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In the world of SEO marketing, local keyword research is the foundation that many small businesses rely upon. It provides the conduit between customer and company. According to LinkedIn, four out of five consumers utilize their search engine to find specific, local information. Thus, if you optimize the right local keywords, you are statistically guaranteed to stimulate your marketing and your business.
If you are a curious about the world of local SEO, here are five local SEO keyword research tips for beginners.
- Use Online Resources to Your Advantage
The process of keyword research can be harnessed through online resources such as Google AdWords Keyword Planner. This online application combines the aggregate data of keyword tools and cross references it with a comprehensive traffic estimator.
To access its knowledge, all you need to do is input the region and product-based keywords. Then, select your target location. The Google AdWords Keyword Planner will thusly offer multiple high-ranking keyword options. These selections are intended to yield high traffic, more leads, and an all-around stronger campaign.
- Get to Know Your Competition
A huge component of keyword research lies within local competition analysis. This is, quite simply, seeking out successful competitors and actively dissecting their local keyword strategy.
To research your competition, you can search your area and product. Once you have input this data, look at the highest-ranking website. Pay attention to their headings and subheadings. See what they are writing about in their blog posts. Figure out if you can ascertain the keywords that they have successfully optimized.
By undergoing this competitive research, you can glean what comprises a successful marketing strategy. Furthermore, you can take these lessons and use them to strengthen your future campaign!
- Know Your Audience
In order to optimize your local research, you need to know what your customers are actively searching for. More specifically, you need to know the lingo that they will use when using search engines.
For example, if your business is in air conditioning, you may be targeting local customers who are suffering from a clogged condensation line. Yet, your customers do not know or understand that language. All they know is that their air conditioning is leaking, and that’s the phrasing that they’ll search for. In this scenario, “air conditioner leak” is a more effective keyword than “clogged condensation line.”
This is why it’s imperative to put yourself in your customers shoes. You need to divorce yourself from technical jargon, and select keywords from the perspective of your consumer. This will ensure that no customer is missed or lost in translation.
- Location is Everything
A great way to approach keyword research is through locational optimization. As previously stated, connecting your consumers with your company is paramount. Many businesses tangibly accomplish this connection through choosing keywords that highlight their region and city.
For example, if a customer were to search for “carpet cleaners,” they would receive a broad selection of non-targeted results. Yet, if they were to search for “carpet cleaners Miami,” they would be specifically linked to the top-ranking Miami based cleaning companies. Thus, you can capitalize on this specification by adding your region to your target keywords.
If you service surrounding areas, add them as well! The goal is to choose words that let your customers know that you are local, nearby, and open for business.
- Get a Second Opinion through Outsourcing
If you are new to the world of local SEO keyword research, you might stand to gain from reaching out to a professional company. There is a myriad of online search agencies which offer local marketing services. For example, there are agencies such as TopSpot, https://topspotsem.com. Companies like these utilize their expertise to optimize the keywords necessary to get you a higher ranking.
This, inevitably, will get you the visibility your company needs to succeed. It will also save you time and energy if another company does the brunt of the research.
In Conclusion
If you are new to SEO marketing, it can be like learning a new language. The dialects and words vary, and it becomes easy to get lost in the magnitude of the unknown.
Luckily, as with all things, it becomes easier with practice. You will be surprised what you can accomplish when you immerse yourself in your local keyword research, utilize online resources, and ask for help when you need it!
