What’s Next: A Look Into the Crystal Ball of Local SEO Solutions

local seo solutions

Ever wish you could see the future of local SEO? It would make life in the present that much easier, and put you ahead of your competition.

The only question is how. Sure you could use a crystal ball or some tarot cards, but the best results will come from a computer.

Search data and marketing trends have something to say about the prospective local business landscape. All you have to do is listen. Interested?

Then read on to see the local SEO solutions you should pay attention to.

Listen to the Voice

Remember what I said about listening? Well, with the rise of smartphones also comes the rise in voice recognition technology.

Almost 87% of smartphone owners use a search engine once a day, and 20% of those searches were voice activated. Odds are you’ve used voice search in your daily life. Maybe you’ve asked Siri where the nearest dentist is or you’ve asked your Echo to make restaurant recommendations.

If you want to be a front runner in the coming year, then make sure you optimize your site for voice recognition. It’s easy. All you have to do is:

  1. Claim Your Google My Business Listing
  2. Use Conversational Keywords
  3. Create an FAQ Page
  4. Use Structured Data Markup

Of course, voice recognition isn’t the only way to stay ahead of the game. You also have to:

Get Specific

As we move forward in SEO, markets will become highly targeted and timely. In other words, specificity is king. This statement is especially true in the local arena.

43% of all Google searches are local, and the number one reason for a local search is to find a particular business. To help customers find your business, get into an online directory such as Yelp.

The yellow pages are a thing of the past nowadays. Sites like Yelp can help you get found the moment customers need you. Those customers can then leave reviews that influence even more people.

Another way might be to outsource this task. Sometimes local SEO solutions require a local search engine optimization agency. It’s a cost effective method that allows you to focus on your business and get discovered by customers.

Voice recognition and specific online directories are two weapons provided by Google to help local businesses compete against larger corporations. But don’t expect the big boys to sit quietly.

With that in mind:

Amazon is Coming

Most SEO strategists base their tactics around Google, but Amazon is trying to change that. And they’re succeeding. A Raymond James survey concluded that over the past three years 52% of consumers went to Amazon for product based searches over Google.

Amazon looks to continue this dominance by refining the Echo and Alexa programs and by creeping into the local space. Through initiatives such as Amazon Go, the company hopes to make traditional stores like Target, Macy’s, and even Walmart go the way of Circuit City.

What does that mean for local businesses? An opportunity if you’re clever enough.

Local vendors can employ a barnacle SEO strategy. We covered this idea a bit in the last section with online directories. Attach your product to the Amazon marketplace, that way when people search Amazon for that product they can find you.

Making the Most of Local SEO Solutions

The SEO world is an ever changing place where a little foresight can go a long way. What we’ve covered here barely scratches the surface of what’s to come.

If you want to tell us your predictions or get help with optimizing your business’s online presence, feel free to contact us at any time.