
To get success on an online platform, you must be aware of SEO and local SEO. Both of these techniques help you maintain a high ranking of your online presence in search engines, social media platforms, and other online channels. You can gain more visibility and boost your conversion rate by using these techniques.
Some individuals, new startup owners, and business professionals do not know the differences between these techniques. Indeed, these two methods are different and possess some dissimilarities.
In this comprehensive guide, you will learn about the difference between SEO and local SEO, going through this guide will help you clear up all your doubts. So let’s get started!
SEO Vs Local SEO
Search engine optimization (SEO) is a technique to improve your online presence on various search engines and other online platforms. It is a set of practices that aim to bring your website to the top of the search engine results pages regardless of geographical location. The better search engine optimization practices you use, the higher your website ranks in search engines like Google.
The primary goal of this practice is to empower you to adapt your website based on the preferences of search engines and your targeted audience. It helps you to show your information, services, or products whenever people search for something related to your niche. Ultimately, your website can get more engagement, a higher ranking, and more traffic by using this technique.
On the other hand, local SEO strategy involves some selective practices that aim to enhance the visibility of your online platform within a particular geological region. The primary goal of this technique is to raise awareness of your business in your locality or a particular geographic area. This practice also allows you to target the audience in your nearby area.
For example, if you live in place A and want their nearby people to know about your business, you can use local SEO from the best digital marketing company to optimize your website according to your local searches. In this way, whenever your neighbor audience searches for something related to your industry, you can come to the top of the search engine result pages.
Different between SEO and Local SEO
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) mainly focuses on improving the ranking of any website on a global scale. It involves using broader keywords, optimizing content for a global scale, and attracting audiences regardless of their geographical locations. It is mostly used by multinational corporations, e-commerce websites, online service providers, large enterprise organizations, etc.
On the contrary, local SEO is just a lighter version of search engine optimization. It targets nearby audiences using a set of practices. And get them to know about your brand. It is mostly used by neighboring businesses such as restaurants, retail stores, medical practices, and service providers like plumbers or electricians.
Different between SEO and Local SEO
Aspect | SEO | Local SEO |
---|---|---|
Scope |
It aims to target a global audience by optimizing the online presence of a website. |
It is more about focusing on a specific location. It involves attracting your nearby audiences based on their searches. |
Geographic focus |
It focuses on using broader tactics and techniques without worrying about geographical areas. |
It focuses on using tactics and techniques that are tailored to a specific geographical area. |
Strategies |
Users need to optimize its content, focus on backlinking, and enhance the overall presence of the website. |
Users mainly need to optimize its Google My Business profile, and work on the local directory listing. |
Target audience |
It targets a large audience without any boundaries. |
It targets a specific audience within a limited area. |
Important of reviews |
In this practice your reviews and testimonials hold less value. |
Your online reviews, ratings, customer feedback, etc. play a crucial role. |
Key metrics |
Organic traffic, website ranking, conversion rates, engagement etc. |
Local search ranking, online reviews, Google My Business profile, etc. |
Key Tactics and Techniques of SEO
SEO involves many tactics and techniques that aim to enhance the quality of your website for better ranking. These practices allow users to enhance their visibility and amplify the voice of their brand. By using effective strategies such as keyword optimization, creating SEO-friendly content, on-page optimization, and link building, you can increase the quality of your website and grow organic traffic for long-term success.
Here are key SEO strategies:
Keyword Research
Using high-traffic keywords keeps your website at the top of search engine results. For that matter, you need to perform thorough keyword research and get help from some keyword research tools. This step will allow you to find high-quality keywords, including short- and long-tail words and phases.
SEO Friendly Content
SEO-friendly content (blogs, articles, etc.) refers to delivering high-quality and valuable content tailored to search engines and the target audience. Apart from that, your content must be informative, entertaining, and give a user-friendly experience to your target audience. A piece of content with proper keywords and internal and external linking always gets a good ranking on Google.
On-Page Optimization
This is one of the crucial practices of SEO that involves optimizing on-page elements. Working on-page optimization refers to organizing title tags, descriptions, and URL structures to enhance the search engine visibility of the website. It is good for better click rates, high ranking, and competitive advancement.
Quality Backlinking
Building quality backlinks helps websites increase their credibility and authority. You can use both external and internal links to enhance the value of your website. Internal links will guide visitors to jump to your other pages and also give them an idea of your website. Moreover, it will be helpful for search engines to categorize your website in its listing. You can earn backlinks using guest blogging, content partnerships, etc.
Website Speed and Mobile Friendliness
Everyone likes to engage with a seamless and user-friendly website design. Your website must have faster loading times, easy navigation, and an intuitive interface. Apart from that, while creating your website, giving your priority to mobile users can provide you with a competitive advantage because still many people access the internet only with the help of their mobiles. So your website should be responsive so that its content can adjust according to different screen sizes.
Key Tactics and Techniques of Local SEO
As we know, the primary objective of local SEO services is to attract a local audience. This is why the key tactics and techniques of this practice are quite different from those of SEO. Here, users need to use techniques like Google My Business optimization, local directory listings, local keyword targeting, local link building, and content tailored to their neighbor audience.
Here are key Local SEO strategies
Optimize Google My Business
This practice involves working on your Google My Business profile. To target your local audience, you need to customize this profile. You are required to provide all your business information, including your business name, address, phone number, hours, etc. This accurate and up-to-date information helps you spread awareness about your business in your nearby area. You can also encourage your users to leave positive reviews.
Local Keyword Targeting
You have to use keywords in your content, meta tags, and descriptions according to your local searches. You can do thorough research and find out the high-traffic keywords that your nearby audiences use to find your services or products. This practice will help you to use appropriate keywords in your content.
Local Citations and Directories
This practice refers to ensuring your business is listed in local directories, review sites, and local citation sources. Your NAP details (Business name, address, city name etc) should be accurate and up-to-date across all listings.
Localized Content and Landing Pages
Posting content according to your local searches is a good way to attract nearby audiences. In this way, wherever your audiences search for your industry-specific keywords, your content will be at the top of search results. You can start blogging, and by continuously sharing blogs tailored to your local searches, you will increase your website traffic.
Local Link Building
You can establish a good relationship with your neighbor businesses and earn local backlinks. Collaborating with other businesses will help you increase your reach and let more people know about your business.
Which Practice is Right for You?
However, after going through this guide, you have already understood which practice is right for you. Still, if you have any doubt about determining whether to choose SEO or local SEO, just think about your business goals and target audience. If you want to gain a global reach and attract audiences regardless of geographic areas, you must turn to the best SEO practices. On the other hand, if you just want to target your local people or any specific audience within a specific geographical range, moving towards local SEO would provide better facilities for you.
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