How local SEO can help you be more searchable in your area (INFOGRAPHIC)

Photo credit: Vendhq

SEO or search engine optimization is an often misunderstood science.

Some think it’s an art, but it’ll be more accurate when compared to a science.

Why is SEO misunderstood?

Most business owners would love to get free organic traffic to their website; they get excited hearing about the potential leads and customers search engines can generate. Unfortunately, business owners also expect this to happen overnight or immediately. They sometimes can’t seem to understand why this process would take so much time.

Who would blame them for misunderstanding SEO?

There is so much that goes into the process, from on page elements, link building, keyword research, competitor analysis and so much more. Throw in the Google algorithm updates, which change the rules ever so slightly every now and then, that again switches things up. There is black hat SEO (quick unethical wins in the eyes of search engines) and white hat SEO.

Then there is local SEO.

Local SEO is defined as a branch of small business SEO practices that focuses on positioning companies for searches based on the user’s current or intended location. This is especially for businesses with a physical vicinity that serves the area — plumbers, electricians, accountants, real estate agents, locksmiths, gardeners, lawyers, tyre shops and the like come to mind.

Local SEO has added elements that influence how your business listing appears online for a given search. To make things more complicated, here are some things to look out for when optimizing local SEO: local on-page elements, images that include local terms, local content, online client reviews, citations (online listings) and local links.

Fear not, this infographic can help walk you through what to and not to do when optimizing your business’ local SEO in 2016.

Infographic credit: AgencyPlatform.com

Tip: A physical address in the local target area and a local phone number can help your local SEO efforts and should be part of your local optimization.