Compared to large enterprise organizations, small businesses often find themselves facing far more challenges when trying to establish a strong online presence and attract local customers.
With limited resources and budget constraints, every decision matters, and one of the key strategies that should not be overlooked when it comes to attracting customers to small businesses online is local rank tracking.
By using a local rank tracker as part of their digital marketing efforts, small businesses can make a substantial difference in their growth and success at a hyper-local level.
What Is Local Rank Tracking?
Before delving into its importance, let's make sure you have a strong grasp on the concept of local rank tracking.
Local rank tracking refers to the practice of monitoring and evaluating the search engine rankings of a business's website, Google Business Profile, or other digital assets within a specific geographic location.
This process involves tracking keywords relevant to the business and its target audience and analyzing how well the business ranks in local search results for those keywords, particularly on Google — with more than 85% of search traffic going through Google, this is where businesses need to focus most of their local search engine optimization (SEO) efforts.
Here's an example of how local rank tracking can work for a small business, let's say a family-owned plumbing business:
When someone performs a Google search for "plumber near me," they are first going to see three Google Business Profile listings at the top of the page, followed by organic search results for different websites that are ranking for that search phrase.
Now, let's say the local plumbing business is not anywhere to be found in these top results.
Using a local rank tracker allows the business owner, or an agency professional they're working with, to see exactly where the business is ranking, compare it to competitors, and develop strategies to improve its ranking on Google and get it seen by more potential customers.
Benefits of Implementing Local Rank Tracking for Small Businesses
Enhanced Local Visibility
For small businesses, gaining visibility within their local community is one of the most critical factors for success. Sure, word of mouth referrals and traditional advertising methods can play roles, too, but getting found on Google is increasingly the best way to win new customers.
Local rank tracking allows businesses to monitor their position in local search results and use relevant data points to make SEO improvements to their business listings and other digital assets, which directly impacts their visibility to potential customers.
When a business consistently appears at or near the top of local search results, it increases the likelihood of attracting clicks, visits, and conversions. By tracking their local rankings, small businesses can optimize their strategies to ensure they're being found by their local audience.
Outperforming Competitors
With so many businesses appearing online when customers search for goods and services, small businesses absolutely must stay ahead of their rivals to survive and thrive.
Local rank tracking provides invaluable insights into how competitors are performing in local search results, which can be used to identify opportunities to outperform them.
By closely monitoring competitors' rankings, small businesses can identify gaps in their own strategies and capitalize on opportunities for improvement.
For instance, if a competitor is consistently outranking them for a particular keyword, small businesses can adjust their content or optimization strategies to regain the upper hand for that specific keyword.
Tailoring Listings and Content for Keywords
Effective local rank tracking goes beyond just monitoring rankings — it also involves analyzing the performance of specific keywords and tailoring business listings and website content to help a small business rank for these keywords.
On one side of the coin, small businesses can identify which keywords are driving the most traffic and conversions, enabling them to fine-tune their SEO strategies accordingly and stay on top for those keywords.
On the flipside of the coin, small businesses can see where they are lagging behind in ranking for specific keywords and implement new SEO strategies to improve rankings for those keywords.
Overall, by understanding the search terms that resonate with their local audience, businesses can make high-quality, relevant changes to listings and other online assets that speak directly to their potential customers' needs and preferences — as well as to Google's algorithms.
Adapting to Algorithm Changes
Speaking of algorithms, search engine algorithms are constantly evolving, and even minor changes can have a significant impact on local search rankings.
Small businesses that neglect local rank tracking might not notice these fluctuations until it's too late, and they've already fallen way down in local rankings.
Regular monitoring of rankings, as well as working with someone who is on top of algorithm updates and their effects on local rankings, helps ensure that SEO strategies keep evolving and adapting to these changes.
Improved User Experience
While local rank tracking is certainly about helping small businesses climb in search result pages, it's also about delivering an exceptional user experience.
When businesses focus on optimizing for local search, they often improve their Google Business Profile listing's and website's overall performance and user-friendliness.
This includes ensuring that listings are complete, providing accurate and up-to-date business information, and ensuring content is relevant and useful to customers.
These factors not only positively influence local search rankings, but also contribute to purchase decisions, higher customer satisfaction, and better customer retention rates.
Measuring ROI and Success
Every marketing effort, especially for small businesses, needs to be measurable in terms of return on investment (ROI). Local rank tracking provides a quantifiable way to measure the success of SEO and marketing campaigns.
By analyzing changes in rankings alongside website traffic, click-through rates, and conversion rates, small businesses can determine which strategies are delivering the best results. This data-driven approach enables them to allocate resources effectively and invest in strategies that offer the highest ROI.
Building Trust and Credibility
When a small business consistently appears at the top of local search results, it establishes a sense of trust and credibility among potential customers.
People tend to trust businesses that are prominently featured in search engines, as it implies a level of authority and reliability. Local rank tracking helps small businesses build and maintain this trust, allowing them to stand out as a reputable choice within their local community.
Key Takeaways
In the fast-paced and competitive world of digital marketing, a local rank tracker is one of the most vital tools for small businesses aiming to succeed on a local level.
By monitoring search engine rankings, tailoring SEO strategies, and adapting to algorithm changes, businesses can enhance their local visibility, outperform competitors, and ultimately drive growth.
With the ability to measure ROI, build trust, and improve user experiences, local rank tracking is not just a strategy — it's a pathway to sustainable success for small businesses in today's interconnected digital landscape.
Local Falcon: A Local Rank Tracker Built for Small Businesses
There are many local rank tracking tools out there, but not all of them are built to help small businesses succeed.
Local Falcon is designed to work for all types of businesses, from the largest multi-location organizations to the smallest local service area businesses.
No matter how much time or budget you have to invest in local rank tracking, Local Falcon's flexible credit system ensures that you can incorporate it into your local digital marketing efforts, and scale up your use as your efforts result in ROI.
So, whether you're a small business owner yourself or a marketing professional working with any number of local businesses, don't wait any longer to give Local Falcon a try and see how it can help improve your local search rankings!