Search engine optimization (SEO) is the practice of improving the ranking of a website on search engines. The higher the ranking, the more likely people are to find the site. Many techniques can be used to improve a site’s ranking. One is to use keywords that people are likely to search for. Another is to make sure the site’s code is clean and free of errors.

SEO is a complex and ever-changing field, and it is important to stay up-to-date on the latest developments.

Google’s Core Beliefs About Search Engines

​Google’s three core beliefs about search engines are that they should be:
#1 Fast
#2 Comprehensive
#3 Easy to use

Let’s take a more in-depth look at each of these core beliefs.

#1 Fast
Google believes that search engines should be fast. This means that when you type in a query, you should get results back almost immediately. Google’s search engine is incredibly fast, and it’s one of the things that sets it apart from other search engines.

#2 Comprehensive
Google also believes that search engines should be comprehensive. This means that they should be able to index all of the content on the web, not just a small portion of it. Google’s search engine can index billions of pages, which is a major reason why it’s so popular.

#3 Easy to use
Finally, Google believes that search engines should be easy to use. This means that they should be designed in a way that makes it easy for users to find what they’re looking for. Google’s search engine is very user-friendly, and it’s one of the reasons why so many people use it daily.

These are Google’s three core beliefs about search engines, and they’re the reasons why Google’s search engine is so successful. If you’re looking for a fast, comprehensive, and easy-to-use search engine, then Google is the way to go.

How Search Engines Determine Rankings

​Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, is the practice of improving the ranking of a website on search engines. The higher the ranking, the more likely people are to find the site.

Several factors go into determining how high a website will rank on a search engine. The algorithms used by search engines are constantly changing, so what may have worked to improve ranking last year may not work this year. In general, however, there are a few key things that will always be important.

1. Content. Search engines want to see well-written, informative content that is relevant to the keywords being searched. The days of keyword stuffing are long gone – now, it’s all about quality.
2. The number of links pointing to the site. Search engines see links as votes of confidence – the more links a site has, the better. However, it’s not just about the quantity of links, but also the quality. Links from high-quality, relevant websites are worth more than links from low-quality or irrelevant websites.
3. Site’s history. Older sites are usually seen as more trustworthy than newer ones and therefore may be given a boost in the rankings. This is why it’s important to build up a site over time, rather than try to launch a fully-fledged site all at once.
4. Website design. A well-designed, user-friendly site is more likely to rank higher than a site that is difficult to navigate or that doesn’t look good. This is because search engines want to provide their users with the best possible experience, and a good design is a big part of that.

These are just a few of the things that go into search engine rankings. By keeping these factors in mind, you can help your site rank higher and attract more visitors.

How to Get Better Rankings in Search Engines

​Search engine optimization is one of the most effective ways to improve your website’s ranking in search engines. By optimizing your site for better search engine rankings, you can improve your visibility and attract more visitors.

Many factors contribute to your website’s ranking in search engines. Some of these factors are within your control, while others are out of your hands. However, there are a few things you can do to improve your ranking.

One of the most important factors in search engine optimization is your site’s content. Your content must be relevant to your target audience and keywords. In addition, your content must be well-written and informative. Search engines favor websites with high-quality content, so it’s important to focus on creating content that is both relevant and informative.

Another important factor in search engine optimization is your site’s structure. Your website’s structure should be easy for search engines to crawl and index. This means your website should have a clear hierarchy and easy-to-follow navigation. In addition, your website’s code should be clean and well-organized.

In addition to content and structure, another important factor in search engine optimization is your site’s backlink profile. Your backlink profile is the number and quality of links pointing to your website. Search engines use your backlink profile to determine your website’s importance and relevance.

There are several things you can do to improve your backlink profile. One way is to reach out to other websites in your industry and request links. Another way is to create high-quality content that other websites will want to link to. And finally, you can use social media to build links to your website.

