The Difference Between Local and Organic SEO

Organic SEO or local SEO strategies can both drive traffic to your site and convert to sales. But you have to choose carefully which strategy you use, depending on the type of business you have. It is also possible (and even recommended) to use both organic SEO and local SEO to some extent. The aim is to get to the top position on the first page of search engine results, but which SEO strategy should you use, and what’s the difference between organic SEO and local SEO?

What Is Organic SEO?

Target Audience – Your customers can be located anywhere in the world so long as they have internet access.

Devices – Organic traffic can come from searches made on a desktop, or Smartphone.

Search Terms – keywords are used to target the needs of your customers.

Customer Intent – The aim of the user is often general and the intent can be for something in any geographical location.

Desired Search Results – Users are looking for websites and featured snippets with concise answers to a query.

Time Sensitive Search – With organic SEO you don’t know if the query is urgent, or if it is a general search. You can use a combination of time-specific and non-time-specific SEO.

Conversions – Site clicks and online sales.

Conversion Rate – Users rarely look beyond the first page of search results, and with organic SEO only the top search results have a high conversion rate.

When and How to Use Organic SEO Strategy

Organic SEO is good for online businesses or other businesses that generate sales through their website. If you can sell online, or anywhere in the world, if you can ship your products, or offer your services to a wide geographical area (a state, country, or region) then an organic SEO strategy will work for you. Using organic SEO you can generate relevant traffic, and gain authority in the eyes of Google. Google will rank your site high in the search results if your site has authority and authenticity. If your organic SEO strategy is good enough, you won’t need to spend money on paid Google ads. Another benefit of organic SEO is that it is easy to measure.

To optimize your website for organic searches:

  • Identify your target audience and their needs.
  • Then determine the words they use to search for what they need.
  • Implement those keywords in your SEO plan and your content. Create content specifically for those keywords.
  • Using keywords in your content is not enough. You need to also include them in your title, page description, image title, image alt text, and other metadata. This will help Google pick up on your relevance to the query.
  • Create external links to sources with authority in your niche.
  • Keep your content updated to ensure it is always the most relevant answer to a specific Google search term. And add new content regularly, using the features Google loves like subheadings, questions, and lists.

What Is Local SEO?

Target Audience – Customers are local, in a specific geographical area.

Devices – Local searches are usually made on a Smartphone

Search Terms – Although keywords are used in local SEO they contain a local component that refers specifically to something nearby. For example, “near me”, “Tom’s supermarket” or “supermarkets in Oxford”.

Customer Intent – When you have a local SEO strategy you’re targeting users that are looking for relevant locations, products, or services nearby, now.

Desired Search Results – Users want to see results that are specific to their geographical location and products/services nearby or reviews of nearby products/services/businesses.

Time-Sensitive Searches – Users making a local search are looking for an immediate solution to a query.

Conversions – Route planning, site clicks, contact by phone or in person at the physical location of the business.

Conversion Rate – Users making local searches are looking for something specific that they need NOW. They are ready to buy so with local SEO the conversion rate is very high.

When and How to Use a Local SEO Strategy 

If you want to improve the online visibility of your business in a specific geographical location, and target users searching for products and services nearby, then build a local SEO strategy. Local SEO will work for businesses that do all or most of their transactions locally or generate sales from their physical location, as well as online. If the query includes terms like “near me”, “open now” or if they mention a city by name, then Google will prioritize sites that use those specific SEO keywords. In local searches, Google will rank sites highly based on relevance, distance, and authority. As people become more reliant on Smartphones, local search queries are becoming increasingly relevant.

To optimize your website for local searches:

  • List your company profile on Google My Business and all relevant mapping platforms.
  • Verify that your name, address, phone number, and open hours are correct and consistent across the web.
  • Get your company listed on as many platforms as possible such as Facebook, Yelp, Trustpilot, etc. These “citations” will help you gain authority and the trust of your customers.
  • Use keywords that include the name of the geographical location, local businesses, local landmarks, local events, or terms like open now, near you, nearby, and now.

Which Is Best For Your Site – Organic SEO or Local SEO

Google will deliver organic search results showing the most query-relevant websites. Only when a search engine identified a user query as “local” will it substitute the organic results with local. You could use organic SEO combined with local SEO or use one of them, depending on your business and purpose. If you have a brick-and-mortar business then local SEO is the way to go. But your customers might also be making more general searches that would be answered by organic search results and still lead to your business. And you would be able to reach a wider range of customers by including organic SEO with your local SEO. On the other hand, if your business is remote, and doesn’t rely on a physical location, then organic SEO is all you need. But you could also increase your reach by including SEO for multiple locations. The bottom line is that a clever combination of local and organic SEO strategies will benefit most businesses.

 

Don’t Stop Here

More To Explore

Marketing's Future with Augmented Reality

Marketing’s Future with Augmented Reality

Augmented reality (AR) is becoming an increasingly inventive tool that marketers are using as we swiftly evolve into a future in which the digital and physical worlds are becoming more blurry. The marketing landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation as a result of this innovative technology, which superimposes digital material onto the user’s real-world surroundings. This technology is giving marketers new and immersive methods to engage consumers. Augmented reality is causing a change in the marketing environment, and this blog article explores how this transformation is occurring.

How To Create Visually Appealing Pinterest Pins for SEO - 2023 2024 Guide

How To Create Visually Appealing Pinterest Pins for SEO

Pinterest has evolved as a digital marketing powerhouse, providing users with a one-of-a-kind visual discovery experience. Understanding how to leverage the potential of Pinterest as a marketer can be a game-changer for your brand. This post will walk you through the complex world of Pinterest marketing, with a focus on the art of generating visually appealing pins for maximum SEO. Our guide will help you with Learn to use the tools that can help raise your Pinterest marketing strategy and boost your brand’s online visibility, from analyzing Pinterest’s search algorithm to drafting captivating pin descriptions.

Let's Talk Marketing

small_c_popup-1.png

Contact Us

Fill out the form below, and we'll be in touch shortly.

©2022 Benlola Marketing Services