{"id":14545,"date":"2023-07-21T17:41:25","date_gmt":"2023-07-21T17:41:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/?p=14545"},"modified":"2023-07-27T00:50:47","modified_gmt":"2023-07-27T00:50:47","slug":"2023-local-seo-trends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/2023-local-seo-trends\/","title":{"rendered":"Stay Ahead of These Game-Changing 2023 Local SEO Trends (It\u2019s Not Only About AI)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"14545\" class=\"elementor elementor-14545\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b800e65 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b800e65\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-66353a6\" data-id=\"66353a6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7943a94 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7943a94\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Stay ahead of the game by keeping up with the 2023 Local SEO trends that have caught the eyes of our search engine marketers mid-year\u2014and finish the year out stronger than you started.<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">As generative AI transforms search engines and the threat of a downturn drags on, keeping up with the massive changes happening in SEO has never been more important.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Or <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">more challenging<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">, for that matter, since these days, news on Google latest algorithm tweaks and search features is breaking literally by the minute.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">What we want to do here is get you up to speed on seven 2023 Local SEO trends and changes that we\u2019ve got our eyes on and tell how you can leverage them to your advantage.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Our goal? To equip you with practical insights and proven strategies that will keep your business at the top of local search results.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">If you\u2019re new to local SEO, check out the refresher below\u2014if not, skip straight to our first point.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5e5338a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5e5338a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-d890fc5\" data-id=\"d890fc5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-09bda0d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"09bda0d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4>Content:<\/h4><ul><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#background\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Background: Understanding Google\u2019s Approach to Local Ranking<\/span><\/a><ul><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cb\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cb&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"#relevance\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Relevance<\/span><\/a><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cb\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cb&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"#distance\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Distance<\/span><\/a><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cb\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:1440,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[9675],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cb&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"2\"><a href=\"#prominence\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Prominence<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><ol><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#capitalize\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Capitalize on Consistent Customer Reviews<\/span><\/a><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#build\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Build Backlinks to Your GBP Landing Page<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#laverage\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Leverage Your Location (or Overcome its Drawbacks)<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#unleash\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Unleash the Potential of Dedicated Service Pages<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"4\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#quality\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Make Quality Content and Internal Links Work<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"5\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#embrace\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Embrace On-page, Technical SEO, and Local Schema<\/span><\/a><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"#sge\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Get to Know Google\u2019s Search Generative Experience (SGE)<\/span><\/a><\/li><\/ol>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b46039e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b46039e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ca97c73\" data-id=\"ca97c73\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-32d199c elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"32d199c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"background\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Background: Understanding Google\u2019s Approach to Local Ranking<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-22bebfb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"22bebfb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">You know the saying, \u201clocation, location, location\u201d?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">When it comes to local SEO, Google takes this concept to heart\u2014but with a bit of important nuance.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Beyond just physical proximity, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/support.google.com\/business\/answer\/7091?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Google\u2019s local ranking revolves around three key factors<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ol><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Relevance<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Distance<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Prominence<\/span><\/li><\/ol><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"EN\" lang=\"EN\" class=\"TextRun SCXW60567836 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW60567836 BCX0\">You might be wondering what these terms mean and how they can help your business. So, let\u2019s unravel these factors one by one, starting with the first element of Google\u2019s local ranking trinity: Relevance.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6919fe7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"6919fe7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"relevance\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1. Relevance is the Perfect Matchmaker <\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9af4506 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9af4506\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Relevance<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> is all about how well your business matches a user\u2019s search query.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">When your business profile matches what someone is searching for, Google gives you a thumbs up.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">By refining your business information, you\u2019re telling Google: \u201cHey, we\u2019re the perfect match for that search!\u201d And Google loves a good match.