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Why is local SEO essential for your business?

Bassem Ghali is a 2-time winner of the Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year award and a digital marketing strategist with over 20 years of experience working with companies such as Canadian Tire, Vistaprint, Remax Canada, Alpha Laps, Xplornet, and Toronto Star.


We are all noticing more local search results “7-pack” posted at the top of any major search engine results page. Does this mean You can rank higher than your competitors by simply listing your business address, and phone number, on Google, Bing, Yahoo local center? YES, if you do it right! Don’t worry though; I’m listing best practices for local search engine optimization at the end of this post.


It’s not too late to consider changing your local advertising strategy. Just ask yourself these 2 questions: have Yellow Pages or the local newspapers been generating enough leads for my business lately? and how much is my cost per lead?

Why does Google want to know where am I right now?


By providing your location, Google can deliver more accurate and relevant local search results to you, when available.


How is that possible? Google uses information transmitted from nearby WiFi access points to determine your approximate location. Read more about Google toolbar master advanced features.


I believe this is the biggest revolution coming in the local search engine industry. Majority of international corporations will have to change their strategy quickly and local businesses will be the beneficiaries of this dramatic revolution. View our SEO company packages!



Looking at the ‘big picture’, where are local search results coming from?

Primary data providers in local search » The Local Search Ecosystem


What are the most important factors for local search results (7-pack)?


 

  • Verified local business listing
  • Being listed in the right categories for your business
  • Keyword usage in the business title
  • Citations! If you haven’t heard this word before, it means mentions of your business name, address and phone number (NAP) on other websites. Citation criteria: authority, geographical relevancy, title tags of linking websites
  • Traditional on-page criteria (title tags, domain URL keywords, “good content”, inbound links)
  • Customer reviews including high ratings, vertical reviews (i.e. restaurant reviews on Yelp.com), sentiment analysis (these analysis comes from websites like urbanspoon.com, tripadvisor.com, n49.ca, ourfaves.com, frommers.com)

 


Google sentiment analysis




Best practices for local search engine optimization:


Off-page


 

  • Submit or claim your listings on the local search engines, such as   Google Places, Bing Local Listing Center, Yahoo Local Merchant  , Yelp
  • Make sure you choose the most relevant category for your business
  • Use a keyword in your business title (no keyword stuffing, don’t violate Google guidelines)
  • Use long tail keywords in your description; mention your products /services, brands you carry, locations you serve
  • Citations; make sure all other websites linking to you have the proper address and the same phone number. (keep consistent with your phone number even if you have more than one phone number)
  • Get listed on local directories
  • Get reviews! Offer happy customers a coupon or discount if they post a review about your website
  • Try to gain inbound links with your full business address, phone number, and your business name as anchor tex
  • Assign geographic coordinates to your pictures on Panoramio and Flickr
  • Assign geographic coordinates to your videos on YouTube

 



On-Page


 

  • Create a contact / location page (separate pages for every store or office)
  • Optimize your contact / location page HTML title tag to be: business name, city, province, phone #
  • Include the full street address and phone number on every page of your website
  • (Advanced) use   Micro-formats  such as “hCard” t o include your business information on your website. See the hCard creator tool

 



Avoid


 

  • Use of 800 numbers, or call tracking for your local business listing
  • Exclusive use of (800) # on contact page
  • Multiple addresses on contact page
  • Multiple local business listing with the same phone number
  • Multiple local business listing with the same address
  • Negative customer ratings and reviews

 

