Do I Need Local SEO?

When you have a small service-based business, you might be wondering what digital marketing do I need to invest in and is local SEO one of them? I have come across a lot of small businesses in my time that don’t invest in this digital marketing service because they don’t understand it, and this can be extremely detrimental and can leave you performing badly, but as to no explanation as to why. It can also be an extremely distinguishing factor when it comes to your competitors and who eventually comes out on top.

So, to establish, if you need it, you need to understand what it is, so here is a quick and in-depth explanation for you! 

What is Local SEO?

Local SEO, also known as local search engine optimisation, is when you optimise your website in a variety of ways to essentially tell Google you deserve to rank 1st position for a Google search term like ‘Digital Marketing Agency in Dubai’. You want to have organic positions on Google search results from your brand name to a specific service you provide, as this is another way to bring qualified and new users to your website in hopes they book, buy and return.

Businesses often neglect the power of search results and depend on things like social advertising or PR, which can perform well but investing in organic is another stream that can introduce a different kind of user you aren’t targeting through social to your website, forming a well-coordinated overall strategy.

Do I Need Local SEO?

Here are a couple of reasons why you might want to invest in local SEO and if you have one or more it might be time for you to.

Service-Based Business

If you are a small, locally based service business, you may benefit from local SEO for several reasons. For example, if you are a hairdresser, dentist or lawyer, you would benefit from appearing in not only the Google My Business but also the organic search results and rich snippets. With link building and on-page optimisation, these smaller search terms are more attainable and will generate qualified users to your website.

Competitors In The Local Area

It’s more than likely that you will have 3 or more competitors in your local area and investing in local SEO will give you a competitive advantage over them or finally allow you to compete with them.

Physical Location

Arguably, if you have a physical location or serve a specific geographic area, you can benefit from local SEO.

Looking To Grow

If you are looking to grow your business, you need to dominate your local area first, and in order to do that, you need to invest in digital marketing, as it’s naturally the next step forward. Channels such as SEO and social media marketing are a great way to grow your business in both the short and long term.

Final Thoughts

Overall, there is no denying local SEO benefits and their impacts on small businesses. If you are in a comfortable position to grow and want to learn exactly how to, choosing services such as local SEO is the way to do it. There are countless businesses that do this and it has been the best decision they have ever made. You need to be aware that it’s not an overnight thing and is something that takes time.

However, like all the good sayings go, all good things must come to those who wait, so I will advise not to walk into local SEO and expect it to work wonders within the first 3 months. It’s a long term strategy that will keep your company in a secure position.