With the landscape of digital marketing constantly changing, it’s no surprise that local SEO trends are also adapting to audience demands and behaviours. We’re expecting that in 2023, there will be a bigger focus on how customers devour content on both desktop and mobile searches. Ready to improve your strategies for next year? Then let’s get to it.
1. Fast(er) loading times
Improving your user experience (UX) is extremely important these days, especially when people want information quickly on whatever device they’re using. For starters, check your website’s page loading speed to see if it’s fast. According to an article from Hubspot, “A 0-4 second load time is best for conversion rates, and the first five seconds of page-load time have the highest impact on conversion rates.” Usually, anything below two seconds is the sweet spot, so aim for that in case your website loads longer than average.
2. Mobile-first indexing
We tackled mobile-first indexing back in 2021, and word is that it’ll be one of the more important local SEO trends next year. This is because more and more people access the internet or search for nearby establishments on their mobile devices, so Google will index your website depending on its mobile version.
In order to make the most out of mobile-first indexing, do a quick check on your website using your smartphone and ask yourself: Is it responsive? Does it load fast? Do you have an easy time navigating around? If you answered “no” to at least one of these questions, then you should talk with your digital marketing team and web developers to upgrade your website.
3. Optimised Google Business Profile
One of the biggest local SEO trends in 2023 is… well, keeping your business details complete and accurate. According to The Media Captain, around 64% of consumers use Google Business Profiles to find contact information.
So, yes, your Google Business Profile will matter even more in 2023. If you haven’t set up a GBP yet, or if you want to make the most out of your existing Business Profile, then sign up for the DigitalMaas Platform. We have several tips on how to optimise your Google Business Profile, from getting you started to optimising your photos, posts and reviews.
4. Video content
Audiovisual content has the power to influence customers to purchase something. While blogs, whitepapers and other forms of textual content do help, we can’t deny that videos are more popular with our audiences. In fact, a survey from Wyzowl mentioned that “96% of people have watched an explainer video to learn more about a product or service,” so you know that people are literally looking at you and seeing how you provide solutions to their lives.
For example, if you own a recreational outdoor store, you can create a YouTube channel that not only promotes your products but also shows your customers how to use them properly. Or if you’re a Chinese restaurant, you can upload videos about the origins of the dishes on your menu – adding to the value of what you serve. Then you can share this on social media, embed it on your website, or make a bite-sized version of the video and publish it to your Google Business Profile via Google Posts (granted that it follows the content policies).
5. Multisearch
While video is currently “king” of content, this doesn’t mean that we should just forego other forms of communication. With multisearch, Google is making visual search as one of the key local SEO trends for next year.
Multisearch is an intuitive way of searching – a combination of visual and textual search to find exactly what you’re looking for. In 2019, according to an article by The Intent Lab, around 36% of consumers conducted a visual search. This number is expected to grow in the coming years with more people using Google Lens – the app has been used 8 billion times per month in 2022. In short, people want to really envision what they want to buy.
Conclusion
“Visual” is big for 2023 and possibly in the years to come. But while non-promotional, meaningful videos and true-to-life photos are becoming more essential to businesses, a mainstay in any list of local SEO trends is optimising your online listing, most especially your Google Business Profile. Because at the end of the day, people want to see accurate information – from correct contact details to what’s in store for them. So as your business enters 2023, think of these trends, and be sure to have a partner like DigitalMaas that will help you win every smile, in every last mile. Sign up for an account today and go local.