If you want to improve your website’s ranking in search engines, it’s important to focus on search engine optimization. By improving your site’s content, structure, and backlink profile, you can attract more visitors and improve your visibility online.

Step 1: Understand Google’s Ranking Algorithm

​If you want your website to rank high on Google, you need to understand how the Google ranking algorithm works. Google’s ranking algorithm is a complex beast, but there are four key factors that you need to focus on if you want to rank high on the search engine:

1. Relevancy
2. Authority
3. Freshness
4. User experience

Relevancy is all about how well your website content matches the search terms that people are using. If you want to rank for the term “dog food”, then you need to make sure that your website is about dog food and not about cats, for example.

Authority is all about how well your website is trusted by Google. If you have a lot of high-quality backlinks from other websites, then Google will view your site as being more authoritative than a site with fewer backlinks.

Freshness is all about how often your website is updated with new content. Google loves fresh content, so if you can regularly add new and relevant information to your site, you’ll see a boost in your rankings.

User experience is all about how easy it is for people to use your website. If your site is easy to navigate and people can find what they’re looking for quickly, then you’ll have a better chance of ranking high on Google.

Keep these four factors in mind as you work on optimizing your website for Google’s search engine algorithm, and you’ll be well on your way to achieving a high ranking.

Step 2: Create Great Content With Keywords

​Are you ready to take your content to the next level and start seeing some serious traffic? If you want your content to rank high in the search engines, you need to start thinking about search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is the process of optimizing your content to rank higher in the search engines.

There are a few key things you need to do to make your content SEO-friendly:

1. Use keyword-rich titles
2. Use keywords throughout your content
3. Optimize your images
4. Promote your content

Step 3: Take Advantage of Structured metadata

​When it comes to SEO, many people focus on optimizing their website’s content and on-page elements. However, there is another important factor that should not be overlooked – structured metadata.

Structured metadata is code that helps search engines understand the content of your website and determine how to properly index and rank your site. This code is typically in the form of HTML tags, which are used to provide information about a page’s title, description, and other important elements.

One of the most important HTML tags for SEO is the <title> tag. This tag specifies the title of a page, which is displayed on the search engine results page (SERP). The title is one of the first things that people see when they perform a search, so it’s important to make sure it’s catchy and relevant to what your website is about.

In addition to the <title> tag, there are a few other important HTML tags that you should take advantage of:

• The <meta> tag – This tag provides information about a page, such as its author, description, keywords, and other important details.
• The <h1> tag – This tag specifies the main heading of a page. It’s important to use keywords in your <h1> tag to help search engines understand what your page is about.
• The <alt> tag – This tag is used to specify an alternative text for images. This is important because search engines can’t index images, so they rely on the alt text to understand what an image is about.

By taking advantage of these HTML tags, you can help search engines better understand your website and improve your chances of ranking high in the SERPs.

Need help? Let our team at Pop Creative, a reliable digital marketing agency in Miami, help you with search engine optimization. Start outranking your competitors today! Reach out to us via email or by calling 786-477-6760.

You’ve heard that keywords are the key to search engine optimization (SEO) and that keyword research is essential if you want your website to rank higher in Google. But where do you start? Keyword research can seem overwhelming, especially if you’re new to SEO. Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the basics of keyword research and show you how to find the best keywords to target for your website. By the end, you’ll be conducting keyword research like a pro and optimizing your content to rank at the top of the search results.

What is Keyword Research and Why is it Crucial for SEO?

Keyword research is the foundation of any good SEO strategy. It’s how you find the search terms people actually use to find your business or content online. By identifying the right keywords to target, you’ll drive more organic traffic through search engines like Google.

Why do keywords matter?

