When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), there are two primary types most businesses need to consider: local SEO and organic SEO. In this blog post, we’ll compare the two types of SEO, outlining the advantages and disadvantages of each. We’ll also provide some tips for small business owners who want to improve their local SEO rankings as well as their organic SEO.
Local SEO vs. Organic SEO: What’s the Difference?
Let’s start by defining each type of SEO. Local SEO is focused on optimizing a website for searches that are specific to a certain geographic location. For example, if you own a pizza shop in Kincardine, you would want to optimize your website for searches like “pizza Kincardine” or “pizza near me.” On the other hand, organic SEO is focused on optimizing a website for general searches that are not specific to any particular geographic location. So, continuing with our pizza shop example, you would want to optimize your website for searches like “best pizza” or “pizza delivery.”
Now that we’ve defined each type of SEO, let’s compare their advantages and disadvantages.
LOCAL SEO
Advantages
There are several advantages associated with local SEO. First, it allows you to target a specific geographic area, which can be beneficial if most of your customers come from a certain city or region. Second, local SEO is generally less competitive than organic SEO because fewer businesses are competing for those coveted top spots in the search results. And third, optimizing for local searches can help you build credibility and trust with potential customers by making your business more visible in search results.
Disadvantages
There are also some disadvantages associated with local SEO. One disadvantage is that you may miss out on potential customers who are searching for businesses like yours outside of your geographic area. Another disadvantage is that you’ll need to continuously monitor and adjust your website as your business moves or expands to different locations. Finally, if your business serves multiple locations, you’ll need to create separate websites and local listings for each one—which can be time-consuming and expensive.
ORGANIC SEO
Advantages
Organic SEO also has several advantages over local SEO. First, it allows you to reach a wider audience since searchers aren’t limited by geographic location. Second, it can be cheaper and easier to implement than local SEO since you don’t have to create separate websites or listings for multiple locations. And third, once you rank high in organic search results, you’re likely to stay there longer since organic rankings are more stable than local rankings—which can fluctuate based on factors like seasonality and changes in Google’s algorithm.
Disadvantages
Of course, there are also some disadvantages associated with organic SEO—namely that it’s more competitive than local SEO since more businesses are vying for those top spots in the search results. Additionally, unlike with local searches where searchers typically have buying intent (i.e., they’re looking to make a purchase), searchers who perform general searches may not be ready to buy what you’re selling—meaning they’re less likely to convert into paying customers. Finally, organic traffic can take longer to build than local traffic since ranking high in general search results requires more effort (and sometimes money) than ranking high in local search results.
TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR LOCAL SEO RANKINGS
LOCAL SEO
1. Optimize your website for local keywords. (town, city, province in titles, meta descriptions and tags)
2. Create a Google Business Profile listing.
3. Encourage customers to leave online reviews.
4. Make sure your NAP (name, address, and phone number) is consistent across the web.
5. Add location pages to your website.
TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR ORGANIC SEO RANKINGS
ORGANIC SEO
1. Perform (or hire someone to perform) keyword research to find the right keywords to target.
2. Optimize your website content for those keywords.
3. Build links to your website from high-quality websites.
4. Monitor your SEO progress and adjust your strategy as needed.
5. Hire an experienced SEO professional or agency.
In The End …
Both local and organic SEO has their own set of advantages and disadvantages —so which one is right for your business? The answer may surprise you: the best option is usually to use both!
By using a combination of local and organic optimization strategies, you can reach both a wide audience and a targeted audience—maximizing your chances of driving traffic (and conversions!) to your website.
At 519Web, PinPoint Local in Kincardine, Ontario we have specific tools we put to work for you to research your current search engine rank position. We can research keywords your competitors are using and help you start competing for those same keywords.
If you want this kind of expertise on your team, reach out. We have local expertise, with global standards, and we are ready to go to work for you! Contact Deborah@519web.com | 519web.com
