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How do you optimise for local SEO?
March 16, 2021
6 minutes
Have you ever done a search in Google for a business in your local area and seen ‘near me’ come up as a suggestion?You may have heard the term ‘keyword research’, and ‘near me’ searches have become one of the most popular local SEO keywords.Did you know that 46% of all Google searches are looking for local information?So if you don’t think local SEO is important, think again.In this article, we will discuss how to optimise for ‘near me’ searches so that you can get more traffic.
Why Optimise For ‘Near Me’ Searches?
From 2013 to 2017, ‘near me’ searches increased by 900%. Most people have location enabled on their phones, allowing Google to determine exactly where they are.Surveys have found that over 80% of Australia’s smartphones search for a 'near me' keyword at least once per month.The intent of the person is clear - they want to find a business that’s nearby at a specific time.More importantly, they intend to visit a place and purchase immediately. Without optimising your business for local SEO, you could be missing out on a lot of potential customers.
How To Optimise For ‘Near Me’ Searches
It’s critical that your business is optimised for ‘near me’ searches so that it appears when users are searching for local results.Google does its best to match its search results with the user intent. The more Google trusts a website, the higher it will rank because it wants to provide the consumer with the required product or service that they’re looking for.Having your business address on your website is a great start, but you also need to have a Google My Business (GMB) page that is set up for local SEO searches.You should also ensure that your information is consistent across all major directories, as Google wants to be sure where your business is.This includes:
- Bing
- Yelp
- Apple Maps
- Trip Advisor
Furthermore, Google uses standard ranking factors to determine where you should sit in search results.Below, we’ve explained in more detail how to optimise your business for local SEO.
Ensure your website is mobile-friendly
About 60% of Google searches are made using a mobile phone.If your website is only optimised for desktop computers, then users will not have a good experience on a mobile device. If it takes a long time to load, or they can’t find the menu bar, a visitor will simply go to the next website in their search results.To prevent this from happening, we recommend testing your website on several devices to ensure that it runs smoothly.A few tips for optimising websites for mobile devices:
- Use large fonts
- Create buttons that are big enough for people’s fingers
- Reduce website load time
- Avoid using Flash Player
- Keep design simple
Keep Your GMB Up-to-date
Google My Business (GMB) listings often appear at the top when conducting ‘near me’ searches. So it goes without saying that if you want to appear in these listings that you need to have a GMB page, so that people can find you.Make sure you keep all your information up-to-date:
- Opening hours (including public holidays)
- Address
- Business updates
- Directions
Even if you don’t have a physical location, you should set up a GMB page. While this won’t be very helpful for ‘near me’ searches, you’d be surprised how much online visibility you can gain from having a GMB page. And if someone is searching a large area (eg., Melbourne), you will still appear in these searches.Encourage your customers to write a review on your GMB listing, as this is a great way to optimise your website for ‘near me’ searches.
Optimise Your Website and Create Geo-Specific Location Pages
For any type of SEO, your website should be optimised with the usual best on-page SEO practices.Some of these include:
- Including keywords in headings and titles
- Including keywords in the alt text on website images
- Internally linking to relevant pages on your website
- Optimising your meta title and descriptions
However, to rank for specific locations you must have geo-specific pages.For each area or city that you’d like to rank for, a separate service page is required.If your business operates in Sydney and Newcastle, you should have a service page for each location otherwise, Google may only think that you operate in one location, preventing you from showing up results for the other location.
Encourage Reviews
Reviews are very important for 'near me' searches. Google wants to show users the best possible results.And the best possible results include reviews with high ratings. Places with bad reviews will put people off, so encourage your regular clients or customers to leave a review.Encourage them to write a detailed review of what they like about your business. You’ll notice in GMB reviews that things that people mention the most get emphasised in bold.The more five-star reviews you get, the better your business will rank in GMB listings.If you find that people aren’t leaving you reviews, set up an automated email system that reminds them after they have purchased something to rate the product or service.
Write Blogs and Build Geo-specific Backlinks
Have you noticed that many websites you visit seem to have a blog page?Well, it’s probably not because these companies really like blogging (although many do like to share company insights), it’s most likely because of SEO.Blogs are an excellent way of getting local links and you can share articles with your email subscribers.While writing a blog may seem like a huge commitment, you don’t have to post every day. Aim to write one article a month and - who knows - you might even end up enjoying it.Write about locally relevant articles where you can gain local backlinks, and give potential customers more information about products and services.
Should You Include The Term 'near me'?
