For a small business owner, it’s important to choose a local SEO professional over one that has a larger presence and is located outside of your small business’ immediate geographic area. For instance, a St. Louis SEO consultant understands the needs of a local St. Louis business; they may have heard of your business and are more familiar with the industry in which you operate. Today we’ll explore three main reasons why it’s important to engage in a local SEO professional instead of a larger, regional or national firm.
Cost. The bigger the SEO firm, the higher the cost to you. As a small business owner, you may not need all of the power and resources of a regional or national SEO agency. Regional and national SEO companies usually have larger, more recognized clients, ultimately driving up the price of labor. Remember, SEO is fundamental in nature and can be done just as effectively, or even more effectively using a local SEO company. Smaller companies can get more done with limited budgets and can tailor themselves to your business.
Localities. Local is always better. Think about local vs. national governments, grocery stores, and restaurants. Local entities appeal to their consumers more because they understand the locality within which you operate. In a previous blog post on crash course in website optimization, you’ll learn that SEO isn’t just about coding and search engines, it’s also about the end reader known as the customer. With choosing a local SEO consultant, you’ll have more targeted and relevant content that is local to your customer.
Exposure. SEO can be complicated and frustrating. If you are new to the subject, there may be a learning curve involved. Thankfully, choosing a local SEO company will provide you with the reach you need, as opposed to someone operating several states away from you. If you are paying for SEO services, take some time to learn about what it is and what it can do for your company. Also, talking with a local consultant or reading a company blog can help you better understand the value of SEO.
There are several other advantages in engaging in a local SEO company over a larger firm. No matter what, take your time and get comfortable with who you’re working with before pulling the trigger. With the increasing number of questionable, regional and national firms doing SEO, you’ll want to ensure you’re doing business with the right partner.