5 Ways to Use Local Keywords to Boost Your Rankings
Local SEO enables websites to rank higher in SERPS because when users search for specific phrases or terms, the search engine sifts through all sites with that phrase or word. Websites containing the most valuable and relevant information will rank top in search results. Incorporating relevant, targeted local keywords in your website can help improve your chances of ranking higher on SERPs. This leads to driving more targeted traffic to your site.
With local keywords, finding the right customers online and establishing your reputation as a reliable local company becomes more manageable. Outlined below are five ways to use local keywords to boost your rankings.
Table of Contents
Leverage keyword modifiers
Keyword modifiers are phrases or words you incorporate into your primary keyword to make it more targeted and specific. This raises your chances of:
- Ranking high in SERPs
- Reaching a more relevant audience
- Increasing sales
With the help of geographic keyword modifiers, you can attract clients looking for services or products in specific locations. For instance, if you wish to attract clients looking to sell their houses quickly in Memphis, add a geographic modifier into your keyword ‘sell a house fast' to turn it into ‘sell a house fast Memphis.' When prospects type this search term on Google, your site will appear high on SERPs, driving more targeted customers.
Incorporate local keywords into your meta tags and site content.
Use relevant keywords to optimise your local content to enhance your visibility in local SERPs. For natural keyword incorporation into your meta tags and website content, consider the following:
- Create a dedicated landing page for every geographic you wish to target. Consider optimising these pages using location-specific keywords, like city, to raise your local search visibility.
- Reviewing your homepage plus core pages to ensure they contain your primary local keywords. Incorporate the keywords seamlessly into your body content, subheadings, and headings to maintain a natural language flow.
- You are adding relevant keywords to image alt tags to optimise them. You can also incorporate location-specific keywords in image alt tags related to local landmarks, events, etc.
- Crafting unique, captivating meta descriptions and titles for every page as you include the relevant local keywords
Integrate local keywords in internal linking and URL structures.
Using local keywords in internal linking and URL structures can help boost your website's Google rankings. Consider linking to the relevant location-specific landing pages from your website pages. This technique enables search engines to understand the link between various pages and stresses the relevance of your local keywords throughout your site. You can also add appropriate local keywords into your site's URL structures when setting location-based URLs or improving existing URLs.
Add local keywords to your Google My Business listing.
Incorporating relevant keywords into your Google My Business (GMB) listing can enhance your local SEO and rankings. You can include these keywords in your GMB listing's products section to drive more leads and traffic. Ensure all the appropriate fields, including images and product titles, have the relevant keywords.
Strategic incorporation of local keywords throughout the GMB listing makes it easier for prospective customers to learn about your business via local SERPs. Incorporating targeted local keywords in each of your GMB page's aspects increases traffic and drives more business ROI.
Use local keywords in titles, alt text, and headings.
Maximising your keywords' effects in titles, alt text, and headings can help optimise your local content for SEO even more. You can achieve this by:
- Placing your local primary keyword close to the beginning of each page's title tag helps search engines understand your pages' relevance to local search queries.
- Using heading tags for content structuring and incorporating the relevant keywords into your heading
- Including descriptive alt texts containing relevant local keywords to optimise your website images
Endnote
Using relevant local keywords in your website can help you rank higher while raising targeted web traffic. Consider implementing these tips when looking to boost your rankings with local keywords.
FAQs
What are local keywords, and why are they important?
Local keywords relate to a specific geographic location, such as a city, zip code or neighbourhood. Incorporating local keywords into your content and metadata helps search engines understand that your business serves a particular area. This can improve your local search rankings.
What's an example of an excellent local keyword?
An example would be using “Denver plumber” or “80220 electrician” instead of just “plumber” or “electrician.” The more specific you can be in your service area, the better.
How can I research good local keywords to target?
Use keyword research tools to find high-volume local searches. You can also search Google directly using phrases like “best restaurants in Cleveland” to see what people are searching for locally. Pay attention to autosuggest results.
What are some ways to incorporate local keywords on my website?
Adding local keywords includes your page titles, meta descriptions, image alt text, headers, content, URL structures, schema markup and more. Focus on pages and posts targeting specific service areas.
Does using local keywords help with Google My Business rankings, too?
Yes! Optimising your Google My Business listing with relevant local keywords can help people find your business when searching for offerings in your area. Match GMB info to website details.
How often should I update local keywords for a website?
Aim to review and revise local keywords every 3-6 months. Search intent can shift over time, so stay on top of what terms your audience uses to find local businesses like yours. Freshening content keeps it relevant.