Keywords are the words or phrases people enter into search engines to find information on a topic. The more relevant traffic you can drive through keywords, the better your SEO will be. Some key reasons keyword research is so important:

1. It helps determine high-volume, low-competition keywords. You want to find search terms that lots of people search for, but that, not too many other websites are optimized for.
2. It ensures you’re creating content around terms people actually search for. No point in writing blog posts or optimizing pages for keywords no one uses!
3. It allows you to optimize your page content, page titles, meta descriptions, image alt text, and page URLs for the keywords that will drive the most traffic.
4. It gives you insight into search intent so you can better serve users. Do people search that term to learn something, buy a product, find company information, etc.?
5. It helps you stay ahead of search trends so you can optimize for rising keywords. Some tools allow you to see fast-rising search terms.

In summary, keyword research is the process of discovering the most valuable keywords for your business so you can then optimize your SEO around them. By knowing the search terms people use, you’ll attract more visitors, increase traffic, and ultimately boost your search rankings.

How to Do Effective Keyword Research: Tips and Tools

To rank high in search engines, you need to do effective keyword research. Here are some tips and tools to help:

Use Free Keyword Research Tools

There are many free tools to help find popular keywords. Try Google’s Keyword Planner, Moz’s Keyword Explorer, or Ubersuggest. Enter a broad term and these tools will suggest related keywords, search volume, and difficulty. Look for keywords with high volume and low difficulty.

Do Competitor Analysis

See what keywords your competitors are ranking for. Use a tool like Ahrefs, SEMrush, or SpyFu to find keywords that send traffic to competitor sites. Then optimize your content to rank for those keywords.

Include Long-Tail Keywords

Don’t just target single keywords. Aim for long-tail keywords – phrases of 3 to 5 words – as well. They are less competitive but still drive traffic. For example, instead of just ” Keyword research”, also target “step-by-step keyword research” or “beginner’s guide to keyword research”.

Use Keyword Variations

Include synonyms, plural/singular forms, and related phrases. For example, use “keyword research” as well as “keyword analysis”, “keyword generation” or “finding keywords”. This helps you rank for a wider range of searches.

Place Keywords Strategically

Use keywords in your page title, URL, headers, and content. Mention the keyword 3-5 times in the first 100 words, and 1-2 times in each following 100-word block. Don’t overoptimize, as this can hurt your ranking. Place keywords naturally in your content.

With the right tools and techniques, you’ll be finding valuable keywords to help your content rank high in search results. Now get out there and do some effective keyword research!

Optimizing Your Content With Keyword Research Data

Keyword research helps you optimize your content for search engines like Google. By analyzing search trends and volumes, you can determine which keywords and phrases to target in your content.

Choosing the Right Keywords

Focus on keywords that are:

• Relevant to your content topic and audience
• Frequently searched (at least 500-1,000 searches per month)
• Have low competition (easier to rank for)

A good tool for researching keywords is Google’s Keyword Planner. Enter some keywords related to your topic and it will suggest many more, along with search volume and competition data.

Once you’ve selected 5-10 good keywords, use them in your:

• Page titles and URLs
• Headings (H2 and H3 tags)
• First 100 words of content
• Image file names and alt text
• Meta description (the snippet under the page title in search results)

Using Synonyms and Related Terms

Don’t just repeat the exact keywords over and over. Include synonyms, plural/singular forms, and related phrases as well. For example, if your keyword is “content marketing”, also use:

• Content marketing strategy
• Content strategic plan
• Content campaign
• Content promotion
• Content distribution

Using these related terms helps search engines better understand your content topic and can improve your rankings.

Tracking Your Rankings and Optimizing

Check where your content ranks for each target keyword in Google. If it’s not on the first page yet, you may need to:

• Improve page load speed
• Build more high-quality backlinks
• Increase engagement (shares, comments, time on page)
• Refine keyword usage and content

Keep optimizing and tracking your rankings over time. With consistent effort, you can improve your search visibility and traffic.

