Besides small businesses, why local SEO is important for big brands? When you think of local SEO, you will probably see it as a small-scale strategy for local businesses offering products and services in the areas around them. The approach is about making your business visible and accessible to potential customers searching for nearby options. Your Google Business Profile offers information about your offerings and location, guiding people to reach your store.
According to a survey, 93% of consumers relied on online searches to look for a local business in 2020. While the spurt in local search intent may have been due to the pandemic, not much has changed, even in 2023. People still look for businesses and products or services nearby online and consider reviews to make buying decisions.
Local SEO is the lifeblood of small businesses, but it is equally valuable for big brands. You are mistaken if you believe that you don’t need it because your brand is a renowned player selling across the US or globally. Of course, you should have a global SEO plan, but you must not miss out on nearby prospects as well.
Let us explain why ignoring local SEO is not an option for established enterprises and brands.
Why Local SEO is Important for Big Brands?
Small Markets Offer Big Business
Whether you run a brick-and-mortar store in a city or have a chain of stores around the country, you cannot overlook the importance of nearby buyers. Statistics show that 74% of in-store shoppers search for products at the closest store near them in the first place. That means a business appearing in “near me” search results has a better chance of attracting customers.
Imagine losing out on these customers only because your brand doesn’t feature in nearby searches. Relatively lesser-known businesses will attract the crowds when their business listings appear on top. You may have better products and comparable prices, but smaller players could beat you with good visibility alone. With small markets offering big business opportunities, that’s the last thing you want to happen.
Consolidates Your Overall Plan
The US market has countless niche brands, translating into stiff competition, regardless of the industry. Even big players struggle to stay ahead of competitors and maintain a grip over their customers. A robust online presence is vital to keep your business on track. The best way to do it is by complementing your overall plan with a local SEO strategy.
You can rely on a local SEO company that also specializes in global SEO to get the best of both worlds. Both tactics work in tandem and pursue the same goals, even if they target different sets of audiences. Opting out of local SEO is like skipping videos in a content marketing campaign. You cannot go complacent with it, thinking that buyers know you. Remember that you can be out of mind if out of sight.
Bundles Your Brick-and-Mortar and Online Presence Together
According to 2022 statistics, 1.06 million retail establishments were in operation throughout the United States. The numbers are growing, with many brands opening stores across multiple locations. Every time a brand launches a local store, it has to think locally and target the search intent of the nearby customers. At the same time, it has to work on its online presence.
Local SEO is the glue that binds your brick-and-mortar and online presence together. By targeting location-specific keywords, you can increase the foot traffic to your retail store. It is also a great way to let buyers know that you have a store in their city. You cannot expect everyone to skip their regular sellers and walk into your store as soon as you open a retail branch in a new location.
Capitalizes on New Keyword Variants
A global SEO strategy confines a brand to only a few product- or service-specific keywords. For example, a brand that sells baby products can focus only on product-based keywords and related content. With local SEO, the range gets much broader, enabling brands to target long-tail and location-specific keywords. Such keywords appear more organic in content.
SEO Inc notes that you can even expand your website by creating location-specific pages with these long-tail keywords. It is a good strategy for brands competing with others in smaller markets. Consider it a strategy to strengthen your overall campaign bit by bit.
Summing Up
Hope now you know the difference, besides small businesses, why local SEO is important for big brands. Local SEO opens up sellers to a big business opportunity in small markets. Even global brands realize its significance because it gives them an edge and supports their overall marketing campaigns. Missing out on it should be the last thing for big players. No matter how much you invest in global campaigns, you cannot overlook the role of local buyers.
Belayet Hossain is a Senior Tech Expert and Certified AI Marketing Strategist. Holding an MSc in CSE (Russia) and over a decade of experience since 2011, he combines traditional systems engineering with modern AI insights. Specializing in Vibe Coding and Intelligent Marketing, Belayet provides forward-thinking analysis on software, digital trends, and SEO, helping readers navigate the rapidly evolving digital landscape. Connect with Belayet Hossain on Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin or read my complete biography.