You might be familiar with local SEO and its various components, but for business owners with aspirations of nationwide expansion, national SEO is the solution. It’s crucial to comprehend the distinctions between the two and grasp their respective roles. When leveraging the potential of SEO, business owners must clearly define their objectives to align with their growth plans.
By following this approach, one can readily identify which type of SEO aligns with their unique requirements and aspirations. The core purpose of SEO is to enhance the accessibility and convenience of your business online. When potential customers seek your business online, SEO ensures they can effortlessly locate your products or services with just a few taps and clicks.
The Difference between National and Local SEO
Local SEO, as the name implies, is centered around a particular geographic area. It serves as the primary strategy for small businesses and local shops that depend on a local customer base. For example, when customers search for “coffee shop near me,” SEO ensures that your business promptly appears in the search results. Leveraging its capability to harness proximity, SEO effectively draws in potential customers near your location.
Conversely, national SEO expands the scope of your reach and typically sets its sights on a national and global audience. This strategy of choice for large corporations and e-commerce giants seeks to connect with a diverse array of customers or clients. This type of SEO places greater emphasis on broader geographical areas rather than local neighborhoods. Specifically, this SEO involves using competitive keywords and content that resonates with a more extensive range of regions, solidifying your presence on a global scale.
The Importance of Google My Business
Google My Business, often abbreviated as GMB, is a widely recognized platform businesses worldwide utilize. Business owners must comprehend the significance of GMB and the compelling reasons for its adoption in their business strategy. This platform consistently holds a pivotal role in establishing your online presence, making it effortless for potential customers to connect with your business.
The following are what Google My Business can do:
Local Online Presence
Creating a Google My Business (GMB) listing for your business simplifies the process for potential customers to locate your business on Google. By simply entering your business name in the search bar, crucial information, including contact details, address, operating hours, and other vital details, promptly appears in the search results. As a result, customers can effortlessly discover your business remotely.
Maps Integration
Another advantage of having your business listed on this platform is its capacity to place your business on online maps. This feature enables potential customers to pinpoint your business location with minimal effort or confusion effortlessly. In essence, GMB significantly boosts your local visibility just like national SEO, making it more convenient for customers to find your business’ location.
Source: ZipDo
A compelling reason that underscores the paramount importance of GMB is that 77% of consumers rely on Google Maps to discover nearby businesses. This feature highlights how having your business visible on maps can significantly expedite reaching a broader audience effortlessly and without complications.
Customer Reviews
GMB provides a valuable feature that houses customer feedback, and these reviews play a pivotal role in your national SEO strategy. Positive reviews can enhance your business’s reputation and elevate its search engine rankings. Conversely, negative reviews can be addressed and managed to uphold a positive online presence.
Local Search Pack
In local search results, GMB listings prominently appear in a section commonly known as the “Local Pack” or “3-Pack.” This coveted space highlights the three most prominent local listings, determined by various factors, notably the comprehensiveness and precision of the GMB listing.
Mobile Friendliness
In the era of rising mobile usage, customers frequently turn to their phones when seeking specific businesses. As highlighted earlier, GMB is optimized for mobile devices, ensuring that individuals searching for your business on their mobile devices can conveniently locate your business with just a few taps. In particular, mobile-friendly websites appeal more to a wide range of users.
Broader Search Engine Visibility
However, national SEO extends beyond the scope of GMB, emphasizing a more extensive online presence. Implying that instead of solely relying on GMB, it also necessitates leveraging the potential of the following methods:
Target Audience
As previously mentioned, this SEO leans toward a broader audience, typically operating on a national or global scale. While local SEO caters to localized searches, the national type greatly emphasizes a global audience and a diverse demographic that geographical boundaries may not always confine.
Competitive Keywords
Competitive keywords encompass search terms with broad applicability. These keywords extend beyond location-specific terms and contain general industry-related search queries.
Content Strategy
When crafting content for national SEO, business owners should prioritize high-quality content that resonates with a diverse audience. This content is optimized for broad-reaching keywords, aiming to establish authority and credibility on a national or global scale.
Link Building
The national type of SEO frequently encompasses link-building strategies focusing on high-authority websites, national publications, and industry-specific platforms. These backlinks are pivotal in bolstering the website’s overall authority and credibility in search engines.
Wide Geographic Scope
While this type of SEO doesn’t completely disregard local optimization, its central emphasis lies in expanding its geographic reach. It might encompass multiple regions or countries, necessitating strategies distinct from those employed in local SEO.
Wrapping Up
Hopefully, you now have a clear understanding of the key distinctions between local and national SEO. The crucial point to remember is that the national type gears toward a broader audience, typically on a global scale. In contrast, local SEO is confined to a specific local area, simplifying the process for residents to discover businesses in their vicinity.