Conclusion

So there you have it, a quick crash course in keyword research for beginners. While it may seem complicated, keyword research is the foundation for any successful SEO campaign. Take the time to do it right, choose keywords that you’re genuinely interested in, and optimize your content around them. Your readers and search rankings will thank you. Remember, start broad then narrow down, look for search volume and difficulty, organize into themes, and keep testing and improving. The more you practice, the easier it will get. Now get out there and start optimizing your content – you’ve got this! With the right keywords and optimized content, you’ll be ranking in no time.

Looking for a reliable digital marketing agency? Pop Creative is one of the most trusted digital marketing agencies in South Florida that drives results. Call 786-477-6760 or request a FREE quote today.

Top 5 Tips on Google Search Optimization

Ever wondered how some websites always rank at the top of Google search results? There’s an art and science to Google search optimization, and the pros have unlocked the insider secrets. But don’t worry, we’ve cracked the code and are sharing the top tips to boost your Google rankings and send more traffic to your website.

You’ve spent hours crafting great content, designing an awesome site, and building your online brand. Now it’s time to make sure people can actually find you. With over 3.5 billion searches per day, getting on the first page of Google results is the holy grail. These insider tips will have you outranking the competition in no time and claim your spot at the top. Whether you’re a blogging pro or just getting started, our search optimization tricks will uncover the mysteries of Google and have you master your rankings. Ready to go from zero to hero? It’s time to crack the code.

1. Keyword Research – Selecting the Right Keywords for Google Search Optimization

To rank well in Google, you need to choose keywords that people actually search for.

Do thorough research

Check tools like Google Trends and Keyword Planner to see search volume and competition for keywords. Look for phrases with over 1,000 searches a month and low-medium difficulty.

Include synonyms and related terms

Include synonyms, related phrases, and semantically similar terms for your main keywords throughout your content. For example, use “digital marketing” as well as “internet marketing,” “online marketing,” and “web marketing.”

Place keywords strategically

Include your target keywords in headings, subheadings, the first and last paragraphs, and 2-3 times in the body content. Don’t overdo it, or Google may penalize you!

Provide value

Write content that provides real value to readers. Focus on being helpful, not just ranking in search results. High-quality, in-depth content will keep people on your page longer, which signals to Google that your content is useful.

Mobile-friendly design

With more people searching on mobile devices, make sure your website is mobile-friendly. If not, you’ll miss out on valuable search traffic and rankings. Responsive web design and accelerated mobile pages (AMP) can help.

Following these tips will put you well on your way to ranking higher in Google and gaining more search traffic. But remember, search optimization is an ongoing process. Keep refining and improving your content and website over time.

2. Optimize Title Tags and Meta Descriptions for Each Page

Want to rank higher on Google? Optimizing your title tags and meta descriptions is key.

Focus on your page titles first. These appear at the top of the browser and are critical for search ranking and click-through rates. Aim for 55-60 characters and include your target keyword. For example, “Crack the Code: 5 Insider Tips for Google Search Optimization”.

Then craft compelling meta descriptions of 150-160 characters. This snippet under the title is your sales pitch to get people to click. Mention your keyword, highlight the benefits, and end with a call to action like “Learn more”.

Use latent semantic indexing (LSI) keywords in your titles and descriptions. These are related words and phrases that help Google understand your content. For SEO, include terms like “improve search ranking”, “increase traffic”, or “top search results”.

Finally, make titles and descriptions unique for each page. Don’t just copy and paste the same one across your site. Customize them to match the specific content and keywords on that page.

With optimized title tags and meta descriptions, your pages will have a better chance of ranking higher in search results. And that means more targeted traffic and better visibility for your awesome content!

3. Create Quality Content That Answers User Intent

To rank well in Google search results, you need to create content that provides real value to users. Focus on addressing the intent behind the search query by:

Providing comprehensive, in-depth content

Google favors content that thoroughly covers the topic the user is searching for. Aim for authoritative content that establishes you as an expert. Include related terms and synonyms to capture a range of search queries.

