The basics
SEO Fundamentals
Google runs two kinds of search, organic and local, and each one plays by its own rules.
Traditional SEO
SEO (aka Organic SEO)
The traditional approach of a search engine leading customers to your web page. Customers can find you from anywhere in the world.
In order for your page to show up and rank in the results you need to have a number of things, including:
- Keyword consistency in your content
- Links to your page
- Good (helpful) content
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Fast forward
Local SEO
In 2005 Google launched what has become today's Local Search. Many people use it without realizing that it's different from traditional search, and that there is a whole different set of rules for “Local”.
The user experience
You see a map at the top of your search results with just a few businesses marked and listed.
Google has prioritized convenience for the searcher. The businesses that are listed are typically as close to the searcher as possible. But it gets complicated, because relevance and prominence (i.e. reviews) also matter.
If a business can get into the top 3 spots for Local Search results, it will almost always get more customers than its competitors.
The goal of Local SEO is optimizing your Google Business Profile, your website and external references to maximize your rankings for local searches.