How Can Startup Tech Companies Make Use of Local SEO?

Local SEO is a powerful tool in the right hands.

Most startup tech companies have a national market, or at least an intention to get there eventually, so the prospect of optimizing specifically for a local audience may seem strange. However, there are a number of key advantages in optimizing for local SEO that startup tech companies shouldn’t ignore or pass up.

Local SEO in a Nutshell

Local SEO is a different algorithm than Google’s national ranking algorithm. It’s responsible for generating three local business results for local queries, complete with website, directions, and phone number options. It’s a good way to get some extra visibility for your business, especially since the competition level will be much lower here than in a national campaign. So what do you need to do to get there?

Local Content

First, you’ll want to make sure you have ample local content. This includes well-written content posts that feature ties to your local area, or at least locally relevant keywords, such as your city, state, or region. You’ll also want to optimize some of your title tags and meta descriptions accordingly.

Local Citations

Next, you’ll want to claim or cleanup your “local citations.” These are mentions of your business in third-party directories and review sites. You’ll want to be mentioned in as many areas as possible, with all your company’s information accurate and consistent, and the more positive reviews you have, the better.

Ongoing Efforts

Finally, you’ll need to execute ongoing efforts to bolster your local search visibility, such as writing more content and building more backlinks. However, most of these are the same tactics you’ll be using for national SEO, so you’ll get to kill two birds with one stone.

Local SEO is simple, efficient, and relatively fast because of the low levels of competition. I highly recommend at least dabbling in a campaign so you can get into the “local 3-pack” and earn tons of new traffic for your startup.

About the Author

Jose Vasquez is a serial entrepreneur and tech specialist dedicated to helping startup tech companies grow and succeed. As the founder of Build. Brand. Blast., Jose has worked with dozens of enterprises to find direction, gain momentum, and achieve results.