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Local SEO (search engine optimization) is the practice of improving your online presence to attract local customers to your brick-and-mortar business and to succeed in your community, small businesses should learn basic local SEO practices.

SCORE’s latest infographic shows why and how small businesses can use local SEO techniques to gain more customers.

Why is local SEO important for your small business?

• 46% of all Google searches are local
• There has been a 900%+ growth in mobile searches for “_______ near me today/tonight”
• 76% of nearby mobile searches visit a related business within a day, with 28% buying

How can you improve your local SEO?

1. Include your name, address, and phone number (NAP) on your website, directories, social media, etc.

• 70% of mobile searchers call a business directly from search results
• Consumers also search for this local information:
• 54%: business hours
• 53%: directions to store
• 50%: store address

2. Claim your free business listings in directories. Many businesses do not claim these.

• 84% of retailers have not claimed their free listing on the Better Business Bureau’s website
• 82% haven’t claimed their Bing listing
• 81% haven’t claimed YP
• 79% haven’t claimed Yahoo
• 66% haven’t claimed Yelp
• 56% haven’t claimed Google My Business

3. Ask for Online Reviews—and Respond to them

• 86% of consumers read reviews for local businesses
• Consumers read an average of 10 online reviews before feeling like they can trust a local business
• 89% of consumers read businesses' responses to reviews

Work with a SCORE mentor to help improve your local marketing strategy.

Infographic designed by Easel.ly.