Almost 70% of experiences online start with search engines like Google and Bing. Meanwhile, nearly 50% of all Google searches are location-specific.
However, 75% of search engine users never look beyond the first results page.
Without a strong local search engine optimization (SEO) strategy, nearby homeowners will struggle to find your pest control company online. Not convinced? Read on to discover the importance of local SEO.
After reviewing this guide, you can determine if it’s time to invest in a local SEO strategy this year.
Generate Awareness
About 46% of consumers will pay more on brands they trust. The more they recognize and believe in your business, the more often they’ll choose your services. If you don’t have an online presence, local consumers likely don’t realize you exist.
A strong local SEO strategy can help you appear in front of these local consumers.
For example, your blog content can start appearing when they search using relevant keywords. A homeowner might search:
- Pest control companies near me
- How to get rid of rats
- Signs of a roach infestation
- How to choose a pest control company
- Pest control + [city name]
Appearing for a range of search terms will help you appear in front of local consumers continuously. Each time you appear, they’ll become more aware of your brand. Eventually, they’ll associate your company name with pest control services.
Your Google Business listing can appear for these search queries as well. Google Business profiles take up prominent space on Google’s search engine result pages (SERPs). The consumer will look at your profile before the organic listings beside it.
In other words, you’ll have the opportunity to generate brand awareness before your competitors get the chance.
Generating brand awareness is a top priority for 45% of businesses. Brand awareness is key to driving consumers to your pest control business. It’s also key to fostering brand loyalty (more on this below).
Becoming a recognizable brand with local SEO will help you grow your business long-term, too.
It will take a while for competing brands to knock down your listings. You can remain at the top of the page to continue generating awareness over time.
Connect With Ideal Customers
Traditional marketing methods like billboards, mailers, and flyers can reach any local consumer. However, these shoppers aren’t always your ideal customers. For example, you might not want to waste time, money, or resources on people renting an apartment.
With an effective local SEO strategy, you can focus your time and attention on your ideal customers.
For example, you can target consumers based on a distinct location radius. Perhaps you want to focus consumers based on their search queries instead.
Connecting with local customers can help you offer them personalized content they want to read. You’ll have an easier time generating website traffic and leads as a result. Your ideal customers will start to recognize you have the expertise they’re searching for.
If you’re reaching consumers with a broad approach, however, you might struggle to connect with them on an emotional level. Someone who is renting an apartment will toss out your mailers if the property manager is responsible for pest control instead. They could get frustrated with your brand if they continue receiving your mailers, too.
You can use personalized content to forge stronger customer relationships with people who already want your pest control services.
Generate Traffic
If you’re not generating website traffic, it’s likely locals aren’t learning about your pest control services. Improving your local search engine rankings will help you generate more traffic.
Remember, most people don’t check the second SERP. If your website doesn’t appear on the first page, you’re not generating awareness or traffic. A strong local SEO strategy can improve your organic rankings.
Consumers can search for pest control companies in the area, find your blog content, and click the link to learn more. They can also visit your website through your Google Business listing.
Google will recognize you’re beginning to generate more website traffic. It might decide to boost your organic rankings even more. You can eventually reach the top of a SERP to ensure consumers find your pest control company before any other in the area.
A strong SEO strategy will also help you appear for a range of different search queries. Appearing for different searches will maximize your opportunities to reach new customers. At the same time, it can help make your brand more memorable.
As part of your local SEO strategy, consider generating backlinks from local businesses. Backlinks are links that appear on another website that direct readers to your pest control business. High-quality backlinks can improve your domain authority (DA).
Your DA can indicate if your search engine rankings will improve. Boosting your DA can help you rank higher on SERPs. At the same time, backlinks will help you generate referral traffic, helping new customers find your business online.
Gain Customer Trust
Consumers might not trust your business if they can’t find you online. A business that doesn’t have an online presence can seem suspicious. Consumers expect brands to appear online at this point.
Improving your search engine rankings with local SEO can help you generate brand trust. Appearing at the top of a SERP can help you appear more credible. Your Google Business listing can help you look credible and trustworthy, too.
As part of your local SEO strategy, ask your recent customers to share their thoughts on your profile. Customer reviews can further strengthen your brand’s online reputation. Future clients might feel more inclined to trust you after reading a few positive reviews.
In fact, 93% of consumers read reviews to determine the quality of local businesses. When a business has over nine current reviews, they generate 52% more revenue on average. That rate increases to 108% with over 25 recent reviews.
Maintaining an ongoing local SEO strategy will help you generate reviews over time. Google considers how fresh the reviews are when determining your ranking. If you haven’t generated reviews in a while, your ranking will drop.
Consider working with a pest control SEO expert this year. With help, you can improve your strategy, boost your rankings, and continuously generate reviews.
Generate Leads
Effective pest control SEO will help you generate more leads and book more appointments.
Remember, you can direct potential clients to your website via your Google Business listing. Ranking for a variety of keywords will help you generate more traffic, too. As you attract people to your website, they can learn more about your pest control company.
Reading your blog posts can help them recognize you have the experience and expertise they’re searching for. You can start encouraging brand trust, which could encourage the consumer to contact you.
SEO is a cost-effective marketing strategy. As you generate leads, your ROI will improve.
Local SEO can help you turn a one-time consumer into a recurring client as well. Once they give your pest control business a try, they might recognize the value you’re offering. They could become a loyal client, which will help you generate repeat sales.
Generating repeat sales over time will help your ROI improve. Then, you can start expanding your business!
Get on the Map
Local search engine optimization can also help your pest control business appear in the local 3-Pack. Appearing on the local 3-pack will help your business take a prominent position on Google Maps. When someone searches for a pest control business that’s near their home, your profile could appear.
Appearing in the 3-Pack can help you generate more leads, brand awareness, and website traffic. It can also help you stand out from competing pest control companies.
A potential client might feel more inclined to trust and contact you if you appear in the 3-Pack.
Remain Mobile
You can use local pest control SEO to reach mobile consumers, too.
About 30% of all mobile searches are related to location. Meanwhile, 28% of these searches result in a purchase.
People are already on their phones, searching for information about your business. In fact, 54% of smartphone users search for business hours. They can access this information from your Google Business listing.
If you’re not using local SEO, you might not appear in front of mobile users. You’ll miss the chance to generate fresh leads.
As part of your search engine optimization strategy, don’t forget to update your website for mobile optimization. Otherwise, visitors will leave, causing your bounce rate to increase. Your organic rankings might drop if you’re neglecting mobile users.
Discover the Importance of Local SEO: Experience These Benefits Today
To recap, what is the importance of local SEO for pest control businesses? A strong SEO strategy can help you reach nearby customers. Expanding your reach can help you generate more leads and sales.
In time, your ROI will improve, allowing your business to grow!
You don’t have to develop your local SEO strategy alone, though. We can help improve your rankings.
Contact us today to get started.
