Do I Need Search Engine Optimization Services? Is There a Difference to SEO if I am a Local Business?

Great questions and the answer is simply yes.  When was the last time you did not go on Google or your favorite search engine to look up something?  Maybe you want to review a store or product before you bought? Maybe it was to research how to fix your noisy fan on the refrigerator? Find a plumber close by? Get quotes on the new AC you have been putting off to replace?

The point is we are all search engine consumers and thus if you’re a business that wants to be seen on the internet you need to actively be participating in SEO in some form.  Like we always at 2 Labs Digital Marketing, if you have the best store, but it is located on the moon who is visiting you? The internet has millions of great websites, yet a lot of them have one thing in common – You Can’t Find Them!

Yes, there is a difference between performing SEO for a local business than a more national one.  It focuses on more localized terms that include city, state, zip, local attractions, etc.  The reason behind this is simple. To drive traffic that will convert and have your audience closer to being in the “decision” mode of their journey. 

For example – you have a nice pool repair business called Pip’s Pool Repair and you are located in Miami, Florida.  Business is doing well, you have two trucks supporting the local Miami area and life is good but you want to expand.  So, you start doing some SEO yourself or an agency helps you.  Well, the search engine gods have cast a bolt of lightning on your site and your ranking in the top 3 for “pool cleaning”.  Your site traffic has shot the moon, phone calls are blowing up your phone, but business is not really growing. Why? I mean your ranking on Google on a killer keyword! Because your traffic and inquiries are not targeted.  Maybe some of the calls are coming from the State of Florida and that’s awesome! But, can you service a call in Tampa, Jacksonville, Palm Beach?

Of course, you can make this work for you like hire more people, find other pool companies in those areas to partner with, or open offices in those top cities. Not a bad problem to have UNTIL the rankings change!  Because they will and if you have invested a lot of time and money to take advantage of this luck by the search engine gods, they can take it back as well.