When consumers want to pick up fast food, schedule dinner reservations, or shop, 77% of people use Google to find local business information. If your business depends on attracting customers in your city or region, local search engine optimization should be the cornerstone of your marketing strategy. How long does local SEO take to start working, and is there anything you can do to speed things up?
How Long Local SEO Usually Takes
Generally speaking, it usually takes at least three months to see changes to your rankings with local SEO. Six months is a reasonable timeline to achieve significant improvements. By the 12-month mark, your business may succeed in hitting the top of Google’s coveted Map Pack.
Not every business gets these ideal SEO results, however. If your industry has a lot of local competition, it can take longer to stand out. Some companies need six months or more to move the needle, even with professional, affordable SEO services.
What Factors Affect How Long It Takes To See Local SEO Results
There are two main reasons it takes time for local SEO to work: technical limitations and trust signals. Google doesn’t crawl websites constantly. Depending on the size, layout, traffic, and popularity of your site, it can take anywhere from several days to a month before search engines even notice changes.
When deciding which local websites deserve the top spots for local searches, Google tries to find the best fit for users. It evaluates sites based on:
- Google Business Profile information
- Geographic keywords on web pages
- Store proximity to users
- Business reputation
- Client ratings and reviews
- Overall site authority
It typically takes longer for brand-new websites to see results from local SEO. On the other hand, businesses that have plenty of high-quality online content and customer reviews can potentially “skip” to the head of the line.
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How To Improve Your Local Search Rankings Quickly
You can’t cut corners with SEO if you want to see good results, but following local search best practices can help you rank higher more quickly. Pay attention to these essentials:
- Google Business Profile: Take the time to make your profile shine with content, details, and images/videos. Give visitors a quick, powerful glimpse into what makes you special.
- Customer ratings and reviews: Reach out to happy customers and ask them to leave a review via your Google link.
- Location-based keywords: Research what keywords and topics your customers care about, and use geographic terms in your content (e.g., “Scottsdale office cleaners”).
- NAP Signals: Your website and Google profile should list your business name, address, and phone number. Include this information for each store if you have multiple locations.
The better your website’s local SEO signals, the better your chances of getting results quickly.
How Long Does Local SEO Take With BKA?
Local SEO takes time, so don’t stress if your business needs more than three months to get results. At BKA Content, our expert local SEO services and customized solutions can help. Reach your goals by following through on our proven strategies.
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