Ever wonder how local businesses always show up on top in search results? The secret is their careful local keyword research. But how crucial is this, and what steps are needed to do it well? This guide will reveal how local keyword research can boost your business in local searches.

Local SEO keyword research is about finding words people use to search for things in their area. Knowing what your customers search for is key for local businesses. Targeting the right keywords can boost your spot on search pages, getting you more website visits, foot traffic, and inquiries without paying.

What’s so important about local keyword research? It’s the bedrock of a solid local SEO plan. By finding out what terms customers use to find businesses like yours nearby, you ensure they see your site and content. This can greatly increase traffic and sales for your local business.

Ready to harness the power of local keyword research and grow your business? Let’s dig into the steps and do it the right way.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Local SEO keyword research is the process of finding keywords people search for when looking for products, services, or amenities in their local area.
Optimizing for the right local keywords can increase your organic visibility on relevant search engine results pages (SERPs).
Local keyword research is the foundation of an effective local SEO strategy, helping you target the exact terms your potential customers use.
By uncovering and targeting the right local keywords, you can boost relevant traffic, conversion rates, and revenue for your local business.
Effective local keyword research involves creating a keyword research spreadsheet, brainstorming seed keywords, finding relevant local keywords, checking competitor rankings, and organizing keywords by search intent.

Understanding Local Keyword Research

Local keyword research helps local businesses discover what their nearby consumers search for online. This way, businesses can focus their SEO efforts. They’ll be more visible when locals look for them online.

Finding the right search terms is key for any good local SEO strategy. It ensures businesses reach local consumers when they’re ready to buy.

What is Local Keyword Research?

Local keyword research pinpoints the terms your target customers use for finding local products and services online. With a targeted keyword list, you can optimize your site. This helps you show up in searches where locals are looking for what you offer.

It also helps you understand local search behavior. Plus, it deepens your knowledge about your audience. You might even spot related markets or new ways to attract local attention.

Importance of Local Keyword Research for SEO

Local keyword research is vital for good local SEO. By knowing what search terms people use to look for your type of business in your area, you can adjust your website and content. This makes it more likely for your business to show up in local search results.

Focusing on location-based keywords can help draw in more local leads and customers. It’s a smart way to boost your business’s online presence in your area.

Local Keyword Research vs. General Keyword Research

There are two key ways to look at keyword research: local and general. It’s essential for local businesses to get this right for SEO success. This means knowing how to target your audience effectively in searches.

Differences Between Local and General Keyword Research

General keyword research looks at common terms for anyone, anywhere. If you’re reaching out across a big area, this approach is for you. Local research, though, gets you closer to your local audience. It shows you how they look for what you offer in your neighborhood or city.

Local and general keyword research differ mainly in the words they use. General keywords are wide, like “best coffee beans.” Local ones add a location, like “best coffee beans in Seattle.” Finding the right local terms is key to reaching your local customers effectively.

Benefits of Local Keyword Research

Extra digging in local keywords really pays off for businesses. It makes your content more relevant to searchers looking nearby. Plus, because fewer companies target these specific terms, you face less competition. This can up your chances of turning visitors into customers who are ready to buy or book.

Local Keyword Research	General Keyword Research
Focuses on terms people use to search for local businesses, products, and services	Focuses on terms people use to describe companies, products, or services in general
Includes location-specific modifiers like city, state, or neighborhood	Typically broader, non-location-specific terms
Helps target local users specifically	Helps you understand the broader market
Leads to higher relevance, lower competition, and better conversion potential	Useful for broader business goals

Local Keyword Intent: Implicit vs. Explicit

Local intent means you’re looking for something nearby. Google is good at figuring this out. It looks for clues in your search, like if you type “bakery in Miami.” But, sometimes, you don’t need to say the place to want something close by. This is called implicit local intent.

