So you’ve decided to stay on top of local search developments this year but don’t know where to begin. Here’s a rundown of some of the most important local search developments you should be aware of for Q2 2023.
1. Reviews Become a Greater Focus for Businesses
With so much of online local search relying on reviews, businesses need to be sure to focus on improving their ratings and managing customer feedback. Increasingly, businesses are recognizing the importance of proactively responding to customer reviews and proactively generating positive reviews.
2. Voice Search is Increasingly Popular
The use of voice assistants like Alexa, Google Home, and Apple’s Siri will only continue to grow in popularity with local searches. It’s important for businesses to optimize their content for voice search and ensure their content is conversational and easily answered by voice assistants.
3. Google My Business Becomes Essential
As one of the most important local search platforms, Google My Business will become essential for businesses. Having a high quality listing with up-to-date information and relevant content will become increasingly important to be found in local search results.
4. Local SEO Becomes More Advanced
Local SEO strategies become more advanced today, and businesses will benefit from taking time to educate themselves about the latest techniques. Businesses should place emphasis on creating local content, optimizing their website, and building backlinks to ensure their local SEO efforts are successful.
5. Local Content Becomes More Important
Search engine algorithms will reward businesses for creating content that is relevant to their local audience. Content should be optimized for local keywords and tailored to the local audience. Businesses should also focus on creating content that is informative, entertaining, and useful.
6. Mobile Apps Become Popular
The use of mobile apps for local search continues to grow, and businesses need to ensure their presence in these apps is strong. Businesses should optimize their mobile apps for local searches, as well as creating unique content and behind-the-scenes features to stand out from the competition.
7. Social Media Becomes a Vital Platform for Businesses
Social media will become an increasingly important platform for businesses looking to stand out in local search. Businesses should create content tailored to each social media platform, such as creating videos for YouTube and crafting eye-catching visuals for Instagram.
8. Paid Ads Become an Essential Component of Local Search
Businesses should consider leveraging paid ads to help their local search presence. Paid ads can be used to reach a wider audience, reach potential customers at the right time, and increase visibility for local businesses.
9. Image Search Becomes Increasingly Popular
Image search is becoming increasingly important for local search, and businesses need to be prepared to optimize their images for search. This includes using appropriate keywords and making sure that their images are of the highest quality.
10. Hyperlocal Targeting Grows in Popularity
To stand out in local search results, businesses should focus on engaging local customers through hyperlocal targeting. This can include targeting customers in a certain radius around the business, targeting customers who have visited the business in the past, and targeting those who have interacted with the business’s social media accounts.
11. Structured Data Becomes More Important
To stay competitive, businesses should ensure their local listings are marked up with structured data. Structured data makes your business more visible in search results, as well as providing more detailed information to customers.
12. Localized Content and Competitive Analysis Becomes Essential
Finally, businesses should be sure to create localized content and track their competitors’ activities in local search. Tracking your competitors will help you to stay ahead of the game, while creating local content helps ensure that your business stands out from the competition.
Overall, local search trends are changing quickly, and it’s important that businesses stay on top of the latest developments. By following the tips outlined above, you’ll be sure to stay ahead of the local search curve in Q2 2023.