Should You Include the term 'near me'?No, you shouldn’t. Including the 'near me' term in your content or on your GMB listing is unnecessary.It will only hinder the user’s experience because you can’t naturally include it.Google knows the location of your business and the user, so it’s unnecessary to include it.
Optimising For Near Me Searches: Final Thoughts
SEO is a long-term process, so don’t expect results overnight. However, by implementing the above changes to your website, you should be able to see gradual improvement to your local SEO.Keep in mind that people spend years learning about SEO, so if you are finding it overwhelming it’s worth getting someone else to help you with it.If you would like more information about how we can help you with your business’ local SEO, contact us today.If you would like to read more about SEO and web design, make sure to check out some of our recent articles below:How To Speed Up Your Website (And Why It’s Important)What Keywords Should You Be Targeting? Why You Need To Update Your Website Frequently
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Who is Digital Treasury?
We're a Melbourne-based digital agency with extensive experience helping Australian businesses build stronger online presences. Our team specialises in web design, development, hosting and SEO services - everything you need to get found online and convert visitors into customers.
Over the years, we've worked across different platforms and industries, giving us the insight to know what actually works for businesses like yours. Whether you're starting from scratch or looking to improve your existing website, we focus on practical solutions that deliver real results for your business.
What types of businesses and industries do you work with?
We work with a wide range of Australian businesses, with particular expertise in healthcare, B2B services, SaaS companies, Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), professional services and e-commerce brands. Our team offers tailored SEO and web solutions that are customised to fit your industry, target audience and business goals.
Where is Digital Treasury located and do you work with businesses Australia-wide?
We are based in Melbourne but we work with clients throughout Australia. Our work is mostly done remotely by video conferencing and emails, which makes collaboration easier regardless of where your business may be based.
What services does Digital Treasury offer?
Our key services include Search Engine Optimisation (SEO), Website Design, Website Development, Website Maintenance and Website Hosting. They are provided either separately or combined, ensuring that we provide you with one reliable source to help establish your online presence for your business.
How do I get started with Digital Treasury?
Getting started is easy. Just contact us for an initial conversation about what you want, your budget and timeframe. We will talk to you about what you need, give advice about the best way forward and provide you with a detailed, upfront proposal.
What makes Digital Treasury different from other agencies?
We integrate our technical skills with honest communication and a strong emphasis on results that will benefit your company. Being a small team allows us to give you personal attention, upfront costs and all the support we would give to our own project.
Do you work with small businesses and startups?
Absolutely. Many of our clients are small businesses and startups looking to establish or improve their online presence. We will make suggestions based on your particular situation and budget needs, providing useful services at affordable prices.
How do you communicate with clients and report on progress?
We are convinced that clear communication should be maintained consistently during any of our projects. In accordance with the chosen service, you will be updated about your project through emails, meetings and detailed reports. We maintain constant contact with you, answering your queries along the way.
How does Digital Treasury structure its pricing?
We keep our pricing straightforward by providing a complete project quote rather than breaking it down into confusing line items. This approach gives you a clear understanding of exactly what you'll pay for the entire scope of work.
Every project is different, so costs depend on your specific requirements and the complexity involved. We'll assess your needs and provide transparent pricing that reflects the full value of what we'll deliver for your business.
Am I locked into a long-term contract?
We believe in earning your trust through quality work rather than tying you down with restrictive contracts. For specific projects like website builds, we'll provide you with a clear upfront quote so you know exactly what to expect.
Our ongoing services like website hosting, maintenance and search engine optimisation work a bit differently - we discuss these on a flexible arrangement basis that suits your business needs and budget.
Can you provide case studies or examples of previous work?
Yes, we can provide case studies and examples of our previous work. Potential clients frequently request these to see concrete evidence of our past successes. They want to understand how we’ve helped similar businesses achieve their goals through SEO and website development. Our case studies typically highlight our clients’ challenges, the strategies we implemented, and the measurable results we achieved, such as increased traffic and higher conversion rates. This builds trust and demonstrates our ability to deliver on our promises.
What types of SEO services do you offer?
We offer a comprehensive range of SEO services designed to boost your online visibility. Our core services include technical SEO fixes, on-page and content optimisation, local SEO for Melbourne businesses, thorough keyword research, detailed SEO audits, strategic link building, and ongoing performance tracking.
Can you guarantee first-page or number-one rankings?
No reputable SEO agency can guarantee specific rankings because search engines like Google use complex algorithms that change frequently. These changes are completely outside anyone's control. What we can promise is our commitment to using proven, white-hat strategies that give your website the best possible chance of ranking well.