Explicit Local Keywords

When you use words like names of cities or areas, that’s clear. For example, “plumber in San Francisco” is looking for help nearby. There’s no mistaking it – the search is all about finding something local.

Implicit Local Keywords

But what if you just search for “best pizza” without a location? Google looks at your past searches and where you are. If it thinks you want pizza places near you, it guesses you want local search results.

How Google Determines Local Intent

Google looks at many things to understand what you want locally. It checks your search history, where you are, and more. This helps it know if you’re looking for something nearby without you saying it directly.

Step 1: Create a Keyword Research Spreadsheet

The first step in local keyword research is setting up a spreadsheet. This helps you keep track of the keywords you find. A good spreadsheet makes it simple to see which keywords are best for your SEO plan.

Start with a keyword research template, which is free. It has spots to put in details like how often a keyword is searched, its cost to use in ads, how easy or hard it is to use, if it fits your needs, and how it’s trending. This helps you pick out the best keywords to focus on.

Keyword	Monthly Search Volume	CPC	Keyword Difficulty	Relevance	Trend
best bakery in miami	2,400	$3.50	45%	5	Increasing
miami beach restaurants	4,500	$2.80	60%	4	Steady
hair salons near me	12,000	$4.20	75%	5	Increasing

Keep updating your keyword research spreadsheet. This way, you’ll be able to compare keywords easily. You can then choose the best local keywords to help improve your SEO strategy.

Step 2: Brainstorm Seed Keywords

Seed keywords are short, like “French bakery,” and key to your business. They’re perfect to start your keyword search. Think of all words customers might use to find businesses like yours. Don’t worry about the place for now.

Identifying Core Business Terms

What are the main things your business offers? These are your core terms, such as “lawyer” or “hairdresser.” Write down these key descriptions of what your local business does.

Location-Specific Modifiers

Now, think local. What would people add to find your specific area? This can be a landmark, a street name, a neighborhood, or ZIP code. Adding these makes your keyword more focused and local.

Combine your business terms with local info. This creates a strong list of seed keywords. It’s a crucial first step to find more local keywords that will work well for you.

Step 3: Find Relevant Local Keywords

To discover local keywords, we use tools like Google Keyword Planner and Semrush’s Keyword Magic Tool. These tools search keywords by location. They tell us how many people look up the keyword and how hard it is to rank for it.

Using Keyword Research Tools

First, type a seed keyword into the tool. Then, pick your location. The tool will give you a list of related keywords. This is a great start to find local keywords that your audience is searching for.

Filtering for Local Intent

To find keywords with clear local searches, use filters. Look for keywords with city names, neighborhoods, or ZIP codes. This helps target people looking for local businesses or information.

Analyzing Keyword Data

Look closely at each keyword’s data, like how many times it’s searched and how hard it is. This analysis helps pick keywords that are popular but not too competitive. The goal is to rank well in local searches.

By using these strategies, we can find key local keywords. This is essential for our local SEO work. Taking a data-centric approach improves our chances of reaching local customers when they need us most.

Step 4: Check Competitor Rankings

Look at your competition’s rankings to fill in missing keywords in your SEO research. First, find your main online rivals by Googling a local keyword. Or, use a tool like Semrush’s Domain Overview. Next, use Semrush’s Keyword Gap tool to see where your site lacks keywords that rivals have. This uncovers new opportunities for local keyword targeting.

Identifying Top Online Competitors

It’s important to know your top online competitors for good local keyword research. Search some core local keywords in Google to see who shows up a lot on the first page. They’re likely your main rivals in local searches. You can also use Semrush’s Domain Overview for a more detailed look at who your top competitors are. It shows their local search performance too.

Using the Keyword Gap Tool

After finding your top local rivals, use Semrush’s Keyword Gap tool. This helps you find keywords opportunities you might have missed. You can see which keywords your competitors rank for, but you don’t. It gives you a chance to find and use new local keywords. You could then beat your rivals in search rankings.

