Local SEO and Organic SEO are slightly different, with Local SEO focusing on specific geographic locations, and Organic SEO focusing on a wider scale of optimization.

Understanding the difference between local vs. organic SEO can help you understand what's actually relevant to your business, and how you should be thinking about optimizing your online presence.

Local vs. Organic SEO In A Nutshell:

• Local SEO is vital for businesses with a physical location or those serving a specific area, improving visibility in a specific location.

• Organic (or "regular") SEO is not tied to a specific location, and aims to improve overall visibility on search engines.

In the rest of this article, we'll explore the deeper difference between local and organic SEO, their ranking factors, which businesses they apply to, and how you can create your strategy.

Local SEO Definition

Local SEO focuses on optimizing a business's online presence for local search results. It's particularly important for businesses with a physical location or those serving a specific geographic area.

The goal is to appear in local search results when potential customers in your area search for products or services that you offer. This can significantly increase your visibility to a local audience and drive more foot traffic to your business.

Organic SEO Definition

Organic SEO, on the other hand, is a broader strategy and a more general reference to Search Engine Optimization as a whole. Organic SEO generally aims to improve your website's visibility in the organic (non-paid) search results on search engines.

This type of SEO is not tied to a specific location. Instead, it targets a wider audience by focusing on improving your website's overall search engine rankings. This can lead to increased website traffic from users across the globe, not just those in your local area.

The Importance of Local SEO for Physical Businesses

Local SEO is crucial for businesses with a physical location or those serving a specific geographic area. Think of it this way: If you own a restaurant in Houston, Texas, you won't benefit from reaching people who are searching for a restaurant for their evening in London, England.

Local SEO helps local businesses like this reach the people who are actually in proximity to them, on top of the other ranking factors that help determine overall relevance.

Local SEO can also take place in different formats—like Maps—compared to regular SEO.

Key Components & Ranking Factors for Local SEO

Local SEO involves several key components, all supporting the key rankign factors: Relevance, Distance, and Proximity.

Online Profiles

One of the most important is optimizing your Google My Business listing, and other similar listings like Bing Places For Business.

These listings provide key information about your business to Google and potential customers, so it's important to claim them to get full control over your information and messaging.

NAP Consistency

Across all of these profiles, and even your other channels, ensure your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) is correct and consistent.

Local Keywords

Another unique aspect of Local SEO is the keyword research. You'll need to consider targeting keywords that include location-specific terms to attract local customers.

Customer Reviews

Finally, customer reviews play a significant role in local SEO. Positive reviews can improve your business's local search rankings and build trust with potential customers. It's also a good practice to respond to all your reviews, especially on public profiles. Even if they're negative, this showcases to both customers and search engines that you are proactive.

Local SEO Metrics vs. Organic SEO Metrics

While both Local SEO and Organic SEO can be measured by the basics like organic search traffic and overall conversions, local SEO also has some specific metrics to keep an eye on.

For local or physical businesses, track your local search rankings, online profile insights, customer reviews, and even consider measuring foot traffic directly.

Conclusion

In conclusion, both local and organic SEO play crucial roles in your online visibility, and you don't necessarily have to pick one or the other. In fact, for businesses that serve both local and non-local customers, a combined approach is best.

The key is to understand your business needs and target audience, then balance your SEO efforts accordingly.