How to Optimize Your Car Dealership Website For Local Search

Local search is more important than ever for small, brick-and-mortar businesses like car dealerships that are looking to connect with customers in their area. At Dealers United, we understand this concept more than most organizations.

With 46% of Google searches having local intent, ensuring your website is optimized for local SEO can help you tap into this demand and increase visibility in search results for geographic keywords related to your dealership.

In this guide, we’ll cover key tactics to optimize your website and online presence for local search.

Optimize Your Google My Business Listing

The first step is to claim or create your Google My Business listing (GMB). This free tool allows you to manage how your business information appears on Google.

Complete your GMB listing with accurate business info, hours, photos, products/services, and contact options.

Google will also mail a postcard with a PIN to verify your address.

With a verified GMB profile, you can also easily respond to customer reviews. These are the #2 ranking factors for local SEO. So prompt, polite responses to reviews can improve visibility. 

Use Schema Markup on Your Site

Schema markup enables you to highlight things like your business name, address, phone number, operating hours, and more in a machine-readable format.

When implemented properly, schema markup can generate rich results in SERPs with your business info. For local SEO, make sure to use LocalBusiness schema on any pages that describe your business.

Make Sure Your NAP Citations are Consistent

Double check that your NAP – your business Name, Address, and Phone number – are consistent across all online listings and citations. Any discrepancies can negatively impact local rankings, and it’s simply too easy for it to not be optimized!

Use tools like Moz Local to audit and correct any NAP inconsistencies on directories like Yelp, Facebook, and elsewhere online.

Build Local Links and Signals

Look for opportunities to build quality local links pointing to your site. Things like local directory listings, sponsorships, and guest posts on relevant sites help establish authority.

Similarly, get positive local reviews on Google, Facebook, and Yelp. Reviews indicate your business is trusted and valued in the community.

Optimize for Local Keywords

Research the geographic keywords your customers are actually searching for. Tools like AHREFs make this easy.

Then optimize your site architecture, on-page elements, and content around those local keywords. Things like “pizza restaurant in Phoenix” or “plumber near me”.

Create Locally-Focused Content

Publish blog posts, guides, and other content optimized for local search intent. Things like local events, highlights about your community, and content that helps area customers solve problems.

This helps establish your brand as an authority in your region. And gives search engines more signals about your local expertise.

Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly

With over 80% of searches for vehicles happening on mobile, having a mobile-optimized site is critical for local SEO. Make sure your site is responsive, with easy navigation and clickable elements for touchscreens.

Google’s mobile-friendliness test can identify any issues to fix. This ensures local searchers have a positive experience on mobile.

Regularly Monitor Your Local SEO Progress

Use tools like Google Analytics and AHREFs Position Tracking to monitor your local SEO efforts. Look at rankings for target keywords as well as website traffic from local organic search.

This allows you to determine what’s working so you can double down on effective tactics. And identify areas in need of improvement.

FAQ

What is local SEO and why is local SEO important?

Local SEO refers to optimizing your online presence to improve visibility for local customer searches. With 46% of Google searches having local intent, local SEO helps connect your business with potential customers looking for your products or services in your geographic area.

How can a business optimize its website and online presence for local SEO?

Key optimization tactics include optimizing your Google My Business listing, using schema markup, managing NAP citations, building local links/signals, creating locally-focused content, ensuring mobile optimization, and monitoring progress with analytics tools.

What are some key tactics and tools for DIY local SEO?

Top DIY tactics include optimizing listings like Google My Business, conducting keyword research to find relevant local terms, managing online reviews, creating locally targeted content, and implementing schema markup. Helpful tools include Semrush, Moz Local, Screaming Frog, and BrightLocal.

How can a business track its local SEO efforts?

Use position tracking tools like AHREFs or Google Search Console to monitor rankings for local keywords. Google Analytics can provide insight into website traffic from local searches. Regularly check rankings, traffic, and other metrics to gauge effectiveness of optimization efforts.

Optimizing for local SEO provides a major opportunity for brick-and-mortar businesses to connect with customers searching for their products and services in their geographic region. Following the tactics in this guide will help improve visibility and drive more local traffic to your car dealership – there’s no doubt about it 

Summary: Key Takeaways for Maximizing Local SEO

In summary, optimizing for local SEO provides a major opportunity for dealerships to connect with more nearby customers searching online. The tactics in this guide offer a roadmap to start driving more local business.

However, executing an effective local SEO strategy takes expertise. The local search experts at Dealers United can help take your dealership’s website to the next level with a tailored strategy for maximizing local search presence.

Learn more about our managed SEO services specialized for dealerships and contact us today to see how we can help you capitalize on the local search opportunity.