For example, if writing about Google search optimization, discuss both SEO and SEM, organic and paid strategies, backlinks and anchor text, meta titles, and descriptions, page speed, etc. The more quality information you provide, the better. Just be sure to keep your content scannable and easy to read.

Answering common questions

Think about the types of questions users may have on the topic and directly address them in your content. Provide clear steps, examples, data, images, or video as needed to fully answer each question. Meeting the needs of your readers will keep them engaged and ranking your content higher.

Using an engaging yet professional tone

Adopt a friendly, conversational tone to connect with readers, but avoid being too casual. Your content should sound professional while still being accessible and easy to understand. Focus on educating and empowering your audience.

Keeping content up-to-date

With changes in search engine algorithms, your industry, and trends, content can become outdated quickly. Revisit older content and update as needed to ensure all information is current. Make updating existing content part of your optimization strategy. Fresh, relevant content ranks higher and provides more value to users.

4. Improving Site Speed is Crucial to Google Search Optimization

To rank higher in Google search results, improving your site speed is key. According to Google, 53% of mobile site visits are abandoned if a page takes longer than 3 seconds to load.

There are a few ways to enhance your site’s speed:

• Minimize the number of HTTP requests. The more files your page loads (images, CSS, JS, etc.), the slower it will be. Remove any unnecessary files and combine multiple CSS and JS files when possible.
• Compress images. Images make up most of the data on web pages. Compress your images to reduce their file size without sacrificing quality. You can use a tool like TinyPNG or Kraken.io.
• Enable browser caching. Caching stores website data in the user’s browser so it doesn’t have to reload it on subsequent visits. Set appropriate cache times for your images, CSS, and JS files.
• Minify CSS and JS. Minifying removes unnecessary spaces and line breaks, reducing the file size. Use a minifier tool on your CSS and JS files.
• Choose a fast, reliable web host. Your hosting provider and server setup have a huge impact on site speed. Choose a host known for speed and reliability, and make sure your WordPress install is optimized.

Improving your site speed is worth the effort. Faster sites lead to better user experience, higher rankings, and more traffic and revenue. Follow these tips and your site will be speeding to the top of Google search results in no time.

5. Create a Mobile-Friendly Website

A mobile-friendly website is crucial for ranking well in Google search results these days. Nearly half of all web traffic now comes from mobile devices, so if your site isn’t optimized for smartphones and tablets, you’re missing out on a huge number of potential visitors.

Make your site responsive

The most important thing you can do is make your website responsive. This means it dynamically adapts to whatever device it’s being viewed on. Images, text, and videos resize to fit the screen. Buttons and links are still easy to tap. Responsive design is Google’s strong preference and a must for ranking well.

You have a few options for building a responsive site:

• Use a responsive theme if you have a WordPress site. Many are free or low-cost.
• Redesign your current site to be responsive. This may require help from a web designer.
• Build a separate mobile version of your site. But keep the content the same to avoid duplicate content penalties.
• Use a page builder tool like Wix or Squarespace that creates responsive sites by default.

Going responsive is the #1 thing you can do to improve your search rankings and gain more mobile traffic. Once your site displays perfectly on any device, you’ll be in a great position for Google to send more mobile searchers your way.

Conclusion

So there you have it. Five tried-and-true ways to boost your search rankings and get your website in front of more eyeballs. The search optimization game is an ongoing process, but follow these tips and you’ll be well on your way to cracking the code. Stay up-to-date with the latest algorithm changes, focus on creating high-quality content, build internal links, earn external backlinks, and keep your page speed fast. Do that, and you’ll have Google on your side, which means more traffic, more visibility, and more success for your business. Now go forth and optimize! The top spots in the SERPs await.

Need help with Google search optimization? Pop Creative is one of the most trusted digital marketing agencies in South Florida that drives results. Call 786-477-6760 or request a FREE quote today.