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cffa239 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"cffa239\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"distance\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2. Distance is the Art of Being in the Right Place<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71dd7c4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"71dd7c4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Distance<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> is how far your business is from the location specified in a user\u2019s search.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">If a user doesn\u2019t specify a location, Google takes a Sherlock Holmes approach and calculates distance based on \u201cwhat we <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\">do <\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">know about their location\u201d, which could include search history.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">This factor reminds us of the importance of maintaining an accurate <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.searchenginejournal.com\/local-seo\/why-nap-user-experience-are-crucial-to-local-seo\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number)<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> across your website and Google Business Profile. Even the online mentions of your business\u2019s NAP play a role.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Making these details readily available and consistent helps Google locate your business with pinpoint accuracy, giving you a greater chance of landing in front of the right audience.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ec091c3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ec091c3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"prominence\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">3. Prominence is Standing Tall and Standing Out<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5ea1c31 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5ea1c31\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Prominence<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> is your business\u2019s claim to fame. It\u2019s about how well-known or reputable your business is, both online and offline.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">This factor is influenced by elements like Google reviews, backlinks, articles, directories, and even your website\u2019s authority.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">If you\u2019re a well-established brand or a business with glowing reviews, Google is likely to boost your prominence in local search.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">But this doesn\u2019t mean newer businesses can\u2019t compete\u2014a well-optimized website with quality content can earn prominence, too.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-480d031 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"480d031\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Don\u2019t Fall For the One-Size-Fits-All Local Search Myth<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5e6ed57 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5e6ed57\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">We\u2019d all love a local SEO cheat sheet. Wouldn\u2019t it be great to have a list of every ranking factor and how much they each matter?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Unfortunately, Google doesn\u2019t play like that. In 2023, local SEO remains a game of ongoing observation and adaptation.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Suppose you\u2019re a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/local-seo-services\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">local SEO expert<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> working with a drive-through coffee shop. You might notice that Google heavily weighs a factor like \u201cpopular times\u201d for the industry.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">On the other hand, if you\u2019re doing local SEO for a lawyer, you\u2019ll probably find that \u201cpopular times\u201d is totally irrelevant compared to something like link authority.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Even though such observations are helpful, they do not provide a universal rule. <\/span><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Every market and industry has its own local search algorithm quirks.<\/span><\/b><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">When we say that a specific element impacts rankings, it\u2019s not a revelation from the sacred Google algorithm scroll. It\u2019s based on experience and observation. It\u2019s based on the data we and other reputable SEO professionals have collected through experimentation and testing.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">There\u2019s no universal recipe for SEO success. But once you grasp this concept, you can shift your strategy from being a one-size-fits-all to a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/local-seo-services\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">custom-tailored local SEO approach<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">So, take heart. Although we don\u2019t have a definite formula for success, we do have the collective wisdom of experience, observation, and experimentation.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">And below, we\u2019ll discuss what we\u2019re seeing as key important factors in local SEO in 2023.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f5f66f5 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f5f66f5\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3ce8879\" data-id=\"3ce8879\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-inner-section elementor-element elementor-element-6531151 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6531151\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-inner-column elementor-element elementor-element-bd85977\" data-id=\"bd85977\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f0ac784 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f0ac784\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Google My Business vs. Google Business Profile (Same Thing, Different Name)<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d2ac664 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d2ac664\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><a class=\"Hyperlink SCXW20282545 BCX0\" href=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/google-my-business-now-known-as-google-business-profile-as-google-migrates-features-to-maps-and-search-375767\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\" xml:lang=\"EN\" lang=\"EN\" class=\"TextRun Underlined SCXW20282545 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW20282545 BCX0\">As of November 2021<\/span><\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"EN\" lang=\"EN\" class=\"TextRun SCXW20282545 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW20282545 BCX0\">, Google has officially transitioned from \u2019Goog<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW20282545 BCX0\">le My Business\u2019 (GMB) to \u2019Google Business Profile\u2019 (GBP). It\u2019s the same feature, just under a new name. To add to that, the back-end dashboard where you manage your profile is now known as \u2019Business Profile Manager.