on marketing trends for manufacturing companies and builds effective digital strategies to help generate growth and revenue.
Contact Shanahan Strategy today to learn how we can help you maximize local SEO for continued success.
