Local search engine optimisation (SEO) is essential if you are targeting local customers. For businesses based in Bournemouth, this means getting your site ranking for local search terms relevant to your locality and service offering, so you can compete in your target niche. In this post, we will go over effective ways of optimising your website for local search in Bournemouth so that you can connect with potential customers and increase your website visibility in local search results.
Optimise Your Google My Business Listing
A key component of local SEO is to claim and optimise your Google My Business (GMB) listing. The Google My Business listing shows high in the search results and is often one of the first impressions that people get of your business. It’s vital to stand out in any way that you can.
Complete your profile: Making sure your NAP (Name, address and phone number) are correct and match information on the rest of the web is vital. Verifying your website, opening hours and any other details to make sure they are correct is also vital.
Add high-quality photos: Portray your business through high-definition photos. They can be of your store, office, or location or the services and products you offer. You can add photos yourself, and customers also add photos to your profile by reviewing.
Use Google Posts: Posting updates is an excellent method of informing Google and users of new offers, events, company news, or simply to keep your listing current and fresh. The more content that is on your GMB profile, the more Google can index it.
By optimising your GMB profile, you can enhance your possibility of appearing in the local “3-Pack” (the three local listings that appear at the top of the search engine results page when a searcher looks for a local business).
Utilise Location-Specific Keywords
It is also important to utilise location-specific keywords when targeting a specific location. These keywords and phrases will be crawled and establish the intent of the content. Using keywords/phrases like “Electrician in Bournemouth” or “Best Restaurant in Bournemouth” are essential.
Update website content: Adding location keywords to your meta titles, meta descriptions, header tags and content will assist with location ranking. It is critical the keywords read naturally within the content and are not considered keyword stuffing which will harm your SEO results.
Create location-based pages: If you provide services to different areas in and around Bournemouth, create separate pages for each area to target different local searches. For instance, you can create a page optimised for “Solar Panel Installation in Poole” or “Solar Panel Installation in Ferndown“.
Optimise your URL structure: For example, if you have a page on SEO services in Bournemouth, use a URL such as majesticone.co.uk/seo-services-bournemouth.
By having a better URL structure, search engines along with users will have an idea of what the page content is.
Mobile Optimise
Since more than 60% of the world’s web traffic is accessed through mobile, it is extremely important that your website is mobile-friendly. Google also indexes mobile-first, meaning it considers the mobile version of your website to rank your website.
Use responsive design: Your website should be capable of adapting to different screen sizes without causing any disruption in the layout and functionality. Access your website on all devices.
Optimise page speed: Slow pages can harm both your rankings and usability. Use tools like Google PageSpeed Insights to analyse and improve your website speed.
Keep navigation easy: Your mobile site must have easy, intuitive navigation and easy access to the key information such as your contact details and services. It is important to know the intent of the user in order to guide them through the site.
A mobile optimised site improves your user experience and your local search engine rankings since Google gives preference to mobile optimised sites.
Get Local Reviews
Not only do public customer reviews show credibility to your company and services, but they also play an essential role in local SEO. To have multiple review websites linking back to your website shows social proofing of your company’s customer dedication and vice versa boosts your rankings.
Encourage reviews: Ask happy customers to leave reviews on review websites such as CheckaTrade, Google, Trustpilot, or Yelp. Make it easy for your customer by sending them a direct link or mail.
Respond to reviews: It shows engagement and provides you with a platform to respond to any negative reviews where necessary. It portrays to potential clients that your business is interested in feedback.
Highlight positive reviews: Share and publish your best reviews on social media and your website. Review plugins can be implemented to show your best reviews from sites such as Google and TrustPilot.
Local reviews are an important factor in building trust in your business and boosting your local search visibility.
Get Local Backlinks
Acquiring backlinks from local authoritative websites can boost your local SEO campaign. Relevant and authoritative websites linking back to your business is evidence to search engines that you are reliable. The more authoritative backlinks you acquire, the higher your chances of ranking high in local search results.
Partner with local organisations: Contact Bournemouth businesses, chambers of commerce, or charities to co-promote projects or events. This can lead to local backlinks from authoritative websites.
Sponsor local events: By backing or sponsoring local events, it is frequently achievable to gain backlinks from the event websites or news coverage of the event.
Submit to local directories: Get your business listed on reputable local online directories, including the Bournemouth Business Directory or Yell. These can generate quality backlinks to your website.
Local backlinks not only enhance your local SEO but also raise your business’s visibility among the Bournemouth community.
Develop Localised Content
Developing content that is more locally focused is a great way to boost your local SEO.
Blog about local events: Write content based on events, news, or topics of interest related to Bournemouth. For example, a blog article titled “Top Things to Do in Bournemouth” or “How Local Businesses Can Benefit from SEO in Bournemouth” can attract local readers and rank better.
Feature local case studies: If you’ve worked with other Bournemouth-based clients, feature their success stories on your website. This not only helps your SEO but also demonstrates your local expertise.
Use local landmarks and culture: Incorporate local landmarks, cultural references, or community activities into your content. This makes your website feel more connected to the local area.
Creating content that will engage your local audience will not only be of interest to users but also show Google that your website is a pertinent result for Bournemouth-related searches.
Conclusion
Bournemouth local search optimisation is a key part of growing your business. By implementing the above tactics, including optimising your Google My Business listing, using location-based keywords, improving your mobile experience, asking for reviews, building local backlinks, and creating localised content, you can significantly increase your chances of ranking well in local search results and acquiring more local customers. Get started with these steps today and watch your local visibility increase in Bournemouth’s competitive market.
Contact us for help, guidance and support on your Bournemouth based SEO activity. We are passionate about helping local businesses succeed through our Bournemouth SEO services.