\u2019<\/span><\/span><span class=\"EOP SCXW20282545 BCX0\" data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;134245417&quot;:false,&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335551550&quot;:2,&quot;335551620&quot;:2,&quot;335559740&quot;:240}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-90a3857 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"90a3857\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fc429e2\" data-id=\"fc429e2\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-a3bf7a3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"a3bf7a3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"capitalize\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">1. Capitalize on Consistent Customer Reviews <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8214568 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8214568\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When it comes to optimizing your local SEO, one factor that often takes a backseat but holds immense potential is customer reviews.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In an era where <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/google-eeat\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">E-E-A-T (Expertise, Authoritativeness, Experience, and Trustworthiness) rules<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, high-quality reviews can set you apart from the competition. Here\u2019s why a steady stream of customer reviews should be your top priority.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e695619 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"e695619\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Local Business Reviews are a Trust-Building Exercise<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-731ee70 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"731ee70\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Google isn\u2019t just about algorithms and bots. Above all, it\u2019s about creating a trustworthy and reliable user experience.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">And that\u2019s where consistent reviews come into play.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">A sudden rush of positive reviews can seem suspicious, like an attempt to game the system. But a steady flow of reviews over a long period? This tells Google, and your potential customers, that your business reliably provides excellent experiences over time.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">That you aren\u2019t just a flash in the pan. That you\u2019re here to stay.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-199ce75 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"199ce75\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"453\" height=\"189\" src=\"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TSblog-reviews.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-14549\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TSblog-reviews.png 453w, https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TSblog-reviews-300x125.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 453px) 100vw, 453px\" title=\"TSblog-reviews\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dd28e95 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dd28e95\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">But the<\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"none\"> consistency <\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"none\">of local reviews isn\u2019t the only factor to consider when discussing 2023 local SEO trends. There\u2019s also review velocity, diversity, and quality.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ul><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:921626,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Review velocity<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> is the rate that your business gains new reviews over time. A high review velocity signals to search engines that your business is actively engaging with customers, continually fostering dialogue and feedback. Google loves this engagement. It\u2019s a signal that your business is alive, kicking, and deeply involved with its audience. It\u2019s an indication of freshness and activity that can significantly boost your local SEO rankings.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:921626,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Review diversity <\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\">is not only about a diversity of opinions, but also diversity of sources. Google and other search engines consider reviews from various different sources, like Yelp, TripAdvisor, Facebook, as a sign of credibility. They reward businesses with positive reviews from a wide range of review sources with higher rankings. This diversity, coupled with consistency, amplifies your reputation and credibility, both online and offline.<\/span><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"2\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335551500&quot;:921626,&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"none\">Review quality<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"none\"> is just what it sounds like. While consistent reviews are key, the sentiment and quality of these reviews matter too. After all, your goal is to provide an excellent experience and build trust. Encourage your customers to share honest, detailed feedback about their experiences. Remember, every review is a story about your business. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/blog.hubspot.com\/marketing\/google-eeat-update\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">The richer the story, the more it adds to your E-E-A-T score and your overall SEO efforts<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Customer reviews are more than just ratings; they\u2019re the testament of your customer\u2019s journey with your business. And in the grand scheme of local SEO, they\u2019re increasingly important.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Adopt strategies that drive consistent, quality reviews. Embrace the power of organic growth, trust-building, and the delight of a satisfied customer.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-89baa16 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"89baa16\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">What Else is New in Local Business Reviews that Impacts 2023 Local SEO Trends?<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-620a178 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"620a178\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"EN\" lang=\"EN\" class=\"TextRun SCXW3582991 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW3582991 BCX0\">We couldn\u2019t let you go without mentioning a couple of key recent developments in the world of online reviews that you should pay a<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW3582991 BCX0\">ttention to.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b9471ac elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b9471ac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">FTC Crackdown on Fake Reviews <\/h5>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bc626bb elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"bc626bb\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">In a significant step towards ensuring authenticity and credibility, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theverge.com\/2023\/6\/30\/23779880\/ftc-fake-reviews-ban-ai\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is proposing to ban fake reviews<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">. The new rule, if accepted, could see businesses facing fines up to $50,000 each time a customer encounters a counterfeit review.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">It\u2019s not just about penalizing businesses that use fake reviews, but also the brokers that produce them.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The proposal extends to prohibit \u201cinsider\u201d reviews and testimonials, mandating that any review or endorsement from a company\u2019s managers, employees, or their relatives must have proper disclosure.