Rather than making unrealistic promises, we focus on sustainable SEO practices that build long-term visibility and drive genuine business results. Our approach is about maximising your opportunities for success, not making guarantees that simply can't be kept.
Do you offer local SEO for businesses targeting specific areas?
Yes. Local SEO ensures that your business is found in location-specific search results and map results, making it perfect if you offer your products or services within specific suburbs or locations. We ensure that we optimise your Google Business Profile and your website content for local search.
Do you help with content optimisation?
Yes. Quality and relevant content plays a very important role in effective SEO optimisation. We can optimise your current webpages as well as provide you with some suggestions for creating content based on your keywords.
How much does SEO cost?
Pricing for SEO is determined based on your specific business goals, how competitive your industry is and the amount of work needed to achieve results. We will customise pricing plans depending on budgets while giving you a definite quote right from the start.
How do you decide which keywords to target?
We do extensive keyword research to know how your prospective clients search for information on the internet. After analysis of various parameters like search intent, relevancy, competition and commercial value, we shortlist keywords that resonate well with your products and services.
Do I need to change my website's content for SEO?
Yes, quite often. We recommend refreshing existing content frequently or creating new pieces that better match what your potential customers are actually searching for online. Of course, changes should be carefully implemented with regard to your company’s tone of voice.
What is the contract length for your SEO service?
We ensure that our SEO agreement remains flexible as opposed to being committed to long-term contracts. Even though SEO is most effective when conducted on a continuous basis, we do not mind discussing agreements that work for your benefit.
Is it necessary to hire an SEO agency or can I do SEO myself?
You can surely do basic SEO on your own and we are happy to point you in the right direction. However, SEO is very time-consuming and keeps changing frequently. Hiring an experienced SEO agency will ensure that you get more out of it without having to think about it anymore.
How does backlink building contribute to SEO success?
Backlinks are simply links to your website from another website. Search engines consider backlinks as an indication of credibility and authority. Our approach is to build links to your site through ethical and sustainable methods, building up the reputation of your website in the process.
What does your website design process look like?
We start by understanding your business goals and target audience to ensure your website truly connects with your customers. From there, we develop a web design strategy and create initial designs that we refine based on your feedback. Once you approve the designs, we go ahead to the development phase.
When should I consider redesigning my website?
A redesign is worth considering if your site looks outdated, performs poorly on mobile, loads slowly, is difficult to update or no longer reflects your brand. A modern, well-built website can improve user experience, credibility and your ability to attract customers.
Which CMS platforms do you build websites on?
We specialise in Webflow and WordPress, selecting the most suitable platform for you. WordPress allows for versatility, whereas Webflow gives you a sleek design with easy maintenance. We will suggest the most appropriate choice for you.
Do you provide SEO with your website builds?
Yes. All our websites are developed using SEO guidelines like a clean layout, quick loading speed, mobile optimisation and solid on-page foundation. In addition to that, we have professional SEO service packages that help businesses increase their online presence.
Do you offer ongoing website maintenance?
Yes. We offer website maintenance services to ensure that your website is safe, up-to-date and working properly. This encompasses software and plug-in upgrades, security protection, backups and basic changes to give you a hassle-free experience so that you can concentrate on your business.
Can I migrate my existing site to your hosting?
Yes, we can absolutely handle the complete website transfer to our managed hosting platform without any hassle on your end. Our team manages the entire migration process, ensuring your site moves across smoothly without downtime or disruption to your business.
Can we provide feedback throughout the process?
Absolutely and we actually encourage it. Collaboration is at the heart of how we work, so you'll have plenty of opportunities to review our progress and share your thoughts at every stage. It ensures we're building exactly what you have in mind, rather than guessing what might work.
Will I own my website once it's built?
Yes. After completion of your project, the website will be yours. We believe in absolute transparency when it comes to issues of ownership and accessibility and would gladly take care of your requirements in this respect.
How long does it take to build a website?
The timeline for your website project really depends on what you're looking to achieve. A straightforward business website typically takes a few weeks from start to finish, while more complex builds with custom functionality or extensive content requirements will naturally take longer.
We'll give you a clear timeline estimate once we understand your specific needs during our initial consultation. This way, you'll know exactly what to expect and can plan your launch accordingly.
What kind of support do you provide after my website launches?
We don't go away once we've launched. We provide continuing support, maintenance and hosting to ensure that your website runs at optimum capacity. If you have any queries about how to develop your website, we will be there for you.
