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Is it hard for potential customers to find you in local search results? How to improve local authority?
Is your niche very competitive? Do you struggle with local traffic?
Local link can be a key differentiator.
Based on SureOak data, 100% of local marketers said local link building matters for local rankings.
In this LOCAL SEO landscape, local links are important to stand out.
How is local link building different from general link building? In local link building, you need to niche down a bit. Here, particularity matters.
Due to understanding the seriousness of the topic, BloggerOutreach wrote this guide.
With our years of experience, we have put our hearts and souls into it. Once you read this
article, we know how to leverage local link building and drive traffic, and improve rankings.
What Are Local Links?
A local link (aka local backlinks) is one that points to a specific website, directory, or other online source. It connects people with local businesses, services, and information.
For example, let’s say you own a bakery in San Francisco. Your bakery’s website might be linked to an article about the best bakeries in San Francisco. The link helps potential customers find your bakery and makes you more visible to locals.
Local links are crucial for businesses that rely on attracting local customers. Furthermore, they help search engines determine your business’ relevance and authority. This will improve your local search engine rankings, making it easier for people to find your business.
Consider These Factors When Getting A Local Link:
- Make sure the link goes to your local page or the most important page.
- It’s important to have a CTA.
Who Can Use Local Link?
Local links can help you get more traffic and improve your online presence if you’ve got a local business or website.
It is perfectly suitable for:
- Small businesses.
- Retail stores.
- Restaurants.
- Service providers.
- Professionals operating within a specific area.
It’s even possible for bigger companies with multiple locations to use local links to improve their visibility.
Bloggers and content creators can also use local links to provide their audience with relevant resources.
‘How Do I Create A Local Link?’
There is a process involved in building local links. We have created a seven-step strategy to build local links. Here you go:
1. Local Directories And Listings
In local SEO, the goal is to get your business in the Local Map Pack and the top three organic results.
Several factors, including the mysterious Google algorithm, influence which businesses get the top rankings and the organic traffic everyone wants.
Search engines want to see that local businesses:
They have a physical presence near their target customers, making it convenient for local people to access their products or services.
Plus, they offer specific categories of products or services that align with what customers are searching for locally.
They are seen as a reliable and authoritative source of information in their industry, providing valuable answers and solutions to their customer’s inquiries.
2. Local Citations
Local citations are mentions of a business’s name, address, and/or phone number on other webpages (linked or unlinked).
We can divide Citations into two categories – structured and unstructured.
(i) Structured Citations:
Directory local listings are business directories that operate locally. It’s your responsibility to manage them.
You Can Find Some Examples Here:
- Google My Business
- Yelp
- Maps
- YellowPages
- Dunn & Bradstreet
- TomTom
(ii) Unstructured Citations:
These are citations that appear on websites that aren’t dedicated to business directories, like
- Magazines
- Newspapers
- Blogs
- Social media
- Review sites
(iii) Local Citations (Getting Local Links): Why Do You Care?
The three most compelling reasons to use local citations are listed below:
- Local citations help in increasing your visibility. The More search results you appear in, the better your ranking chances.
- A higher ranking goes hand in hand with a bigger digital footprint, so you’ll get more traffic.
- If you’re getting citations from different sites, you’re trustworthy.
3. Local Outreach And Networking
It’s all about reaching out to your prospects and talking to them directly. You can employ any of these tactics:
(i) Email
Even though it sounds cliche, email still works. When emailing, keep your pitch:
- Simple
- Personalized
- Show benefits
(ii) In Person
The best way to explain something to someone is to meet them one-on-one. Your conversion rate will shoot up when you have a one-on-one conversation.
(iii) Phone
Establish a relationship with local businesses, get their phone numbers, and explain your business prospect to them.
(iv) Local Events
Attend local events and conferences. You’ll meet a lot of like-minded people there. We believe it’s much better than sending thousands of cold emails and getting ignored.
4. Local Content Creation
When you provide valuable resources and information to local residents – you can become a thought leader within the industry.
“Top 10 Challenges in [Your City]”
“A Guide to [Your City] Events and Festivals”
“The Best [Your City] Restaurants for [Cuisine] Lovers”
“Exploring [Your City]’s Outdoor Activities and Adventure Spots”.
“Supporting Local: [Your City]’s Guide to Shopping Local”
“Uncovering [Your City]’s Average Household Income”.
“Family-Friendly Cafes Near [Your City]: Fun for All Ages”
There are perfect examples of link-worthy content. Tapping into these types of content helps you in getting backlinks.
A local content initiative’s impact depends on the topic and who it reaches. The ultimate goals are local links and brand mentions.
When local content generates backlinks, if it is captivating, it naturally generates discussions and conversations. Backlinks and mentions of a brand will come when an organization creates compelling content and shares it with local news sources.
5. Guest Blogging And Collaborations
You can obtain local links by guest posting by following these steps:
Discover blogs or websites within your target industry or area that accept guest posts.
If you run a bakery in Los Angeles, look for food or lifestyle blogs that welcome guest contributions.
Then, Check their guest posting guidelines to see if they prefer articles about local food trends, restaurant reviews, or baking tips.
Now, Make sure your pitch showcases your expertise and suggests local topics. Think “Top Bakeries in Los Angeles to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth.”
Feature a guest post that provides valuable insights and aligns with the audience of the website. You can consider articles highlighting the bakery’s history, signature treats, and insider tips.
Add a short author bio with a link to your website introducing yourself and your business. Share your experience as a professional baker and link to your bakery’s website.
Spread the word about the guest post through your social media channels and website. Example: Post a teaser and share the link to the full guest post on your bakery’s Facebook page.
6. Online Reviews And Testimonials
Reviews and testimonials are important for getting local links. How can we build local links with them?
(i) Make A List Of Reviews Platforms
Some companies don’t have a review submission feature. Check the company’s contact information for an email address if you can’t find it. Yelp and Foursquare let you rate and review companies. Reviews might not be as interactive as direct submissions.
Leave reviews on platforms like Google My Business, Yelp, or industry-specific review sites. As a trusted resource, positive reviews boost your reputation and attract attention from other local businesses.
Find local directories that accept testimonials and reviews. Don’t forget to include a link back to your website in your positive customer testimonials. Establishing local links from reputable directories helps you get customers.
Collaborate with Local Influencers. Partner with local influencers or bloggers who have a large following in your area. Offer your product or service in exchange for an honest review. You can improve your link profile and drive local traffic by linking to their reviews.
Take advantage of local partnerships. See if other local businesses will feature your testimonials or reviews. Your local link network can be strengthened by reciprocal links.
7. National And Local Awards
The first step to getting recognition is to look for local awards that are relevant to your company’s industry.
A well-known national organization that demonstrates credibility to customers is Business Bureaus.
There are lots of ways for businesses to connect with the community through the local Chamber of Commerce.
Local Publication award is another thing that you can also consider here.
When businesses find an award that matches their values, they can strategize how to get it.
Sometimes, an organization fulfils most of the awards’ requirements, so applying or contacting the awarding company is all that’s needed.
When winning the award isn’t a sure thing, the organization can work on a company-wide initiative.
Hire Local Link Building Services
71 percent of local marketers leverage link building strategy to jump higher. This clearly reflects the importance of links. In such cases, they usually hire an SEO company.
In this case, BloggerOutreach comes into play. We have given exemplary results with local SEO than anyone else.
Link Building for Local SEO seems easy when you are working with us. Are you interested to know how we build local links and give you results? Start taking action and talk to our expert.
