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Do Blogs Help Local SEO for Small Businesses?

Julia McCoy

Monday, 22nd Apr 2024

You’ve poured your heart and soul into your small business, but you’re struggling to get noticed online.

With over 8.5 billion searches happening every single day, how can you get your website to stand out?

You’ve heard that blogging can help, but you’re skeptical. Can writing a few blog posts really make a difference in your search rankings and attract more customers from your community?

Let’s find out.

Do Blog Posts Help SEO? What the Experts Say

I think blogging for SEO is one of the most debated things in SEO these days, so I’ve gone ahead and looked into what’s working in the wild.

Let’s face it, if someone is outperforming you, you can learn a lot from their methods. Take it as a blessing because it can be a lot of work figuring out the hidden signals that Google is now using.

According to data by Semrush, high-performing blog posts have an average length of 1,152 words and longer posts drive the best results. If your competitors are writing mega-detailed blog posts that get lots of links – and you’re posting content under 300 words – chances are, they’ll likely be eating your lunch for the long haul. This is why having a strong SEO strategy is critical for success.

Plus, B2B companies with blogs produce nearly 70% more leads each month than companies that don’t blog. Think about how a company with no active blog presence would grab Page One over someone consistently putting out thoughtful and informative articles on a very niche topic. Imagine that the search term entered is asking for advice about an obscure product.

Would Google show a generic “Contact Us” page or would it favor that super-helpful review article you wrote a couple of weeks back, breaking down everything about that hard-to-find product and where the reader can find it?

Backlinko founder, Brian Dean, performed extensive research finding that longer posts consistently land page one spots. Longer blog content has become common in the digital space, but as Adobe has recently found, most people are looking for practical, no-BS info. So, it’s important to deliver a lot of substance but still keep it accessible and concise.

What Is Local SEO and Why Does It Matter for Small Businesses?

If you’re a small business owner, you’ve probably heard the term “local SEO” thrown around. But what exactly is it? And more importantly, why should you care?

Local SEO is all about optimizing your online presence to attract more business from relevant local searches. It’s a way to help potential customers in your area find you when they’re searching for the products or services you offer.

How Local SEO Helps Potential Customers Find Your Business

Think about it – when you’re looking for a new restaurant to try or a plumber to fix a leaky faucet, where do you turn? Chances are, you pull out your phone and do a quick Google search.

According to Think With Google:

By optimizing your website and online listings for local search, you can make sure your business shows up when potential customers are searching for what you offer. And the higher you rank in those search results, the more likely people are to click through to your website and give you their business.

So, how do you optimize for local search rankings? It starts with claiming and optimizing your Google My Business profile. This free listing allows you to provide important information about your business, like your address, phone number, hours of operation, and customer reviews.

But it doesn’t stop there. You also need to make sure your website is optimized for local keywords and that you’re consistently getting positive reviews and local citations (mentions of your business name and address on other websites).

Building an Online Presence in Your Local Community

Another key aspect of local SEO is building an online presence in your local community. This means getting involved in local events, sponsoring local teams or organizations, and partnering with other local businesses.

By building these local relationships and establishing yourself as a trusted member of the community, you’ll naturally attract more local customers and improve your local search rankings at the same time.

How Do Blogs Help Local SEO Efforts?

Now that you understand the importance of local SEO, let’s talk about one of the most effective ways to boost your local search rankings: blogging.

Blogging is a great way to provide fresh, relevant content for both your potential customers and search engines. By consistently publishing blog posts that are optimized for local keywords, you can improve your chances of ranking higher in local search results.

Create Fresh, Relevant Content for Search Engines

One of the main benefits of blogging for local SEO is that it allows you to create fresh, relevant content regularly. Search engines love websites that are consistently updated with new, high-quality content.

By blogging about topics related to your business and your local area, you can signal to search engines that your website is a valuable resource for people searching for what you offer. This can help improve your overall search rankings and make it easier for potential customers to find you online.

Build Authority and Trust with Your Audience

In addition to helping with search rankings, blogging is also a great way to build authority and trust with your target audience. By providing helpful, informative content that addresses the needs and concerns of your ideal customers, you can establish yourself as a go-to resource in your industry.

Over time, this can help you attract more qualified leads and convert more of those leads into paying customers. People are more likely to do business with companies they know, like, and trust — and blogging is a great way to build that kind of relationship with your audience.

Incorporate Local Keywords and Phrases in Blog Posts

To get the most local SEO benefit from your blog posts, it’s important to incorporate local keywords and phrases. This could include the name of your city or region, as well as keywords related to your products or services.

For example, if you’re a plumber in Denver, you might include phrases like “Denver plumbing services” or “best plumbers in Denver” in your blog posts. By including these local keywords, you can help your blog posts rank higher in local search results and attract more qualified traffic to your website.