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">This move underscores the importance of fostering a culture of genuine and ethical reviews, which can enhance your E-E-A-T score and positively impact local SEO.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f47d1d7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"f47d1d7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Google\u2019s AI-Based Review Filter<\/h5>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-04e2927 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"04e2927\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Google has made significant strides in making sure Google Business Profile reviews are the real deal. Part of this effort involves a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nearmedia.co\/a-guide-to-googles-review-filter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">new AI-based filter on Google reviews<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\"> meant to weed out the fakes and the spammers.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">However, this move has led to instances of genuine Google reviews disappearing. In response, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nearmedia.co\/missing-reviews-at-google-a-step-by-step-guide-to-recovery\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Google has had to set up a dedicated process businesses can use to report missing reviews<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Interestingly, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nearmedia.co\/a-guide-to-googles-review-filter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">the disappearing review issue seems to impact certain industries more than others<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The real estate, home services, and construction sectors appear to be the most affected. Place-based businesses, like car dealerships, brick-and-mortar establishments, or restaurants, are reporting fewer issues.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">This difference could be attributed to Google\u2019s ability to verify \u201cstore visits\u201d, thereby increasing trust in reviews left by consumers who have visited the location before leaving a review.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-368d54f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"368d54f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h5 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Google\u2019s Stand Against Malicious Schemes<\/h5>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-91877ff elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"91877ff\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"none\">Finally, underscoring its commitment to real reviews, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.seroundtable.com\/google-sues-fake-business-profiles-reviews-35569.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Google has taken legal action against a company allegedly creating fake Google Business Profiles and counterfeit reviews<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">. The lawsuit indicates Google\u2019s resolve to safeguard its platform from misuse, promising a more genuine and reliable environment for businesses and customers.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"none\">The landscape of customer reviews and local search is constantly evolving. Staying informed about these developments can help businesses navigate this space effectively, ensuring their practices align with regulatory standards and technological advancements.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2a81b9c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2a81b9c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-87c77e7\" data-id=\"87c77e7\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-79b7939 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"79b7939\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"build\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">2. Build Backlinks to Your GBP Landing Page<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-59a55a7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"59a55a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"EN\" lang=\"EN\" class=\"TextRun SCXW36749301 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW36749301 BCX0\">Your GBP landing page isn\u2019t just about linking back to your homepage. It\u2019s a matter of focusing on the specific URLs that could most impact your local rankings.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-997b508 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"997b508\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"483\" height=\"554\" src=\"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TrafficSoda-Google.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-14547\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TrafficSoda-Google.png 483w, https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TrafficSoda-Google-262x300.png 262w, https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TrafficSoda-Google-480x551.png 480w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 483px) 100vw, 483px\" title=\"TrafficSoda-Google\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-03d7e30 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"03d7e30\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What that is depends on your business. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sterlingsky.ca\/does-the-url-you-link-to-in-google-my-business-impact-ranking-in-the-local-pack\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Maybe it\u2019s a city-specific service page, or a dedicated city page for each GBP location if you\u2019re a multi-location business<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">One way to determine which page you should link to from GPB is to look at Google Search Console (GSC). <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sterlingsky.ca\/google-business-profile-landing-pages\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">GSC allows you to pinpoint which pages are attracting traffic for your key search terms, helping you select the perfect candidate for your GBP landing page.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A great point highlighted in the article by Sterling Sky above is to make sure that your chosen keyword triggers a map pack in search results.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And remember, don\u2019t overlook the importance of using UTMs to track your GBP traffic by location. This simple step enables you to compare GBP vs. organic data in GSC, adding another layer to your SEO insights.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-837db2a elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"837db2a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Optimizing Your GBP Landing Page with Quality Backlinks<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-80ab095 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"80ab095\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">So, you\u2019ve identified the ideal GBP landing page. Now it\u2019s time for optimization, and that\u2019s where backlinks come into play.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Backlinks act as a thumbs-up to your website, increasing your visibility and ranking on search engine results pages (SERPs). They offer a triple threat in terms of boosting local SEO:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ul><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Local Authority:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Backlinks from local websites and directories lend your business authority, painting a picture of trustworthiness for search engines.