The Importance of Local SEO and How it Works

You’ve got a great new business up and running and an awesome website to match. But in today’s highly digital world, simply having an online presence isn’t enough. You need to actually drive traffic to your site and get found by potential customers searching for businesses like yours. This is where local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) comes in. Local search engine optimization helps boost your visibility in the search results for location-based queries on platforms like Google, Bing, and Yelp. When people search for businesses in your area of expertise, you want your company to be at the top of the list. Implementing effective local SEO strategies is key to connecting with customers and growing your business. It’s one of the most powerful forms of digital marketing for any local business.

What is Local SEO and Why it Matters for Your Business

Local SEO is optimizing your website and online presence to rank higher in local search results. This means people searching for businesses like yours in your city will find you first. Why does this matter?

Increased Visibility

Being on the first page of local search results increases your visibility to potential new customers. People rarely look past the first few results, so ranking high is key.

More Foot Traffic

Local SEO helps drive more local traffic to your brick-and-mortar business. The easier you are to find online, the more people will visit you in person.

Higher Conversion Rates

Customers searching locally are more likely to actually become paying customers. Since they’re looking for a business conveniently located near them, they have the intention to buy from someone in their neighborhood.

Builds Trust

A good local ranking signals to searchers that your business is reputable and trustworthy. It shows you’re engaged with and care about your local community. People prefer to support companies that support them.

The bottom line is local SEO should be an essential part of any smart digital marketing strategy. Optimizing for local search is well worth the investment and can have a huge payoff for businesses with a physical location. The more you focus on ranking locally, the more visible, traffic, and sales your company will gain. Local SEO matters.

How to Optimize Your Website for Local Search Engine Optimization

Optimizing your website for local SEO is key to improving your visibility and rankings in local search results. Here are some tips to get started:

Optimize page titles and meta descriptions

Choose page titles and meta descriptions that include your location or city name, especially on pages like your Contact Us, About Us, and Services pages. For example, “Dog Grooming in Austin, TX | About Us” or “Best Pizza in New York | Joe’s Pizza”.

Include your address and contact info

Make your address, phone number, and other contact details very easy to find on your website, ideally in the header and footer of all pages. Local search engines look for this info to determine your location and rankings.

Focus on local keywords

Use keywords and phrases that include your city or state name. For a florist in San Diego, focus on terms like “flower delivery San Diego” or “San Diego florists”. Use these keywords in your page titles, headings, content, image alt text, and page URLs.

Build location-based backlinks

Earn high-quality backlinks from other local sites like neighborhood associations, chamber of commerce sites, local publications, etc. These backlinks signal to Google that your business is established and reputable within your local community.

Encourage customer reviews

Positive online reviews from real customers are social proof that builds trust and credibility for local search rankings. Make it easy for happy customers to review your business on platforms like Google, Facebook, and Yelp. Respond to all reviews and mention your location in your responses.

With an optimized website and solid local SEO strategy, your business will rank higher in local search results and gain more visibility and customers from your community. The extra effort will pay off!

Additional Local Search Engine Optimization Tactics for Maximum Visibility

To maximize your local visibility, implement these additional search engine optimization tactics:

Optimized Online Profiles

Claim and optimize your profiles on sites like Yelp, Facebook, and Google My Business. Fill out all sections with current info and photos. Engage with reviewers and respond promptly to all posts. An active social presence builds trust and ranks you higher in local search results.

High-Quality Reviews

Ask happy customers to leave positive reviews on your profiles and website. Respond to all reviews in a professional, helpful manner. Reviews are a key local SEO ranking factor, so aim for at least 10-15 across major sites. Offer incentives like discounts or free products in exchange for reviews to speed up the process.

Internal Linking

Link to your local business profiles and contact page from relevant content on your website. Also link to pages highlighting products, services, or locations that would interest local customers. Internal links pass “link juice” and authority to your local pages, signaling to search engines that they are important.