Local Keyword Research

Local keyword research is vital if a business wants to boost its online presence. It helps draw in nearby customers. This method focuses on finding three parts of your search terms: the core term, the keyword modifier, and the location.

Identifying Core Terms

Your core term is a basic description of your business, like “hairdresser” or “lawyer.” These are the main keywords for your local search. They show what main products or services you provide.

Adding Keyword Modifiers

Make your core terms more unique and less competitive by adding modifiers. For instance, use “best hairdressers near me” or “find a personal injury lawyer.” These make it clearer who you aim to attract, boosting conversion chances.

Incorporating Location Names

Don’t forget to add location names. This makes your keywords focus on exact areas your business covers. Use phrases like “hair salons in Miami” or “divorce attorneys in Chicago.” This way, you’re targeting users looking for local businesses.

By finding core terms, adding meaningful modifiers, and location names, you build a strong local keyword list. This guides your SEO work. It helps your business show up for the right people at the right time.

Organizing Keywords by Search Intent

Search intent shows why a user types in a search. Knowing the types of search intent helps us pick the best keywords for our content. There are three main types: commercial/transactional, informational, and navigational.

Commercial/Transactional Intent

Keywords with a buying intent show a user is ready to purchase. Like “buy best coffee beans” or “local hairdressers near me.” Choosing these keywords can boost sales fast.

Informational Intent

Informational keywords mean the user wants to learn something. For example, “how to do local keyword research” or “what is local SEO.” Creating helpful content can make your business an expert, gaining customer trust.

Navigational Intent

When users want to go to a specific site, they use navigational keywords. Like “Acme Law Firm website” or “Starbucks near me.” Focusing on these keywords can help users find your brand or business quickly.

By properly organizing keywords by search intent, crafting a strong local SEO plan becomes possible. This strategy ensures users get the content they need when they need it. It also boosts our targeting power and our chances of ranking high in local searches.

Local Keyword Mapping and Optimization

After finding your local keywords, it’s key to link them to the right pages on your site. This makes sure each keyword matches the best content. We will also look into adding these keywords to boost your on-page SEO. This leads to a better Google Business Profile to stand out more in local search results.

Mapping Keywords to URLs

Lining up your local keywords with specific URLs on your site is basic for local search improvement. It connects your website with the exact phrases your audience uses. By doing this, your business will be more relevant and visible in local search results.

On-Page Optimization with Local Keywords

It’s crucial to use your local keywords in different parts of your site like page titles and content. This makes search engines recognize your pages as locally important. It can boost where you appear in local searches.

Optimizing Google Business Profile

Optimizing your Google Business Profile with the right keywords is vital. By adding these keywords to your business name and description, you draw in more local customers. It makes your business more prominent in local Google searches.

Local Keyword Mapping	On-Page Optimization	Google Business Profile
Map keywords to appropriate website URLs	Integrate local keywords into page titles, meta descriptions, headings, and content	Include location-based keywords in business name, description, categories, and other profile elements
Ensure relevance and prominence in local search results	Improve search engine understanding of local context and relevance	Enhance visibility and ranking in Google’s local search results
Optimize for specific local search queries	Optimize website content for local keyword targets	Attract more targeted, local customers

Conclusion

Local keyword research is key for good local SEO. This guide showed how to make a spreadsheet with keywords. We learned to brainstorm seed keywords and find ones specific to our area that people often search for.

We also looked at what keywords our competitors are using. By understanding our intent behind searches, we can create content that meets our audience’s needs. This all helps us appear in online searches when people look for businesses like ours.

Doing this work helps our business show up more when local customers search online. This means more people visit our website. And hopefully, more of them become customers. We will keep working on our keyword strategy to do even better than our competitors in local searches.

But, this work is not just a one-time thing. It needs careful watching and adjusting. By doing this, we stay ahead and keep attracting local customers. With our effort, local SEO can really make a big difference for our business.