How do I Target Local Keywords for My Business?

Did you know that 80% of people use search engines to find local information? When they’re looking for businesses nearby that offer the products or services they need, search engines are their go-to tool. If you want your business to show up in these search results, it’s important to use local keywords on your website to improve your ranking.

Local keywords are terms that include location-specific phrases and show results for businesses in that area. These keywords are crucial for attracting people near you and play a big part in improving your local SEO strategy. But how do you find these local keywords?

On this page, we’ll cover:

• How to find local keywords
• How to choose the best keywords for local search
• Extra strategies to boost your chances of showing up in local searches

Keep reading to learn more about local keywords and how to find them. Want to dive deeper into how to show up in more local searches?

How do I Find Local Keywords?

So, you want to show up in local searches—how do you find the right keywords to get there?

To rank in local searches, you need to do some local SEO keyword research.

Keyword research is all about finding popular terms that will help your business appear in the right search results for your target audience.

Tools like KeywordsFX can help you find a list of relevant keywords. They’ll generate a list of terms related to what you’re looking for, giving you ideas for the keywords to add to your site.

For example, let’s say you’re an event planner in Los Angeles. You can start by searching for “event planner in Los Angeles.” Then, by plugging this into a tool like KeywordsFX, you’ll get a list of suggested keywords related to that search.

From there, you can pick out the local keywords that’ll help you rank. For local searches, you’ll usually want to focus on phrases like:

• [business type/product/service] in Los Angeles
• [business type/product/service] Los Angeles
• Los Angeles [business type/product/service]
• Best [business type/product/service] in Los Angeles

Also Read: How do I Track My Local SEO Performance?

So, if you’re an event planner, you might find keywords like:

• Event planners in Los Angeles
• Wedding planner Los Angeles
• Los Angeles party planning
• Best event planner in Los Angeles

Doing local SEO keyword research will help your business show up in local search results, making it easier for people in your area to find you.

If your business is already ranking for some local terms, you can use a tool like Google Search Console to check your current rankings and find more localized keywords to focus on, like “event planners in [city], [state].”

How do I Pick the Best Local Keywords and Rank for them?

So, you know you need to do local keyword research, but how do you pick the best ones? After you start your research, you’ll see tons of keyword ideas, and it can be a bit overwhelming. Let’s break it down into three simple steps to help you choose local SEO keywords that will bring in more leads.

1. Specify your location

The first step is to figure out exactly where you want to target. You need to define your location—this is the foundation of local SEO. Think about the areas your business serves, whether it’s your neighborhood or places you travel to for your services.

For example, let’s say your event planning business is in Los Angeles. If you also work in nearby areas like Santa Monica or Venice Beach, you’ll want to target those locations too. Including all the places you serve will help you reach people in those areas who are looking for what you offer.

2. Focus on industry-related keywords

Next, make sure you’re focusing on keywords that are relevant to your business. It can be tempting to target high-volume keywords, but if they’re not related to your services, you won’t get the right leads.

Let’s say you see that “talent agents in Los Angeles” has a lot of search volume. You might want to rank for that term to get more traffic, but if you’re an event planner and not a talent agency, this won’t help you. People who search for talent agents will quickly bounce from your site when they don’t find what they were looking for. And the more they bounce, the worse it is for your ranking on Google.

Instead of trying to rank for unrelated terms, focus on keywords that match your business. For an event planner in Los Angeles, relevant keywords might include:

• Event planners in Los Angeles
• Los Angeles party planners
• Los Angeles event planner
• Event coordinator in Los Angeles

3. Include keyword modifiers

Once you have your core keywords, try adding modifiers to expand your reach. Modifiers are words that add more detail to your keyword and help you connect with people who are looking for specific things. There are four main types of modifiers you can use:

• Quality: These modifiers highlight the quality of your services, like “best” or “top.” For example: “Best event planners in Los Angeles.”
• Occasion: These focus on specific events or times, like “wedding” or “birthday.” Example: “Wedding planner in Los Angeles.”
• Type: These focus on the specific service or offering you have, like “catering” or “event venue.” Example: “Wedding venues Los Angeles.”
• Special offering: These highlight something unique about your business, like “same-day service” or “all-inclusive.” Example: “All-inclusive wedding venues in Los Angeles.”

Using these keyword modifiers will help you attract locals who are searching for exactly what you offer.

Also Read: How do I Optimize My Website for Local Searches?

Going beyond Local Keywords: Alternatives to Local Keyword Research

Finding the right keywords for local search is a great start to attracting local leads, but there are other ways to reach people in your area too. Let’s take a look at two effective local marketing options to help you get more leads nearby.

1. Claim your Google Business Profile listing

When people search for local businesses, they often see a section called the local SEO 3-pack. This is a box at the top of search results with three businesses listed. If you want to show up here, you need to claim and optimize your Google Business Profile.

For example, if someone searches for “event planner in Los Angeles” or “Los Angeles wedding planner,” these listings appear. To get your business in the mix, start by claiming your listing.

Once you claim it, make sure all your details are correct, like your business name, address, and phone number. Then, write a short description of your business and what you offer. Don’t forget to add photos—businesses with pictures get 42% more requests for directions and 35% more website clicks!

By doing this, you’ll have a well-rounded Google Business Profile that can drive local traffic to your business. If you want to save time updating your profile and other listings like Yelp or Facebook, tools like LocalFX can help you manage everything in one place.

2. Run a pay-per-click (PPC) advertising campaign

Another great way to get local leads is through PPC ads. These paid ads appear at the top of search results, above the organic listings, with an “ad” label. Research shows that 80% of consumers prefer ads tailored to their city, zip code, or local area, so running location-specific ads can help you reach more people nearby.

To get started, you’ll use the local keywords you found during your keyword research. Then, you’ll set a bid amount for your ad. PPC ads charge you each time someone clicks on your ad, so you’ll need to decide how much you’re willing to pay per click.

Next, write your ad copy. This includes two parts: the ad text and the landing page. The ad text is what people see when they find your ad, and the landing page is what they see after they click it. For example, if your ad targets “wedding planners in Los Angeles,” your ad and landing page should both focus on your wedding planning services.

By keeping your ad and landing page focused on the same topic, you’ll create a more relevant experience for users, which can help you rank higher in search results and attract more leads. Once your ad is up and running, you’ll start seeing local leads come your way!

Also Read: How can I Improve My Local SEO Without Spending Much?

Start using Local Keywords Today

If you’re not using local keywords, you’re missing out on a great chance to grow your business. Local keywords can help you connect with more people nearby and encourage them to visit your business, bringing in new leads and boosting your growth.

If you don’t have the time to research and add local keywords to your site, no worries—SeoDue is here to help. With over 10 years of experience, we know exactly how to optimize your website for local search and help you rank higher. From adding the right keywords to improving your local listings, we’ve got you covered!