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30 Apr, 2024

Local SEO in New Zealand : 5 reasons why it's necessary for your business in 2024

What is Local SEO?

Local SEO (Search Engine Optimization) focuses on optimizing a business's online presence to attract more traffic from relevant local searches. The goal is to make a business more visible in local search results on platforms like Google, which is crucial since a significant percentage of consumers use local searches to find businesses, products, or services nearby.

When you’re looking for a local business to fix the crack in your smartphone, how do you find it? Probably by asking your favorite search engine some requests like "Phone Repairs Mount Eden" or "Phone screen fix in Auckland". That's where local SEO enter the game.

Local SEO optimisation includes practices like optimizing Google My Business profiles, acquiring local backlinks, ensuring NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) consistency across directories, and generating local content.

5 reasons to invest in local SEO

Here are five key reasons to focus on local SEO in New Zealand, along with sources where you can find supporting statistics and information:

  1. Increased Consumer Visits: A significant proportion of local searches lead to physical store visits. For instance, 50% of users visit a store within a day of conducting a local search, highlighting the immediate impact of local SEO on foot traffic.
  2. Higher Click-Through Rates: Businesses that rank at the top of local searches receive a substantial share of clicks. Specifically, 24.4% of all clicks go to the first result in local business searches, underscoring the competitive advantage of high local search visibility​.​
  3. Trust and Credibility: A robust local SEO presence boosts consumer trust. Statistics show that 62% of consumers will disregard a business if they can't find it online, making it crucial to maintain a visible and informative online profile​.
  4. Increased Mobile and Voice Searches: The rise in "near me" searches, which grew by 500% in recent years, and the use of voice search (with 58% of consumers using it to find local businesses) demonstrate the growing importance of optimizing for local mobile and voice searches​.
  5. Enhanced Online Reviews and Social Proof: Positive online reviews significantly influence consumer decisions. Around 88% of potential customers look for online reviews before choosing local services, and businesses with good reviews are more trusted by 73% of customers​​.

In conclusion, investing in local SEO is crucial for businesses looking to enhance their online presence and attract more customers from their local area. With the ever-increasing reliance on online search to find local businesses, prioritizing local SEO strategies is essential for staying competitive in today's digital landscape and connecting with potential customers effectively.

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