If you’re looking to improve your business’s visibility in local search results, there are several strategies and tactics you can consider. However, it’s important to note that not every tactic you come across is effective or proven. In fact, there are many local SEO myths that are commonly believed to be effective, but in reality, they won’t do much to boost your rankings. To save you time and effort, we’ve compiled a list of 10 common local SEO myths that you should avoid.
There is a common misconception among people that setting a service area in your Google My Business profile dashboard impacts your ability to rank in all those areas. However, this is not true. The only impact it has is on the little drawing on your Map. Google uses the service area you set to show the areas you serve. This doesn’t help you rank in those areas. So, feel free to set any service area you want, but keep in mind that it won’t have any impact on your rankings.
There is a common belief that inserting relevant keywords in the Google My Business (GMB) description can help boost your business’s ranking. However, this is a myth, and it’s not true. Merely stuffing your GMB description with keywords will not yield any significant results.
Google does not consider this field for ranking purposes. Instead, you should use this space to craft compelling sales copy that will attract customers to your business. By doing this, you can increase the chances of converting a reader into a customer. Therefore, it’s important to use the GMB description field wisely and focus on its true purpose, which is to optimize your business’s conversion rate, not its ranking.
Another common myth circulating is that using a call tracking number may have a negative impact on your Google My Business (GMB) listing rankings. However, this is far from the truth. The key is to ensure that you add the call tracking number correctly. By keeping your regular number in your GMB listing and making the call tracking number the primary one, you can track calls in your tracking software and get a better understanding of how your marketing efforts are doing. So, using a call tracking number does not negatively impact your GMB rankings as long as it is implemented correctly.
Another myth is it can take a long time for a business to rank in local search results. While some people may believe that it takes two to three months or even longer, the truth is that it can happen much faster. In fact, a business can start ranking in local search results within a day or even 20 minutes of setting up a Google listing. This is because the moment a Google listing gets verified, it becomes eligible to rank immediately. It’s not uncommon for a business to start ranking the very same day that the listing goes live. Hire a reputed local citation building service provider to solve problems related to listing and improve your ranking.
We hope the above-mentioned four misconceptions have been dispelled and help you avoid wasting time on SEO practices that don’t enhance your ranking.