Localized Page Content

Ensure your website has a dedicated local business page with your full address, hours of operation, contact info, and a Google Map. Use location-specific keywords and phrases throughout your content. Mention the city and state your business operates in, especially on your home page and local business page. Localized content helps search engines determine your service area and rank you for searches within that area.

Conclusion

So there you have it. Local SEO is critical for any small business looking to boost their online presence and get found by customers searching in their area. By focusing your efforts on optimizing for local search, you’ll drive more targeted traffic to your website and increase the chances of scoring new customers. The best part is local SEO doesn’t require a huge budget or extensive technical skills to implement. With some time and effort optimizing your local listings, building location-based content, and earning good reviews, you’ll be well on your way to dominating local search results and achieving marketing success. What are you waiting for? Start boosting your local SEO today and reap the rewards. Your business and bottom line will thank you.

Need help in creating and implementing your Local SEO strategy? Pop Creative is one of the most trusted digital marketing agencies in South Florida that drives results. Call 786-477-6760 today.

It’s no secret that the internet has drastically transformed society. From social media changing the way we stay in touch with friends, to email reforming our business communication. Local marketing is no exception. In the past, phonebook listings and local adverts were some of the best ways to market businesses locally. These days, people are far more likely to search for local businesses online. This means the best way to advertise a local business is to make sure people can find it in online searches.

Search engine optimization (or SEO for short) has helped countless businesses attract clients. However, not all practices are the same. When looking at SEO, there’s a distinct difference between local SEO vs organic SEO. What your business needs most will depend on several factors, but a lot of businesses can benefit most from a combination local and organic SEO techniques.

What Is SEO for Businesses?

Before distinguishing between local and organic SEO, it’s important to have a basic understanding of what SEO entails. As the term “search engine optimization” suggests, SEO is the practice of improving a website with the goal of helping search engines list it.

Some common strategies to help a business website list in relevant searches include:

• Adding enough relevant keywords in the website content
• Establishing and managing a business social media presence
• Optimizing the company website to offer a user-friendly experience
• Listing a company in relevant business directories

This is only a short summary of what SEO entails. Entire books can be written on each one of the above-mentioned points. Search engine algorithms are always changing, and so SEO practices must also adapt to accommodate new criteria set by search engines for indexability.

Regardless, there are certain facets of SEO that remain stable. For instance, the inclusion of keywords in website content is always advantageous. Search engines scan website texts in order to find phrases and words relevant to searches. Although the use of relevant keywords isn’t the only thing search engines look at when choosing the most relevant search results, it will always remain an important part of SEO.

Local SEO vs Organic SEO: What’s the Difference?

Understanding the concept of SEO helps to distinguish between local and organic SEO techniques. Although both forms of SEO focus on helping a website list in searches, the main difference is the audience local SEO will attract vs organic SEO.

What is Local SEO?

Quite simply, local SEO is focused around helping a business attract website traffic from local searches. Local searches in this context simply means that the searches are specific to a location. The exact location of the search could be as broad as a whole country, or as narrow as a specific town.

Examples of local searches could include the following:

• Tourist attractions in the United States
• Car insurance in South Carolina
• Web design services in Miami, FL

The first example is a local search, but not a very specific one. Results will be relevant to the specific place mentioned in the search, but in this case the “place” in question is the whole US. As a result, listings could include geographic locations from any state or city. That’s not very helpful for someone looking to tour only a specific part of the country.

In the second example, the place mentioned in the search is the state of South Carolina. Getting listed for searches specific to a state is much more useful for most businesses. A lot of companies only operate in one state and are looking to attract customers from that region.

The third example focuses on both the state and the city in which the business operates. A lot of small to medium sized businesses only operate in one town or city. A local bakery, for instance, will target customers from the city where it operates. In such a case, there’s no use attracting potential customers that are too far out of the town where the business is located.

In practice, this means that local SEO aims to help local businesses attract clientele. Just how local the SEO will be, depends on the needs of a specific business.

