How Local SEO is Different from Traditional SEO: Key Differences You Need to Know | Ep 96

This episode explores the differences between traditional and local SEO and local SEO. Learn how Google’s algorithms impact search results and provide insights into optimizing your online presence for local visibility.

• Understanding what SEO is
• Differentiating traditional SEO from local SEO
• Importance of local intent in searches
• How to recognize if your business needs local SEO
• Key ranking factors for local SEO
• Strategies for optimizing your Google Business profile
• The role of local citations and online reviews in visibility

💥 Episode Webpage: https://propelyourcompany.com/local-seo-vs-traditional-seo/

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello and welcome to the Clinic Marketing Podcast.
I'm your host, Darcy Sullivanfrom Propel Marketing and Design
.
Today, we're diving into theworld of SEO, search engine
optimization and breaking downkey differences between
traditional SEO and local SEO.
Whether you're new to digitalmarketing or just want to better

(00:23):
understand how search engineswork, this episode will help
give you insights you need totarget the right audience the
right way.
Now, before we dive in, if youhaven't already, I would love to
invite you to join a freewebinar that will walk you
through how to create a winningSEO campaign.

(00:44):
You can it by visitingpropelyourcompany.
com/learn.
There, you can sign up and itis an on-demand webinar, so you
can go ahead and get watch itand get started right away.
Let's start with some basics.
What is SEO?
First, a quick refresher.

(01:05):
Seo, or search engineoptimization, is the strategy of
optimizing signals both on yourwebsite and off of your website
, to influence how it appears insearch results online.
When most people think of SEO,they immediately tend to think

(01:26):
of traditional SEO.
This works great if you'retargeting a global or national
audience or you don't reallyhave a physical location tied to
your business.
But here's where things getinteresting.
Google doesn't have just onealgorithm.
It actually has multiplealgorithms tailored to different

(01:49):
kinds of searches.
When a user enters a searchquery, google works to
understand the intent behind thequery, the query being what.
They either type into Google orspeak into Google.
Asking, for example, is someonelooking for information, an

(02:10):
online product or a nearbyservice?
If Google determines the searchhas local intent, it then
switches to its local algorithmto deliver results that are
relevant to a specificgeographical area.
Local intent means that theperson searching is likely

(02:34):
looking for something near them,whether that's a restaurant, a
plumber, a chiropractor oranother service.
And here's the kicker Localintent does not always require a
geographical modifier in thesearch.
Let me explain.

(02:56):
Let's use an example.
If you type pizza delivery intoGoogle from your office, you
will see a list of pizza placesnear your office.
Now, if you're at home and youtype pizza delivery from your
home address, you'll see acompletely different list of

(03:18):
results, even though you enteredthe same exact query or search
term.
That's Google's algorithm atwork.
It knows you're searching for apizza place closer to your
current location without youneeding to add that near me or
city name or zip code in yourquery.

(03:39):
So how do you know if yourbusiness really needs local SEO
If you see the map pack, thelittle map with three businesses
located underneath it and thesearch results for your targeted
keyword.
Google is usually using localalgorithms for that query.
This is extremely important forbusinesses like chiropractors,

(04:05):
massage therapists,acupuncturists, physical
therapists, clinic owners of allsorts restaurants, coffee shops
, retail stores, home serviceproviders like electricians,
plumbers and more.
Essentially, if you do aface-to-face business at a
physical location or servecustomers in a specific

(04:28):
geographical area, then youabsolutely need local SEO.
And my guess is, if you'relistening today, you fall in
that category when the localalgorithm applies.
Now, local SEO isn't just aboutshowing up in the map pack.
The local algorithm influencesseveral areas of search results

(04:54):
the map pack this is the mostobvious place where the local
algorithm is at work.
The local finder when you clickthe view all at the bottom of
that map pack, you'll see anexpanded list of local
businesses.
You have Google Maps.
The search results in Maps appare entirely powered by the

(05:17):
local algorithm and localizedorganic results.
Even the regular organic searchresults below the map pack are
often localized for queries withintent.
It's important to note that theradius for a local search
results can vary a lot.

(05:38):
If you're in a highlycompetitive area, the search
results might be smaller.
For example, a big city likeNew York, someone searching for
a chiropractor might only seeoptions within a couple of miles
, but in a rural area, thesearch radius could extend much,
much further.

(05:58):
So what does this mean for you?
Well, again, if you haven't hadthat opportunity to check out
the free webinar that walks youthrough mapping out an SEO
strategy that works, I highlyrecommend you visit
propilyourcompanycom.
Slash learn and sign up forthat free webinar.

(06:19):
Now there are a couple keydifferences between traditional
SEO and local SEO.
So, to wrap things up, let'squickly highlight some of the
biggest differences between thetraditional SEO and that local
SEO.
First, there's search intent.
Traditional SEO focuses onranking for keywords regardless

(06:43):
of location.
Regardless of location, localSEO targets searches with local
intent, aiming to connect userswith nearby businesses.
We also have ranking factors.
Traditional SEO emphasizescontent, backlinks and overall
site authority.
Local SEO adds additionalfactors like proximity to the

(07:07):
searcher, local reviews and yourGoogle business profile
optimization.
We have tons of information ifyou're looking to optimize your
Google business profile listing.
There are a number of episodesthat we've done about the Google
business profile listing, whichI will include in the show
notes and again also we go willinclude in the show notes and

(07:29):
again also we go over that inthat free webinar.
And if you were a member of ourReady Set Rank DIY SEO program,
there's a section in thereabout how to optimize your
Google Business Profile listing.
That goes into advancedstrategies.
Next there's search features.
Traditional SEO results arepurely organic.

(07:52):
No maps involved.
Local SEO results include thatmap pack, the local finder and
Google Maps.
So if you're wondering what'snext when it comes to optimizing
for local SEO, please staytuned.
We'll be breaking down some ofthe most important local SEO

(08:12):
ranking factors and information.
Again, we go into a lot ofdetail about specific elements
of your Google business profilelisting, building local
citations and online reviews.
In the meantime, think abouthow you want your business to
show up in search If yourcustomers or clients or patients

(08:33):
come from a specific area.
It's time to focus on local SEOand if you're not sure where to
start, don't worry, we've gotyou covered Again.
You can check out that freetraining by visiting
propellyourcompanycom slashlearn.
Thanks for listening to theClinic Marketing Podcast.

(08:53):
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That's it for today.