Local SEO for ecommerce appears as a bit of a paradox at the first glance. Local and ecommerce don’t seem to go together, right? After all, anyone can access a website and order products. But can you afford to deliver the goods to another country or even another continent?
Unless you are a strong competitor for the likes of Amazon and Alibaba, you don’t really need to get people from all over the world on your website. Apart from the product price and the delivery cost, the client would also have to pay customs tax for imported goods. Thus, it makes no sense for them to buy long distance. With local SEO for ecommerce, you can make sure that your website is visible to people who are likely to buy from you, living in your service area.
What Is the Principle of Local SEO for Ecommerce?
Delivering search results has become a complex task, and Google now relies on an advanced, AI-powered algorithm to do that. The search engine will look for a match in terms of:
- Physical proximity between your business and the user’s GPS location
- The relevance of your website content to the search intent
- The reputation of your business based on customer ratings and reviews.
This means that your ecommerce business must have a physical address, first of all. After all, you cannot really open a business without having an address for written correspondence.
Make Your Website Visible with Local SEO for Ecommerce
The basic tasks you need to perform as part of a local SEO for ecommerce strategy are:
- Claim and verify your Google My Business listing
- Make sure that NAP citations (name, address, phone number) on various business directories are consistent
- Perform on-site SEO by adding local keywords.
Now let us focus on the ongoing tasks for effective local SEO for ecommerce:
1. Create Local Content
People care mostly about what happens in their neighbourhood. These are the situations and events that are most likely to influence their lives. Since content is very important for local SEO for ecommerce, always try to find topics that refer to your local community.
Here are some simple ideas:
- Create list articles focused on lifestyle, education and entertainment involving local places and events;
- Write about your own local CSR initiatives and actions you take;
- Invite local guest post authors to contribute to your blog;
- Offer to help local journalists scouting for a relevant feature or interview opportunity.
2. Partner with Local Influencers
Influencers are still relevant – if you pick the right ones for a barter agreement. You don’t need to look for the big and famous stars. They are unapproachable by a small business and not really relevant for your target customers.
Instead, find the local influencers who are the talk of your area, from radio DJs, to vloggers and street photographers. They are in touch with the local community, their input is valuable for the consumers and, thus, they are a valuable addition to your local SEO for ecommerce strategy.
3. Harness the Power of PR
PR aggregators are ideal places to build valuable inbound links for your local SEO for ecommerce. You should identify PR websites and use them to publish your own press releases.
Share news about award you’ve won, initiatives you are taking, or new products you want to launch. Don’t limit these topics to blog posts, because you are missing out on a huge opportunity to reach new potential customers in your area.
In parallel, approach local newspapers and ask whether the opportunities to publish your press releases, either for free or for a fee.
4. Continuously Build NAP Citations
As part of your local SEO for ecommerce strategy, keep looking for online forums and directories where you can list your business. Each new listing means one more NAP citation which Google can use to verify your location.
Attention! Always remember to write your address in the same format. It is very important, as Google may interpret two different formats as two locations. Thus, you may become your own competitor.
5. Encourage Your Clients to Leave Reviews
Positive reviews and high ratings are critical for local SEO for ecommerce. You can easily streamline the process of collecting reviews. Add a request for review to each Thank You message after a purchase.
Also, whenever you see a positive comment about your business on the social media, approach the user and ask them whether they would like to say a few words on your GMB listing, as well.