Congratulations! Your business in Surat is expanding and you have opened another store in a nearby locality. You are also implementing strategies to ensure your business is visible in every area where your store is located. But how do you make sure that your efforts are working? Is there something you need to change? That’s where a local SEO audit in Surat comes in. This blog will guide you through everything you need to put your Surat business on the digital map, right where it belongs. From the basics to the steps of conducting a local SEO audit, we have got you covered. Let’s get started!
Table of Contents
- What is a Local SEO Audit?
- Checklist For Local SEO Audit for Your Surat Business
- Ways To Do Local SEO Audit for Your Surat Business
- Conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Local SEO Audit?
Hmm… these words might seem scary and daunting if you have never done it before. But let’s make it simpler. A local SEO audit is nothing but a checkup of your website and web pages. It basically checks how your business appears in local search results, or if it appears at all.
Think of it like this: don’t you go to the doctor for a checkup? Maybe monthly or yearly, to see how your body is performing and to be well-prepared for any surprises. A local SEO audit is similar. Your business needs an SEO audit to ensure it’s in top shape online.
Checklist For Local SEO Audit for Your Surat Business
Alright, let’s roll up our sleeves, take your pen and paper and get into the SEO audit checklist. Here’s what you need to check for an SEO audit:
1. Google Business Profile
First things first, claim your Google Business Profile. This is like putting your business on the map—literally. Ensure all your details are accurate and add some high-quality photos. Don’t forget to update your business hours, especially during holidays. Regularly post updates and offers to keep your audience engaged.
2. Website Audit
Check if your website is optimised for local searches by including your city, Surat and relevant keywords throughout the content. Is your website easy to navigate? Also, don’t forget to get backlinks from local websites to boost your credibility. The more local sites linking to you, the better your local SEO will be.
3. Citations
Claim and update your business listings on online directories like Justdial, IndiaMART and local Surat business listings. Consistency is key here – ensure that your NAP (Name, Address, Phone Number) is exactly the same everywhere. Don’t forget about industry-specific directories relevant to your business.
4. Reviews
Reviews can either make or break your reputation. Analyse your reviews to see if you can identify any patterns. Are most of them positive, or are they mostly negative? Encourage your happy customers to leave reviews and make it easy for them to do so. And don’t just collect them—respond to them as well. Thank your customers for their positive feedback and address any concerns professionally. This shows potential customers that you genuinely care about their experience.
5. Keywords
Your website content needs to speak the language of your local audience. Use keywords like “best digital marketing agency in Surat” or “top SEO company in Surat” seamlessly within your content. Additionally, if you cater to multiple areas, consider creating separate pages for each location. For instance, if you provide services in both Surat and Ahmedabad, it’s wise to have dedicated pages for each city.
6. Location
In local SEO, your location is crucial. To ensure this, make sure your business is listed in the right place on Google My Business (GMB). Also, embed a Google Map on your website’s contact page. This helps customers easily locate you. Be sure to pin your exact location for clarity.
7. Competitor analysis
We all know the saying “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer,” right? Well, in the world of local SEO, your competitors aren’t exactly enemies, but you want to keep a close watch on them. Competitor analysis is about understanding what other businesses in Surat are doing right (and wrong) so you can fine-tune your strategy.
To start, identify your main competitors. Who pops up when you search for the services you offer? Take a good look at their online presence.
A helpful tool for this is a backlink checker. It shows you where your competitors are getting their backlinks from. This can give you ideas for where to get your backlinks. Also, check out their social media activity. It’s another window into their strategies.
8. Mobile optimisation
We all use our phones, don’t we? So, it’s crucial to ensure that your website looks great on mobile devices too. There are many online tools you can use to check the mobile-friendliness of your website and get a score. Test your website on various devices to avoid sharing slow and clunky websites with potential customers.
Ways To Do Local SEO Audit for Your Surat Business
Okay now we know what local SEO audit is, we are ready with our list but how do we conduct the SEO audit? There are two ways to do this:
1. With Free Tools
While many of the processes mentioned above can be done manually, there are numerous tools available to help you save time and effort when conducting a local SEO audit. Here are some of them:
1. Google Analytics
It provides valuable insights such as the number of visitors to your website, impressions, clicks, organic traffic, bounce rate, and even demographic details. This information can help you create your buyer persona.
2. Google Business Profile
This tool allows you to find local competitors, compare your performance with theirs, and manage your reviews effectively.
3. Google Search Console
Search Console is a tool from Google that helps developers, website owners and SEO professionals understand how their site is performing on Google Search.
4. Backlink checker
It helps you identify which websites are linking to yours and your competitors. This information is vital for building your link-building strategy.
2. With an expert SEO company
An SEO audit might feel overwhelming and feel like you got a lot of things on your plate, maybe a bit too much to tackle on your own. That’s where a reputable SEO company can be your partner in online success. They will have the expertise and tools to take your SEO to the next level, freeing you up to focus on what you do best – creating the fantastic product or service your business offers. Consider it an investment in your future – an investment that will bring you more customers, more sales and ultimately, more success for your Surat business.
Conclusion
Performing a local SEO audit might seem like a chore, but it’s essential for getting your Surat business noticed online. By following this SEO audit checklist and optimising your online presence, you will be well on your way to climbing the local search rankings. If you feel overwhelmed, consider partnering with a reputable digital marketing company like us. Contact us today at hello@florafountain.com and let our experts help you take your online presence to the next level.
Frequently Asked Questions
The founder and partner of Flora Fountain, Shefali leads the Content and Technology divisions. A one-time engineer who started her career writing front-end code, she took a detour sometime during her 9 years in New York, studied journalism and started writing prose, poetry and sometimes jokes. She now has 15...