by Bassem Ghali 18 February 2025
How can home builders strategically start their SEO journey using training and Green Lotus tools?
by Bassem Ghali 18 February 2025
What are the key SEO strategies and tools that construction companies can use to build a strong online presence?
by Bassem Ghali 9 December 2024
Toronto's construction market is fiercely competitive. To stay ahead, you must keep up with the latest digital trends. One of the biggest game-changers recently is Google's AI Overviews. This new feature uses artificial intelligence to give people quick summaries of what they're searching for, which means they might need help to even click on individual results. So, how does this affect your construction business? It means you have to work even harder to stand out in search results. At Green Lotus, we help construction businesses like yours adapt to these changes and ensure you're still getting noticed by potential clients. We focus on making your website and content the best it can be, so even with AI in the mix, you come out on top. Deconstructing AI Overviews: How They Impact Your Construction Business AI Overviews represent Google's attempt to deliver quick and comprehensive answers to user queries directly on the search results page. This means that your online presence needs to be optimized not only for traditional SEO factors but also for these AI-powered summaries. Consider it a competition to become the "featured snippet" for various construction-related searches. If your business consistently provides the most relevant and authoritative information, you'll be well-positioned to capture valuable leads and drive business growth. Check our digital marketing services contractors, construction companies & SEO services home builders Content is King, Context is Queen, and Quality is the Kingdom: In-depth Content: Go beyond basic service descriptions. Toronto residents commonly encounter roofing difficulties, such as leaks and damaged shingles. To acquire confidence and demonstrate your competence, provide high-quality content that addresses these challenges and even more. A guide like "Navigating Your Roofing Options in Toronto" may appeal to your target audience. Alternatively, provide practical advice in an article such as "Top 5 Roofing Problems in Toronto and How to Prevent Them". Focusing on your audience's requirements allows you actually to connect with them. Keyword Optimization: Integrate relevant keywords naturally throughout your content. Use long-tail keywords that show the specific services you offer and the areas you serve. For example, if you provide "custom home building in North York," incorporate this phrase and related variations throughout your website and content. Schema Markup: Schema markup is like a translator between your website and Google's AI. It helps the algorithms understand the context of your content, making it more likely to be included in AI Overviews. Ensure your website uses schema markup to identify your services, location, customer reviews, and other essential information. Elevate Your Google Business Profile: Comprehensive and Accurate Information: Consider your Google Business Profile your digital storefront. It is frequently the first impression a potential consumer receives, so keeping it correct and current is essential. This includes ensuring that your company's name, address, and phone number are accurate. But don't stop there! Include your website, service areas, business hours, and any extra services you offer. A rich and accurate profile enables customers to easily find you and understand what your firm is all about. Visual Storytelling: A picture is worth a thousand words, and high-quality photos and videos can make all the difference in the world of online search. Showcase your completed projects, highlight your team's expertise, and give potential customers a visual tour of your capabilities. Customer Reviews as Social Proof: Encourage satisfied customers to leave detailed and positive reviews on your Google Business Profile. Positive reviews improve your local SEO and enhance your credibility and trustworthiness in AI Overviews. Consider implementing a system for collecting customer feedback and testimonials. Building a Robust Online Presence: Local Citations for Authority: Consider local citations virtual "votes of confidence" for your business. Ensure your business information is consistently listed across relevant online directories and platforms, including industry-specific directories, local business associations, and general online directories. Backlinks as Trust Signals: Boost your website's authority with high-quality backlinks. Think of backlinks as a much-needed vote of confidence from other websites. When reputable sites in the construction industry, such as suppliers, associations, or even local news outlets, link to yours, it signals to Google that your content is valuable. This increases your website's trustworthiness and improves its search ranking. Backlink development is essential for enhancing your website's search engine rankings. These "endorsements" indicate to Google that your content is trustworthy and deserving of promotion in search results. The better your website ranks, the easier it will be for potential clients to locate you. Social Media Engagement: Maintain an active and engaging presence on social media platforms relevant to your business. Share valuable content, engage with your followers, and join industry-related discussions. Social media signals fluctuate but might indirectly affect your SEO and increase your online presence. Harnessing the Power of AI and Automation: AI-Powered Tools for Efficiency: Digital marketing is evolving rapidly, and small businesses must stay ahead. AI-powered tools can help you streamline your efforts and uncover new opportunities. From content creation to social media management, AI offers valuable solutions. You can gain a competitive edge in your market by embracing these technologies. Sales Automation for Lead Nurturing: Use sales automation solutions to improve lead generation and customer relationship management procedures. This can help you generate more leads, build stronger relationships, and convert prospects into paying clients. Real-World Applications for Construction Businesses: Consider a Toronto-based construction company specializing in historic building restoration. By creating in-depth content on topics like "heritage home preservation techniques" or "restoring Victorian architecture in Ontario" and optimizing their Google Business Profile with relevant keywords, images, and customer reviews, they can increase their chances of being featured in AI Overviews for related searches.
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