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Local Citations:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Backlinks from local directories act as citations, providing consistent information about your business and solidifying your business\u2019s legitimacy.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"4\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Local Relevance:<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> Backlinks from local industry-related websites and blogs help to establish your relevance to your local audience.<\/span>\u00a0<\/li><\/ul><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Backlinks from local websites, blogs, and directories not only increase your authority but also showcase your relevance.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And when you add backlinks from review sites to the mix, you build an online reputation that signals quality and credibility to search engines.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-85086db elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"85086db\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-ac20056\" data-id=\"ac20056\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-22e69f6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"22e69f6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"leverage\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">3. Leverage Your Location (or Overcome its Drawbacks) <\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-78f6cec elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"78f6cec\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">There\u2019s another piece to the local SEO puzzle that\u2019s bigger than ever, and that\u2019s your physical location.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">We get it. Setting up shop in the heart of the city isn\u2019t as simple as snapping your fingers.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">But understanding the strategic advantage of your location can be the game-changer in your local SEO journey.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In the context of local SEO, proximity isn\u2019t merely about how close your business is to the searcher. It\u2019s about your business\u2019s closeness to the heart of the city you\u2019re serving.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">When a user searches for a service or product in a specific location, search engines prioritize businesses in or near that area. Your location\u2019s relevance to the search query can dramatically influence your visibility.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Businesses near the city center enjoy a clear advantage in visibility. It\u2019s simple &#8211; higher population density and foot traffic mean a larger volume of searches. The result? A greater chance of your business showing up in local search results.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Now, of course, this is a tough factor to control if you\u2019re not located near city centers. Especially for businesses with multiple locations, the impact of location on local SEO can be a tough pill to swallow.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">But here\u2019s the silver lining: understanding this allows you to plan strategically and maximize your potential within your given parameters. While changing your location might not be an option, understanding its impact is your key to informed decision-making.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-45c6344 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"45c6344\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1c5e871\" data-id=\"1c5e871\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-70e5202 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"70e5202\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"unleash\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">4. Unleash the Potential of Dedicated Service Pages<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0bac718 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0bac718\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Remember when adding predefined services to your GBP seemed to have little impact on your local search rankings?<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Those were the days. Fast forward to now, and the picture has dramatically changed.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/searchengineland.com\/google-business-profile-pre-defined-services-local-seo-427538\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Recent tests by Sterling Sky and Whitespark show that adding services to your GBP significantly boosts your local rankings.<\/span><\/a><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">But we recommend taking it a step further. Instead of just listing your services on your GBP, imagine creating a dedicated web page for each service.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Sounds like a lot of work, right? But consider the potential benefits.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Each page is an opportunity to showcase the unique aspects of a service, to paint a vivid picture that attracts and engages your audience. This level of detail can significantly improve your visibility for those specific services.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And there\u2019s more. Optimized service pages can make your website a magnet for relevant keywords. This means higher ranking in search results and a better user experience for your visitors.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Your prospective customers land on a page that directly addresses their needs. No confusion, no navigation nightmare, just straight to the solution they\u2019ve been looking for.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Suddenly, choosing your business becomes the logical next step.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ff056bc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ff056bc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Make Sure Your Service Pages Stand Out<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-056964e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"056964e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">But beware, there\u2019s a fine line between a successful strategy and a SEO pitfall.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">While it\u2019s essential to have separate service pages, duplicating content across these pages is a no-go. Remember, each service is unique and deserves its own spotlight.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ul><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Ensure your content is fresh and unique for each service.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Describe its benefits, its features, and why it\u2019s the perfect solution for your customers.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"5\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Add relevant images, glowing testimonials, and anything else that makes your service stand out.<\/span><\/li><\/ul><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You must also make it a point to have your GBP landing pages reflect the breadth of your services. If a service isn\u2019t mentioned on your site, Google\u2019s going to have a hard time figuring out what you offer, and so will your potential customers.<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">By incorporating these services into your GBP landing page, you\u2019re increasing your chances of being recognized in Google\u2019s &#8220;website mentions&#8221; justifications. Below is the map pack result for the search query \u2018buy kids bike\u2019<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">\u2014note the bold text in the top two local results.