The biggest mistake that you can make as a small business owner is to assume that you have zero chance of making your mark or competing for local SEO in a place like New York City. Sure, it’s a big place and the competition is high, but as the Dalai Lama once said: “If you think you are too small to make a difference, you haven’t spent the night with a mosquito.”
In this article, we’re going to talk about how hard it is to rank for local SEO in a place like New York City and whether it’s worth the effort…
It’s only as hard as you make it
It might sound daft, but ranking for local SEO in a big city like New York is only as hard as you make it. In other words, if you strategize well and take the right approach, you can make a difference.
Yes, you are likely up against some big competition, but if you love what you do and wish to find your tribe, then it is entirely possible to do so.
Again, it’s all about how you go about it.
How to succeed with local SEO in a saturated market / competitive location
Do you want to smash your local SEO and dominate in your industry? Or at the very least improve your rankings, drive more traffic to your website, and snatch up as much local business as possible? If so, read on and we’ll tell you where to start…
Find your niche
Trying to rank well as a pizza place in New York might feel like a towering impossibility given the amount of competition in the area, however, it’s not outside the realms of possibility. You just have to find your niche; your unique selling point.
What is it about your pizza that’s different? What does your restaurant do differently? Are you conveniently located? Do you offer a certain ambiance? Do you serve by the slice?
Existing in a saturated market is possible – if you take the time to find your niche and then highlight that fact. Figure out a way to differentiate yourself from the competition.
Claim your GMB profile and optimize it accordingly
While many local businesses will have claimed their local Google My Business profile and populated it with some information, there’s a good chance that most businesses aren’t leveraging all of its features to their full potential.
- Claim your GMB
- Optimize it
- Fill out your “From the Business” section
- Select the relevant categories and sub categories
- Add the appropriate attributes (e.g., child friendly, free Wi-Fi, wheelchair access, etc.)
- Upload high quality imagery and video content
- Post consistently
- Connect your social media accounts (e.g., Instagram / Facebook / YouTube)
- Sync up all NAP details (Name, Address, Phone Number, etc.)
- Optimize all online directories and citations
- Hire a specialist SEO company perform an audit
- Bolster the internal linking structure on your website
- Optimize your URL, titles, tags, headers, and metas
- Do local keyword research – properly
- Add the location pages you service to your website – and create valuable, people-first content
- Produce content that is relevant to your local community
- Partner with local businesses (especially those who bring value to your business e.g., local produce provider, etc.)
- Make your website mobile-friendly
- Source inbound links from local businesses and industry-relevant sources
- Take part in your local community as often as possible.
These are just a handful of the things that you can do to contribute to your local SEO and this is largely related to Google My Business. If you can keep up with the above and do so with intention, you’ll be outperforming the large majority of the local businesses in no time.
Do what most are unwilling to do
Remember, most local businesses likely won’t be capitalising on every GMB feature. Nor will they go to extra lengths to secure higher rankings.
The fact is, some businesses can get a little cocky – in that they rely solely on word of mouth to survive. It’s up to you to fill in the gaps and do all of the things that most businesses are unwilling to do.
Hire the professionals
If you truly want to outperform the local competition, find your tribe, and become a big name in NYC, then we highly recommend outsourcing your needs to a reputable, long-established agency. You’ll find plenty of quality SEO services in New York City and if you are willing to put the time and effort into conducting the appropriate research – you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the very best.
Do that, follow their lead, and perfect your local SEO, and before long your brand will be a big name in your local community – especially if you have a solid product / service and commit to perfecting the user experience.
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