Is your local business feeling like a small fish in a big digital ocean, struggling to be noticed among the waves of online competition? Don’t worry, we’re about to turn you into the big catch that local customers can’t resist! Welcome to the world of local keyword research, where we’ll teach you to fish for customers in the rich waters of local search. Let’s dive in and learn how to bait your hook with the perfect local keywords.

The Power of Keyword Research For Local SEO: Your Business’s Fishing Rod

Ever feel like you’re casting your line into an empty pond? Does it feel like every time you do digital marketing or hire an agency to market your website you don’t really have anything to show for the time and money? Well, we’re going to explain how keyword research for local SEO can stock your business pond with eager customers!

Keyword research for local SEO is the fishing rod that helps you reel in potential customers from the vast sea of online searches. It’s the process of finding the exact bait (keywords) that your local fish (customers) are hungrily searching for. These two combined ensure that you will be fishing in the right pond stocked with lots of hungry customers.

Key Benefits:

• Attracts more local fish (customers) to your digital pond (website)

• Increases your visibility in the local search sea

• Boosts foot traffic to your physical location

• Helps you land bigger sales and revenue

According to Semrush, “Local SEO keyword research can help you increase your visibility in search engine results pages (SERPs), attract more organic traffic to your site, increase foot traffic and inquiries, and boost sales”. Not only that, but combining good local keyword research with the optimization you do on your Google Business Profile can drive enough phone calls and messages to keep you busy all day, all week, and for months on end.

By the end of this local keyword fishing expedition, you’ll have a tackle box full of tools to make your business the biggest catch in the local search sea. Ready to cast your line into the waters of success? Let’s go!

Understanding Local Search Intent: Reading the Currents (or – DON’T GUESS, Do The Research!)

Do you think you know what fish are biting in your local waters? Prepare to become the ultimate local search angler!

Local search intent is all about understanding the “what” and “where” of your customers’ searches. It’s like reading the currents and knowing exactly where the fish are biting.

Types of local search intent:

• Informational: “Best bait shops in [City]”

• Navigational: “Directions to [Your Business Name]”

• Transactional: “Book a fishing charter in [Area]”

BrightLocal notes, “Targeting the correct search terms forms the basis of every effective local SEO strategy”. So many times we see websites full of great guesses that completely miss most of the market. This step is vital to your success. Think of it like this – would you rather fish in a pond with 40 fish or 400 fish? Good keyword research for local SEO makes sure you are in a pond stocked with the biggest school of fish available and that they are hungry. It’s not just about casting your line; it’s about using the right bait in the right spot at the right time.

By understanding keyword research for local SEO, you’re not just blindly casting into the digital waters – you’re precision fishing with exactly the bait your local customers are craving. Now, let’s prepare our tackle box of keyword tools!

Step-by-Step Guide to Keyword Research for Local SEO: Baiting Your Hook

Ready to uncover the secret lures that will attract local customers? Follow this fishing guide to keyword success!

1. Identify your core terms and services

   • List your main products or services (your primary bait)

   • Include industry-specific terminology (specialized lures)

2. Extend core terms with keyword modifiers

   • Add descriptive words like “best”, “affordable”, and “emergency” (enhancing your bait)

3. Add location-specific terms

   • Include city names, neighborhoods, and landmarks (local fishing spots)  

4. Use keyword research tools

   • Google Keyword Planner, Semrush, AHRefs (your digital fish finders)

   • Analyze search volume and competition (measuring the size of the school)

LocaliQ advises, “You’ll want to start your local keyword research by determining the core terms to incorporate as part of your strategy”.

So what are your core terms? What services do you offer? Which products do you sell? That’s where you start. Do you have a used car dealership – try researching “used cars for sale.” Are you an attorney who specializes in litigation – try “litigation attorney” and it’s a category you can use in your Google Business Profile.

Don’t have access to any of the tools listed above? You can always do it the old-fashioned way. Start typing in the first keyword phrase on your list and then watch what Google decides to auto-populate for you. This will give you an idea of which searches are most popular from top to bottom. You can also type the term, hit search, and then scroll down to Google’s list at the bottom that shows “People Also Ask” and the “People Also Search For” boxes.  These are full of great information. And if all else fails, you can always take a peek at Bill down the road who’s always busy, what’s on his website?

By following this guide, you’ll stock your tackle box with a variety of irresistible local keyword lures that will make your business more attractive than a juicy worm to a hungry bass. But finding the keywords is just the first cast – now it’s time to reel in the customers!

Implementing Local Keywords for Business Growth: Landing the Big Ones

You’ve got the bait, now let’s fill your business cooler with customer catches!

Implementing your newly discovered local keywords is where the real fishing begins. It’s time to cast your digital net far and wide.

Key implementation strategies:

• On-page optimization: Titles, headers, meta descriptions (setting up your fishing lines)

• Content creation: Blog posts, service pages, FAQs (chumming the waters)

• Google Business Profile optimization: Use keywords in your business description and posts (marking your favorite fishing spot)

Moz emphasizes, “Regularly reviewing your insights can help you understand your customers better and make data-driven decisions to improve your local SEO performance”.  

How does reviewing your insights do this? It’s simple. Within your Google Business Profile Google has provided a list of the keywords potential buyers have typed in that you ranked for. By reviewing this list regularly you’ll figure out which phrases work best for your industry and put you front and center when that customer is ready to buy. You’ll also be able to uncover emerging trends in search that favor you and hook onto some monsters you never even thought of. This should be a tool you review at least once a month.

By implementing your local keywords strategically, you’re not just participating in the local SEO fishing derby – you’re winning it. Your business will be more visible than a bright lure in clear water, attracting local customers to bite.

Keyword research for local SEO is your secret fishing technique in the competition for local search dominance. By understanding your customers’ search intent, uncovering valuable local keywords, and implementing them strategically, you’ll transform your business from a small fry to the big fish in your local pond.

So, what are you waiting for? Cast your line into the world of local keyword research and watch your business reel in more local customers than you can handle. Your future catches (and your bottom line) will thank you for becoming the master angler of keyword research for local SEO!

Or, if you’d rather partner with a solid company that does amazing local keyword research and knows how to find you the best local fishing holes quickly, then give us at Rook Digital a call. We offer a free consultation so you can ask all the questions you’d like and we also give some free education on how our strategy works. If it sounds like a good fit, and you want to see your business growth take off, then let’s talk.