What is Organic SEO?

Organic SEO is all about listing a website for specific keywords or phrases. Unlike with local SEO, the keywords you’re trying to list the website for might not be specific to a region.

Here are some examples of organic SEO keywords people might search for:

• How to get more sleep
• Best apple pie recipes
• Happy songs to listen to

The important thing here is that none of these search phrases target a specific place. They’re all general searches. People from all over the world could search for these things. The content a search engine lists in the results can also originate from any country.

Theoretically, organic SEO searches have the potential to bring in far more website traffic, but website visitors can be from any place in the world – not just locally.

For businesses, listing in organic searches often means to list in industry-specific searches rather than location-specific ones. A plumber might have website content that shows up in a search for “how to fix a leaky tap?”, for instance.

The benefit of listing for general search terms isn’t necessarily attracting more customers directly. Instead, having content that lists for industry-related search queries can help you establish yourself as an expert in your industry. In turn, this will cause potential customers to see your company as a trustworthy business in your industry.

The Difference Between Local SEO and Organic SEO Listings

Till now, the main focus was to explain the difference between local and organic SEO in terms of local vs general enquiries. However, there’s another difference between local and organic search – Google’s listing format.

When searching for a term such as “car insurance in South Carolina” Google has a special section to list local businesses that suit the criteria of the search. After these local results, there are also some normal Google listings, which you can find underneath the first three results.

Google has a local listing format which is integrated with Maps and other Google services.

The first three listings are local businesses and they have a physical address linking to Google Maps – these are local listings. All the subsequent listings are location-specific organic listings. This can seem confusing at first. After all, can’t all listings for location-specific searches just be local listings?

Google also has organic listings for location-specific searches. These listings will usually be relevant to a local search query, but they aren’t integrated with Maps.

To clear up the confusion, it’s important to understand that only Google has separate listing formats for local vs organic listings. Other search engines, such as DuckDuckGo and Bing only have the organic listings in their results.

Google’s “local listings” section is actually filled with results from a Google service called “Google My Business”. So actually “local listings” can also be called “Google My Business listings”. Essentially, the difference between local and organic listings is simply where Google gets them from.

Local listings are from Google My Business, specifically. When opened, a local listing will display a company’s Google My Business profile and its location on Google Maps.

Organic listings can be from all over the internet. Quite often, organic listings link directly to the websites of relevant local businesses. Organic listings can also link to social media profiles or online business directories.

More About Google My Business Listings

The Google My Business service is almost like Google’s own version of a business directory. It’s a service Google offers to help local businesses get found online. Google My Business is integrated with other Google services like Google Maps and Google Reviews. This allows customers to easily get a good overview of a local business. As an added benefit, a business can also link to their business website directly from the GMB listing.

The fact that Google My Business is integrated with Google Maps allows users to quickly search for local businesses. Google will then list results based on the location of the user in proximity to  relevant local business. Users can then use their GPS on Maps to travel to the location of the address listed on Google for a specific business

Local SEO vs Organic SEO: What Does Your Business Need?

Understanding the difference between local and organic SEO can help you decide what’s best for your business. Generally though, a combination of both local and organic SEO is best.

Seeing as most search engines only have the organic listing section, showing up in location-specific organic results can boost your business substantially. Getting your business website listed for searches that are specific to both your industry and location is still considered local SEO. You’re targeting a local audience with local searches. It’s simply a form of local SEO which aims at improving where your website lists in organic results.

On the other hand, listing for search terms that are related to your industry rather than location is also helpful. Listing in results for common queries customers might have establishes your business website as a trustworthy source of information for both search engines and potential customers.

If more of your business website content appears in searches, your website will become more indexable for future searches as well. As a result, your website can also be more likely to appear in location-specific searches. So, to conclude, local and organic SEO practices and techniques can and ideally should compliment each other to help your business attract customers online.