Local SEO services help your business appear at top of the page for the large percentage of searches that Google tags as "local." But here's the kicker--the majority of those searches are being completed on mobile devices. Google's explanation goes like this, “more Google searches take place on mobile devices than on computers in 10 countries, including the US and Japan."
Since all good search optimization begins by understanding the customer, consider all of the ways that your digital information is going to be used on a mobile device.
Customers search on their mobile device.
How many pages of Google or Bing results will the mobile searcher scan? Not many. The top ten results represent most of the click throughs, and the top three result in 60% of responses. A recent study discovered:
- 70%+ of searches result in a page one organic click
- Page 2 and 3 get only 5.59% of the clicks
- The first 5 results account for 67.60% of all clicks
Searching from more than one location.
It might sound obvious, but when a customer is searching for a product, review, or services, they are going to access the internet from a variety of specific digital locations that include not only their cell phone carriers nexus from cellular to internet (found in multiple specific locations). They will also be searching from the WiFi in their favorite coffee shop, at home, and in the office. If their search contains any of the words that signal "local intent" to Google, then local results will change based upon the location of the searcher and the particular WiFi source they are using.
Local SEO services need to address mobile usability.
If you are effectively using local seo services to get on the top of the search page, its vital that the website where your customers land is ready for mobile. Simply put, can the mobile user easily use your website or landing pages? Mobile readiness comes in lots of different forms, but here are things you need to consider:
- Images with Text: can they still be read when they shrink down to fit?
- Navigation: is the web navigation easy to use on even the smallest digital device?
- Text: is the website and its important pages still "scannable" even when it gets small?
- Action responses: can the mobile user click buttons and fill out forms so they can respond to you?
Local SEO services have to address not only the "getting found online" part of the equation, but also the user experience once they find you. Local SEO is much more effective when it takes the whole picture into account, and has the capability to address your website, its mobile readiness, and the SEO for local search.