10 Tips for Writing Blog Posts for Local SEO

Ready to start blogging for local SEO? Here are 10 tips to help you get the most out of your efforts:

Focus on local keywords and phrases.
Optimize your blog post titles and meta descriptions for local search.
Include your city or region in your blog post URLs.
Use local images and videos in your blog posts.
Incorporate local landmarks or events into your content.
Collaborate with other local businesses or influencers.
Encourage comments and engagement from your local audience.
Share your blog posts on local social media groups and forums.
Use internal linking to other relevant pages on your website.
Consistently publish high-quality, locally-focused content.

Don’t know what to write for your local blog? Here’s a guide from Search Engine Journal on the best types of content for local SEO.

Integrating Your Blog with Other Local SEO Strategies

Blogging is just one piece of the local SEO puzzle. To maximize your results, it’s important to integrate your blogging efforts with other local SEO strategies.

Promote Blog Posts on Social Media Channels

One of the best ways to get more eyeballs on your blog posts is to promote them on your social media channels. This could include sharing a link to your latest post on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn, along with a brief description or excerpt to entice people to click through and read more.

You can also use social media to engage with your local audience and build relationships with other local businesses or influencers. By tagging them in your posts or commenting on their content, you can increase your visibility and reach in your local market.

Add NAP to Blog Content

Another way to boost your local SEO through blogging is to incorporate your NAP (name, address, and phone number) into your blog content. This helps search engines associate your website with your physical location and can improve your chances of showing up in local search results.

You can include your NAP in the footer of your blog posts, as well as in any author bios or “About Us” pages on your website. Just make sure to keep your NAP consistent across all your online listings and directories.

Collaborate with Other Local Businesses and Websites

Finally, consider collaborating with other local businesses or websites to create content that benefits both of you. This could include guest posting on each other’s blogs, co-hosting local events or webinars, or even just linking to each other’s content in your blog posts.

By building these local partnerships, you can tap into each other’s audiences and create a stronger online presence in your local market. Plus, it’s a great way to build relationships and referrals with other businesses in your area.

Image Source: LocaliQ

Measuring the Impact of Your Blog on Local SEO Performance

Of course, no local SEO strategy for small businesses is complete without a way to measure your results. Here are a few key metrics to track to see how your blog is impacting your local search performance:

Traffic and Search Rankings

One of the most important metrics to track is your website traffic, particularly the traffic coming from local searches. Use tools like Google Analytics to see how many people are visiting your website from your local area, and which blog posts are driving the most traffic.

You should also keep an eye on your local search rankings for key phrases related to your business. Use a tool like BrightLocal or Whitespark to track your rankings over time and see how your blog posts are impacting your visibility in local search results.

Engagement and Conversions

In addition to traffic and rankings, it’s important to track engagement and conversions from your blog visitors. This could include metrics like time on page, bounce rate, and social shares, as well as more concrete actions like email sign-ups or product purchases.

By analyzing these metrics, you can get a better sense of which blog topics and formats are resonating with your audience and driving real business results. Use this data to inform your future blogging efforts and optimize your content for maximum impact.

Remember that local SEO is an ongoing process, not a one-time task. As you track your blog’s performance over time, use that data to continuously refine and improve your strategy. This might mean experimenting with different types of content, adjusting your keyword targeting, or promoting your blog posts in new ways.

The key is to stay flexible and adaptable, and always be looking for ways to better serve your local audience and improve your search visibility.

FAQs: Do Blogs Help Local SEO?

Does a blog really help SEO?

Absolutely. Blogs keep your site fresh and give Google more pages to index, which boosts visibility.

How can I improve my local SEO?

Optimize for keywords that include your location, get listed in online directories, and gather positive reviews.

Are longer blog posts better for SEO?

Yes. Longer posts signal depth and quality to search engines, helping you rank higher.

How often should you blog for SEO?

Frequent blogging signals an active site to search engines. Aim for at least once a week.

Does blogging improve SEO?

Blogging adds relevant content which improves your chances of being found by the right audience online.

How can I do local SEO effectively?

Fine-tune your website with local keywords, secure backlinks from reputable local sites, and maintain accurate listings.

Are blogs or pages better for SEO?

Blogs are dynamic and encourage regular updates; both aspects are gold stars in the eyes of search engines.

It’s worth every penny if done right as it connects businesses directly with their target market locally.

Conclusion

Blogging is a powerful tool for boosting your local SEO and attracting more customers from your community. Mixing up new, interesting posts with keywords from around town can quickly set you apart as the area’s reliable source.

But blogging alone isn’t enough. If you’re aiming for the top spot in local search rankings, remember to blend your blog with a mix of social media buzz, fine-tuning those local listings, and crafting links that build bridges.

By consistently creating valuable content and promoting it through multiple channels, you can improve your search rankings, drive more traffic to your website, and ultimately grow your business.

So what are you waiting for? Start blogging with RankWell for local SEO today!

Written by Julia McCoy

See more from Julia McCoy