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ce9e2ce elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"ce9e2ce\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" width=\"940\" height=\"468\" src=\"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TSblog-Google-Places-1024x510.png\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-14548\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TSblog-Google-Places-1024x510.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TSblog-Google-Places-300x149.png 300w, https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TSblog-Google-Places-768x383.png 768w, https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TSblog-Google-Places-480x239.png 480w, https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/TSblog-Google-Places.png 1134w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 940px) 100vw, 940px\" title=\"TSblog-Google-Places\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-717812d elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"717812d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\" xml:lang=\"EN\" lang=\"EN\" class=\"TextRun SCXW29326108 BCX0\"><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW29326108 BCX0\">With each unique service page, tailored to the local area, you not only boost your SEO efforts bu<\/span><span class=\"NormalTextRun SCXW29326108 BCX0\">t also become a more attractive choice for your customers.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2e6492d elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2e6492d\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-da263f0\" data-id=\"da263f0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c7879f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9c7879f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"quality\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">5. Make Quality Content and Internal Links Work<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f53bb92 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f53bb92\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This point follows directly from the previous one about individual service pages, and it comes in two interrelated parts: content and internal linking.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In the journey to harness 2023&#8217;s local SEO trends, your greatest ally is high-quality content. But it\u2019s easy to fall into the trap of churning out countless pages, each one basically copying the other.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This is a pitfall you need to avoid, because Google <\/span><i><span data-contrast=\"auto\">really<\/span><\/i><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> doesn\u2019t take kindly to duplicate content. Our topline tips to avoid this trap are as follows:<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><ul><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Focus on creating unique, valuable content for each of your product or service pages, with an emphasis on geographical relevance. Catering to your local audience is crucial.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Paint a vivid picture of your services, and how they address the unique needs of your local clientele. Remember, you\u2019re not just offering a product or service. You\u2019re providing solutions that make life better. Show them how!<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"\u25cf\" data-font=\"Calibri\" data-listid=\"3\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\u25cf&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;multilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"3\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Punctuate your words with relevant, original images as well. Recognizable local landmarks are a great start, but what you really want is your people and product on the backdrop of those landmarks.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-12fe36e elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"12fe36e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Use Internal Links to Make Your Site a Roadmap<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ea07cc5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"ea07cc5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In the realm of local SEO, internal linking is like a GPS system guiding your visitors through your website.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Imagine your visitor, lost in a sea of content, unsure where to go next. The lack of clear directions leaves them frustrated.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">So, how do you alleviate this? By implementing a robust internal linking structure.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Directing users to related content or services on your site enhances the user experience. It encourages them to spend more time exploring, increasing the likelihood of conversions.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Understanding and implementing high-quality content and effective internal linking is your solution to a user-friendly, Google-approved site. By addressing these key elements, you\u2019re not only enhancing your local SEO but also providing an enjoyable user experience.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Now, it\u2019s your turn to put these insights into action. Start by auditing your content and internal linking structure. Identify areas for improvement and make the necessary adjustments. This might be a daunting task, but remember, every step you take brings you closer to your goal of a highly optimized, user-friendly website that rules the local SEO landscape.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e3d98d7 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e3d98d7\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fff539e\" data-id=\"fff539e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-733a2f9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"733a2f9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"embrace\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">6. Embrace On-page, Technical SEO, and Local Schema<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0c7470c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0c7470c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">You\u2019ve got a handle on the 2023 local SEO trends we\u2019ve noticed in reviews, content, and GBP pages.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">But if you stop there, you\u2019re missing out.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Enter the world of on-page and technical SEO, with a special focus on local schema\u2014increasingly becoming the path to truly standing out in local search, and to skyrocketing conversions.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Think of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/seo-services\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">on-page and technical SEO<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> as the foundation and the bricks of your online presence. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/on-page-seo-vs-off-page-seo-differences\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">On-page SEO<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> involves optimizing each page of your website to rank higher and earn relevant traffic. Keywords, meta tags, URL structure, and content quality all play a part here.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Technical SEO, on the other hand, focuses on the backend\u2014website speed, XML sitemaps, website security, mobile-friendliness, and so on. These elements might not be immediately visible, but they make a significant difference to your website\u2019s performance and its appeal to search engines.