Business Owners Need to Watch These 11 Local SEO KPI’s

This post examines the most important local SEO KPI’s (Key Performance Indicators) every local business owner needs to watch to stay ahead of their competition in local search results.

As a local business owner, we understand that navigating the complex world of local search engine optimization (SEO) can be overwhelming. Business owners who depend on local leads and sales must ensure their business is visible to potential customers in their city or region.

Local SEO has its own unique set of challenges. Still, by tracking the right key performance indicators (KPIs), you can measure the effectiveness of your local SEO efforts and make intelligent decisions to improve your online visibility.

1. Organic Local Traffic: Attracting the Right Audience

We know how crucial attracting the right audience to your website is. Tracking organic local traffic allows you to see how many visitors find your website through location-specific searches. By analyzing this KPI, you can gain insights into the success of your local SEO strategies in driving relevant traffic to your website.

2. Local Keyword Rankings: Gauging Visibility

Gauging your website’s visibility in local search results is essential. Tracking keyword rankings for location-specific terms helps you understand how well your website ranks for relevant keywords in your local area. This KPI provides insights into the effectiveness of your local SEO optimization efforts.

3. Local Pack Placement: Standing Out in Local Searches

Appearing in the local pack—the map section at the top of search results for location-based queries—is a great way to stand out in local searches. Tracking your local pack placement allows you to assess your visibility in local searches and understand how your business is featured prominently. This KPI is a crucial indicator of your local SEO success.

4. Google My Business (GMB) Insights: Optimizing Your GMB Presence

Managing your local listing in Google – aka GMB – is crucial if location plays a role in how people search for you.  Google My Business (GMB) is a powerful tool for local businesses. Monitoring GMB insights, including views, searches, and actions taken on your GMB profile, provides valuable data on how users interact with your business in local searches. Note: GMB is now called Google Business Profile (GBP). Understanding these insights helps you optimize your GPB profile for better local visibility.

5. Local Citations and Backlinks: Building Authority

Building authority in local searches is essential for your business. Tracking the acquisition of local citations and backlinks helps you assess the strength of your local SEO profile. You can improve your local search visibility by building a collection of local citations and backlinks.

6. Local Reviews and Ratings: Managing Online Reputation

We understand the importance of maintaining a positive online reputation. Positive reviews and high ratings play a pivotal role in local SEO.

Monitoring and managing local reviews and ratings can enhance your visibility in local searches and build trust with potential customers. This KPI provides insights into the sentiment of your local customer base and its impact on local search visibility.

7. Local On-Page Engagement Metrics: Engaging Local Audiences

Understanding how users interact with your content in local searches is crucial. Analyzing on-page engagement metrics specific to your local landing pages provides valuable insights. Metrics such as local page views, time on site, and bounce rate for location-specific landing pages help you assess the relevance and effectiveness of your content for local audiences.

8. Local Mobile vs. Desktop Traffic: Optimizing User Experience

Optimizing your website for different devices is essential with the increasing prevalence of mobile searches for local information. Understanding the distribution of local mobile and desktop traffic helps you provide a seamless user experience. We can help you analyze this data and make informed decisions to improve your website’s accessibility.

9. Local Social Signals: Leveraging Social Media Engagement

Engagement and mentions on local social media platforms contribute to your business’s visibility in local searches. Tracking local social signals allows you to assess the impact of social media engagement on your local online presence. By leveraging these signals, you can enhance your local SEO efforts and connect with your local audience.

10. Local Competitor Analysis: Learning from Others

We know that learning from your competitors can be valuable. Monitoring your local competitors’ online visibility and performance provides benchmarking data for your local SEO strategies. Analyzing your competitors’ local SEO efforts can offer insights into potential opportunities and areas for improvement, helping you refine your local SEO approach.

11. Local Conversion Rate: Driving Tangible Business Outcomes

Ultimately, driving tangible business outcomes is what matters most. Tracking the conversion rate of local visitors into customers helps you measure the effectiveness of your local SEO efforts. By analyzing the rate at which local visitors take desired actions, such as making a call or visiting the store, you can understand the impact of your local SEO strategies on your business’s success.

Conclusion

We understand that mastering local SEO can be challenging. By staying focused on these 11 essential local SEO KPIs and continuously monitoring and analyzing them, you can gain valuable insights into the performance of your local SEO efforts.