I’m sure you’ve heard about Local SEO and Organic SEO before, right?
But let’s be honest, understanding the exact differences between the two can be a bit tricky. It’s more tricky if you’re a beginner or a marketer looking for the simplest explanation possible.
The truth is, If you genuinely want your online campaigns to rock, you need to know how they operate and how to measure success.
So, in this article, you will learn the difference between organic and local search results and why both are important for your SEO efforts. I will also help you understand what is perfect for your brand. And hey, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, you might even want to think about bringing in a local SEO expert.
Local SEO vs Organic SEO
What is Local SEO?
Local SEO, or Local Search Engine Optimization, is the process of optimizing your business’s online presence to improve its visibility and rankings in local search results.
It involves various strategies and techniques that will help your business increase its chances of appearing in search engine results. Especially when your users conduct local searches for products or services within your target geographic area. In simpler terms, you are said to have carried out a local search when you search for a keyword/keywords tailored to a geographical location.
For example, if you search for the keyword “Champagne drinks in Lagos” on Google, it will take you to the following results tailored to only Nigerian champagne.
The primary goal of local SEO is to attract more local customers and drive foot traffic to a physical location. The secondary objective is to increase online conversions within a specific target market. Local SEO focuses on optimizing a business’s website, online directories, and other digital assets to align with a local search objective.
Key components of local SEO include optimizing the business’s website for local keywords, creating and optimizing a Google My Business listing, managing online reviews and ratings, ensuring consistent business information across various online platforms, and incorporating location-specific content and strategies.
Advantages of Local SEO
Local SEO offers several advantages for businesses targeting a specific geographic area. Here are some key advantages of implementing local SEO strategies:
1. Increased Local Visibility
Local SEO helps businesses appear prominently in local search results, making it easier for potential customers in the area to find them. This increased visibility can lead to more website traffic, foot traffic, and phone inquiries.
2. Targeted Audience
Local SEO enables businesses to target their ideal audience in a specific geographic location. This ensures that the marketing efforts are focused on reaching potential customers who are more likely to convert into actual customers.
3. Competing with Larger Businesses
Local SEO provides an opportunity for smaller businesses to compete with larger corporations. By optimizing their online presence locally, smaller businesses can gain visibility and exposure that allows them to compete effectively within their local market.
4. Improved Online Reputation
Local SEO involves managing online reviews and ratings, which can significantly impact a business’s reputation. Positive reviews and high ratings can build trust and credibility among local customers, leading to increased brand reputation and customer loyalty.
5. Increased Website Traffic and Conversions
Local SEO can drive more relevant website traffic by targeting local keywords and optimizing business listings. This traffic is more likely to convert into leads or sales since users searching for local products or services are often in the later stages of the buying process.
Disadvantages Of Local SEO
While local SEO offers numerous benefits, there are also a few potential disadvantages to consider:
1. Limited Geographic Reach
The primary focus of local SEO is on a specific geographic area. This can disadvantage businesses that want to expand their reach beyond the local market or target customers in different regions.
Local SEO may be less effective for businesses with broader or nationwide targeting.
2. Intense Local Competition
Local SEO often involves competing with other businesses targeting the same local market.
The competition for top rankings in local search results can be fierce depending on the industry and location. This means businesses may need to invest additional time and resources to outperform competitors.
3. Limited Keyword Pool
Local SEO tends to rely on location-specific keywords, which can limit the overall keyword pool compared to broader organic SEO. Depending on the size and nature of the local market, finding a wide range of relevant keywords may be challenging, reducing the potential reach of SEO efforts.
4. Maintenance and Updates
Local SEO requires ongoing maintenance and updates to ensure accurate business information, manage online reviews, and keep up with changes in local search algorithms. This can involve a significant time commitment, especially for businesses operating in multiple locations.
5. Dependence on Online Reviews
Local SEO places a strong emphasis on online reviews and ratings. While positive reviews can boost reputation and credibility, negative reviews or lack of reviews can have a detrimental impact. Businesses must actively manage and monitor online reviews, respond to customer feedback, and maintain a positive online reputation.
Organic SEO
Organic SEO, on the other hand, focuses on optimizing your website to make it search-engine friendly and improve its ranking for relevant keywords that is not location specific. Unlike local SEO, it may or may not include a local element and is typically not tied to brick-and-mortar businesses. The primary emphasis is on the website itself.
For example, using the above example without adding a specific location( “Lagos”) yielded a general result that is not location-specific.
