OK, so you’ve got your local SEO humming along. But how do you make sure it stays that way? It’s not about quick wins; it’s about building something that lasts that is uniquely you.
So what do you actually OWN? Your content.
Creating High-Quality Content
Content is still king, queen, and the whole royal family! But it’s gotta be good content. We’re talking stuff that’s actually helpful, interesting, and maybe even a little entertaining. Think blog posts, videos, infographics – anything that provides value to your audience. And don’t forget to keep it fresh! Stale content is a major turn-off.
Focusing on Relationship Building
Forget just seeing customers as transactions. Think of them as, well, people! As a local business owner, taking an active role in managing your online presence and local SEO is essential for building strong relationships and increasing visibility. Building real relationships is what keeps them coming back and recommending you to their friends. Engage with them on social media, respond to customer reviews (good and bad), and make them feel like they’re part of your brand’s story. It’s not always about the hard sell; sometimes, it’s just about being a good neighbor.
The Missing Link(s)
Increasing the number of “backlinks” (links back to your website) is one of the most important aspects of any local SEO campaign. Some call this practice “link building”, though that’s a funny term as you are not technically “building” the link. A more accurate term would probably be “link acquisition”. Whatever you prefer, it should be in your local SEO strategy!
Why? Earning a link from another website that is relevant to your audience — such as local press, chambers of commerce, community organizations, industry blogs, etc — has multiple benefits:
- Very simply, it introduces you to readers of that other website. Expanding the surface area of where your business is mentioned is never a bad thing. Bigger footprint, bigger results.
- In the SEO world, a “backlink” (link back from another website) It is sort of like a “vote” from that website. When search engines see that website XYZ is choosing to link to YOUR website, they take that as a signal that your website must have something of value. How much value? Well, that depends on how relevant/trustworthy/authoritative that linking website is. But don’t overthink this. Generally speaking, any link to your website is a good link. (Just don’t go buying backlinks on the internet – those can get you penalized in search engines).
Nurturing Your Audience Over Time
Don’t expect people to become loyal customers overnight. It takes time and effort to build trust and loyalty. Use email marketing, social media, and other channels to stay in touch with your audience, provide them with useful information, and offer them exclusive deals. Think of it as dating – you wouldn’t propose on the first date, would you? Nurture that relationship, and eventually, they’ll be ready to commit.
Think of your audience as a garden. You can’t just plant seeds and expect them to grow without any care. You need to water them, fertilize them, and protect them from pests. The same goes for your audience. You need to nurture them with valuable content, engage with them on social media, and provide them with excellent customer service. If you do that, they’ll blossom into loyal customers who will keep coming back for more.
Here’s a quick look at how different content types can help nurture your audience:
| Content Type | Purpose | Frequency |
| Blog Posts | Provide valuable information | 1-2/week |
| Email Newsletters | Share updates, deals, and insights | Weekly |
| Social Media Posts | Engage with audience, build community | Daily |
| How-To Videos | Solve problems, showcase expertise | Monthly |
To achieve lasting success, businesses need to focus on long-term plans that promote steady growth. This means setting clear goals, being flexible, and always looking for ways to improve. By investing in your team and listening to your customers, you can build a strong foundation for the future.