If your business is located in a small town, chances are you know exactly what we mean when we say “local SEO”. You have a very specific audience within a couple of miles of your store, cafe, or restaurant. The challenge of local SEO is getting the word out about your business, and making sure those in the nearby area know about your existence. Do not get us wrong, the worldwide potential of the internet is amazing, but you will have a much easier time satisfying your needs with a physical presence. We’re not discounting the potential of digital marketing and SEO to spread your business globally, but you can bet your bottom dollar that many local businesses will remain undiscovered and unknown unless they have a solid digital strategy.

What is Local SEO?

Put simply, Local SEO is the practice of getting free organic search traffic from google searches that are performed locally. To do this, you need to ensure that your website is optimized for local search with the help of a local SEO company. The reason behind this is simple; people who are searching for your products or services are physically located close to where you are. If they are looking for a restaurant they will probably drive or walk a few miles to reach it. A good local SEO company will make sure that your physical location is accurately represented in your online presence. If you have a beautiful website with relevant and high-quality content, but you are not performing well in local search rankings, you are losing out on a large audience that could be potential customers. This is why every business needs a website, even if it’s just an e-commerce store.

Why Do Local Businesses Need a Website?

If you own or operate a business in a city, town, or smaller community, you absolutely need to have a website. What is the use of a massive website if you only have a few dozen or a few hundred thousand visitors per month? You will struggle to make any meaningful impact with such a small and closed audience. On the flip side, a local business with a website can harness the power of digital marketing and SEO to drive in customers from all over the globe.

The benefit of having a website for your business is not limited to just increasing marketing and SEO traction locally. The world is a small place, and it is very possible that a customer who is searching for your product or service is physically located in a different timezone or country than you are. Having a website allows you to serve your customers at any time, from anywhere, via the internet. Your customers can find the information they need, and you can continue to operate even if you are not physically located in the same place.

The importance of a website for local businesses cannot be stressed enough. We are not suggesting that you throw away your current business card and replace it with a website, but you must see the connection between the two. A website takes a bit more effort to operate and maintain than a simple business card, but the benefits are countless. A good local SEO company will get you there fast.