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Each step you take towards optimizing your on-page and technical SEO is a step towards creating a powerful, search-engine friendly website that stands firm amidst the changes in algorithms and trends.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\"><\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\"><\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-659e0d3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"659e0d3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h3 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Speak Google\u2019s Language with Local Schema<\/h3>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0730cac elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0730cac\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Imagine having a direct line of communication with Google\u2019s algorithm, telling it exactly what your business is about.\u00a0<\/p><p>This is basically what local schema can do.\u00a0<\/p><p>By adding LocalBusiness Schema Markup to your website, you\u2019re not just speaking Google\u2019s language, you\u2019re shouting out loud in it. But not in a rude way. Sanctioned shouting.\u00a0<\/p><p>What is LocalBusiness schema? It\u2019s a type of markup within the schema.org vocabulary, used to categorize and provide detailed information about local businesses. It translates your content into machine-readable language, or JSON-LD, making it easier for Google to understand and index your site.\u00a0<\/p><p>Why is this important? Because it makes you eligible for rich results\u2014those eye-catching search results that provide additional information and visuals right in the SERPs.\u00a0<\/p><p>And the benefits don\u2019t stop there. Rich results attract higher click-through rates, which leads to increased organic traffic, which in turn leads to more conversions.\u00a0<\/p><p>Google provides documentation on how to add LocalBusiness markup to your website. It may feel like speaking a foreign language at first, but the reward is the opportunity to directly influence how your business appears in search results.\u00a0<\/p><p>We\u2019ve also heard word of SEOs using ChatGPT to write schema, which could prove a powerful time-saver. We\u2019re sticking with relying on our experts for now, but there\u2019s potential there.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-42aad6a elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"42aad6a\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7a9eda6\" data-id=\"7a9eda6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-33a18c0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"33a18c0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" id=\"sge\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">7. Get to Know Google\u2019s Search Generative Experience (SGE)<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5867914 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5867914\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">This year, Google introduced the Search Generative Experience (SGE), which represents the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nearmedia.co\/google-sge-meet-the-new-pack\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">single most dramatic evolution of the SERP in decades<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">And yes, it\u2019s as daunting as it sounds. But let\u2019s break it down.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What we have now are largely observations and conjecture, but these early insights are crucial. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/localu.org\/how-googles-new-ai-impacts-local-search\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Google\u2019s SGE aims to integrate AI into the search results<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, a significant leap in our SEO journey. Currently, it\u2019s being tested in Google\u2019s Search Labs.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">While elements of the SGE Pack and Classic Local Pack overlap, there isn\u2019t a 100% match, indicating a broader net being cast by the SGE. It\u2019s also a clear indication just how much AI will impact local SEO going forward.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">As with any new frontier, SGE comes with its share of uncertainty and anticipation. It\u2019s a brave new world, and the rules are still being written. But the promise it holds is too significant to ignore.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The takeaway here is simple: keep SGE on your radar. The year is only halfway through, but AI is already having a huge impact on 2023&#8217;s local SEO trends. Embrace the challenge it presents, observe its impact, and adapt your strategies accordingly.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Remember, in this game of digital visibility, the ones who adapt are the ones who thrive. It\u2019s your playing field. Now go forth, explore, and conquer.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-c8a6d4b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"c8a6d4b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2597536\" data-id=\"2597536\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-76d6527 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"76d6527\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Keep an Eye on These 2023 Local SEO Trends<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b01e298 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b01e298\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In the ever-evolving landscape of local SEO, keeping up with the shifts and nuances can seem overwhelming.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">There\u2019s a lot to take in. But remember, you\u2019re not alone in this journey.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Our agency is here to alleviate that pressure, to help you decode the complexities, and to guide you through this challenging landscape. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/contact\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Reach out to us today<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and we\u2019ll help pave the way for the successes of tomorrow.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559740&quot;:276}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stay ahead of the game by keeping up with the 2023 Local SEO trends that have caught the eyes of our search engine marketers mid-year\u2014and finish the year out stronger than you started.&nbsp; As generative AI transforms search engines and the threat of a downturn drags on, keeping up with the massive changes happening in [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":14546,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ub_ctt_via":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[44,45,10,46],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/Game-Changing-2023-Local-SEO-Trends.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"TrafficSoda","author_link":"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/author\/jessica\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14545"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14545"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14545\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14567,"href":"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14545\/revisions\/14567"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14546"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14545"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14545"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.trafficsoda.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14545"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}