Local SEO services are designed to target a small geographical area, while national SEO services offer a broader reach that is generally beneficial for those looking to grow their customer base. While both options have their merits, the choice between them will depend on your business’s goals and how much time you want to invest in marketing efforts.
This article will highlight the differences between Local vs National SEO in order to help you make an informed decision.
What is Local SEO?
Local SEO is the process of promoting your business on local search engines such as Google and Bing. Services such as setting up a Google Places account for review purposes and ensuring that your business information appears correctly across online listings are important aspects of this form of optimization.
By bolstering the presence of your company in local results, you can attract more customers that are already seeking services in your neighborhood.
What is National SEO?
National SEO services are geared towards ranking in search engines with a broader scope. This strategy is most common with larger companies that already have established their presence in local markets and want to gain more visibility on the web or attract international customers without having to invest more time into establishing their online presence.
Differences between Local and National SEO
With Local SEO, the aim is to get your business results high in listings for local search terms. Its main focus is to target customers that are searching for specific businesses in a certain area, such as “locksmiths in Los Angeles” or “auto body shops near me”. This will require you to research local keywords that are likely to be used by your target audience.
On the other hand, National SEO aims to bring more exposure for a business by targeting keywords that have a broader reach, as well as those that are more generic in nature such as “locksmiths” or “auto body shops”. Even though this type of optimization can still target a geographical area, it goes beyond a single city or a state.
The nature of the keywords used will also differ between Local and National SEO. For example, those who have their business in a specific city would have to use location-based keywords such as “locksmiths in Bosten”, while national services can opt for more generic keywords such as “locksmith”.
It is also important to note that Local SEO is more concerned with on-page content and technical aspects, while National SEO will mostly focus on off-page factors such as link building and social media profiles.
How to decide which option is best for you?
Before deciding on Local vs National SEO, you will have to answer a few basic questions. Do you already have an online presence? If so, what do your current customers think about it? What kind of conversion rates are you getting from your website? Do you still need help improving them?
These factors will contribute to making a decision between Local vs National SEO. If your business is not online, you will need to invest more time into researching keywords and building an online presence through local optimization.
On the other hand, if your website is bringing in new customers on a regular basis, then investing in higher rankings nationally may be a better choice for you.