Websites that engage in organic SEO can be fully internet-based, meaning they may not have a physical location associated with them. This approach is commonly used by bloggers, internet marketers, affiliate marketers, internet-based businesses, and even some brick-and-mortar businesses. The goal is to enhance rankings and drive more traffic to the website through various optimization techniques.
Organic SEO focuses on keyword research, on-page optimization, image optimization, content creation, link building, web migration, and technical SEO optimization to improve search engine visibility and attract organic (non-paid) traffic. It’s a broader approach that caters to websites targeting a wide audience, regardless of their geographical location.
Advantages Of Organic SEO
1. Broader Reach
Organic SEO focuses on optimizing a website to rank well in organic search results on a national or global level. It aims to attract a wide audience and increase overall visibility, regardless of their geographical location. In contrast, local SEO targets a specific geographic area, such as a city or region, to attract users who are searching for local products or services.
2. Targeting Multiple Locations
Organic SEO allows you to target multiple locations simultaneously. If your business operates in different regions or serves a national or international audience, organic SEO can help you reach a broader customer base. Local SEO, on the other hand, is more suitable for businesses with a physical presence or a specific target market in a particular area.
Disadvantages Of Organic SEO
1. Competitive Landscape
Ranking organically can be challenging, especially in competitive industries or for highly sought-after keywords. It may require significant resources and a well-executed SEO strategy to outrank competitors.
2. Algorithm Changes
Search engine algorithms are constantly evolving, and what works today may not work tomorrow. Keeping up with algorithm updates and adapting your SEO strategies accordingly can be time-consuming and require continuous learning.
3. Time-consuming
Organic SEO is not a quick fix. It requires time and effort to research keywords, optimize website content, build backlinks, and monitor performance. Results may take several months to materialize, especially for competitive keywords.
4. Uncertain Ranking Position
Search engine algorithms are constantly evolving, and your website’s ranking position can fluctuate. It can be challenging to maintain a consistently high ranking, and you may need to continuously adapt your SEO strategies to stay competitive.
Summary of the differences.
I know by now, you are already getting a hang of it. But I’d still love to break down the above points into key takeaways.
| Aspect | Local SEO | Organic SEO |
| Target Audience | Specific geographic location | Broader audience, no specific location |
| Search Intent | Location-specific products/services | Information-based searches/ software products/online services |
| Optimization Focus | Business listings, directories, citations | Website optimization, on-page elements, technical aspects |
| Business Type | Brick-and-mortar businesses | All types of businesses |
| Online Directories | Emphasizes listing in relevant directories | May not prioritize online directories extensively |
| Geographic Restriction | Targets specific location | No specific geographic restrictions |
Organic Vs Local SEO: Which is better for your business?
If you want to focus on ranking for specific keywords and creating trusted content, Organic SEO is the way to go. On the other hand, if your business operates in a specific location and you want to target customers in that area, then Local SEO is the right choice for you.
The decision between Organic SEO and Local SEO depends on the nature of your business and its goals. If your customers are not location-specific and you want to reach a broader audience, I recommend Organic SEO. However, if your business relies on catering to a specific geographic area, then Local SEO is the ideal strategy for you.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
- Can I do local SEO without a website?
Yes, it is possible to do Local SEO without a website. While having a website can enhance your Local SEO efforts, it is not a mandatory requirement. There are alternative methods and platforms that you can utilize to improve your local online visibility and attract customers
- Is local SEO considered a part of off-page SEO?
Yes, Local SEO is considered a part of off-page SEO. Off-page SEO refers to all the activities and techniques performed outside of your website to improve its visibility, reputation, and authority in search engine results.
Local SEO focuses specifically on optimizing your online presence to target local customers and improve your visibility in local search results. It involves optimizing your business listings, managing online reviews, obtaining local citations, and building relationships with other local businesses or organizations.
While off-page SEO encompasses a broader range of activities such as link building, social media marketing, and online reputation management, Local SEO is a specialized subset that focuses on targeting a specific geographic area for businesses that cater to local customers.
- How long does Local SEO take before I begin to see the result?
The time it takes to see results from Local SEO can vary depending on various factors such as the competitiveness of your industry, the current state of your online presence, the quality of your optimization efforts, and the search engine algorithms.
In some cases, you may start to see improvements within a few weeks or months; in other cases, it may take several months to a year to see significant results. It’s important to understand that Local SEO is a long-term strategy rather than a quick fix.
- Can I use local SEO and organic SEO at the same time?
Yes, you can and should use both Local SEO and Organic SEO strategies simultaneously. While they have different focuses, they work together to improve your overall online visibility and attract relevant traffic to your website.
