Local SEO Cologne - for small and medium-sized enterprises

Local SEO is a subcategory of classic search engine optimisation. In fact, it is a kind of specialisation. Because while conventional SEO covers all ways and means to promote the presence of the company's own website in the search engines, local SEO focuses exclusively on the measures in a specific region, city or area.

Thus, with the help of OffPage SEO and OnPage SEO, it is ensured that the ranking in Google, Bing, Xing and Co. improves for relevant search terms in the local SERPs. If you approach this project strategically, your website will appear more prominently in regional search queries.

It is important that you understand that progress does not happen overnight. Local search engine optimisation is a process that requires time, work and perseverance. The measures taken usually only become noticeable after months. When the first changes become visible, it is important to carry out an SEO analysis. Based on this, an evaluation of the SEO strategy should be carried out and, under certain circumstances, individual points should be revised and adjusted. If you stick to our battle plan, you will get closer and closer to your personal goals.

Three important building blocks of Local SEO

Search engines like Google have developed various factors over time that act as evaluation criteria. Because this is the only way to determine the order within the SERPs in a fair way. In the meantime, the list of ranking factors has grown to over 200. Technical aspects are examined, but the user-friendliness of the websites also plays a decisive role on the internet.

With the introduction of smartphones, consumers now have the ability to launch searches on the go. This has made it clear that customers are not always looking for general information. The Internet is primarily used to find solutions to current problems and questions.

You can imagine it like this: A passer-by is strolling through the pedestrian zone and feels hungry. He pulls his smartphone out of his pocket and uses the "Nearby" search queries to find a restaurant that is close by and has an attractive offer. This example can be extended to shops and service providers and explains why local search engine optimisation is so relevant.

It now appears that there are three important building blocks that are responsible for you showing up in customers' searches and piquing their interest:

• Attractive images: By providing your website with up-to-date and meaningful images, you will catch the eye of your customers. Especially in local directories such as Google My Business, media contribute to the positive image of a company. But be careful! The photos should be of excellent quality and present your business in a positive light. This is the only way to increase the likelihood that consumers will choose your offer.
• Google My Business / Google Maps entry: Google My Business is a Google service and is therefore inextricably linked to the search engine. If you have created a GMB entry, it will be presented to users when they use relevant search terms. Your products and services are thus increasingly in the customers' field of vision. Furthermore, there is an interface between your Google My Business entry and Google Maps. This means that customers can use the navigation of the famous search engine to get to your business - without having to enter an address or go to any trouble.
• Positive ratings: Trust is good, control is better - Internet users live by this motto. Before a service is used or a product is ordered, the experiences of other customers are checked. Reviews can be left in rating portals or on platforms such as Amazon and Google. These should serve as a point of reference for potential clients. With good rating management, you can ensure a positive online reputation. This increases the trust of users in your brand and promotes increased sales.

Smartphones are our daily companion and support us in all aspects of life. It was found that the number of mobile search queries has risen continuously in recent years. Furthermore, it shows that almost one third of all mobile search queries are related to a geographical location. This means that customers specifically use search terms such as "tutoring in Cologne" or "bicycle shop nearby". It is also interesting that three quarters of the people who started a local search with their smartphone actually visit the selected shop within the next 24 hours.

These statistics give a good indication of the importance of Local SEO. Society has developed immensely in recent years and those who still stick to classic online marketing and do not appreciate the work of SEO agencies will go under in the international economic market in the long run.

Local SEO is worthwhile for all companies and freelancers who want to attract customers from the immediate vicinity. Businesses with a physical location derive a particular advantage from Local SEO. Craftsmen, lawyers, doctors or hairdressers, for example, depend on customers who are in the same region. Thus, it is highly unlikely that a consumer from Munich will go to the salon of a Cologne hair stylist. Similarly, an electrician from Hamburg will refuse the order from a customer in Dresden. After all, the travelling time in this example is disproportionate to the profit. If you belong to these professional groups, an SEO agency in Cologne can ensure that the SEO measures reach the right target group.

Furthermore, website optimisation can also pay off for small and medium-sized enterprises. These are often overshadowed by large corporations and global players and cannot compete with the sophisticated marketing strategies of the professionals. With a suitable niche product and Local SEO methods, your SME is put in the spotlight.

Freelancers - such as notaries, lawyers and doctors - are subject to major legal restrictions. No marketing campaigns can be run and advertising is also prohibited for these professions. Local SEO is therefore often the only way to attract new clients and patients.

Have we been able to arouse your curiosity and ambition to give your website the attention you deserve? Then take advantage of our free initial consultation and benefit from individual advice.

If you spend your budget in the right place, you will achieve your goals. Half-hearted attempts and inconsistent practices are just throwing your money away.

SEOfolgreich has dived deep into the world of local search engine optimisation to understand your market, your audience and the Google algorithms that interest you. With your consent, we transfer our success strategy to your business and help you increase your presence in the search engines.

Local SEO is an effective way to get more exposure in Google search results and attract prospects to your website. Through local targeting, you are also able to lead customers specifically to your business premises. If this is your goal, the question can be answered with a clear "yes". Provided that your localities are in Cologne and you have aligned your Local SEO strategy to Cologne.

It becomes problematic when the website is used exclusively as a digital business card. Without incentives to buy, updates and direct signposts, it will be difficult to keep the interest of the clientele.

We make no false guarantees and want to be completely open and transparent with you. We can't promise you that you'll be ranked #1 in the search results. What we can predict, however, is that we will gradually optimise your website for certain keywords. Individual subpages of your website will thus position themselves better and move into the top 20, top 10 and even top 5 of the SERPs.

However, we would like to point out that this will not be the case for all keywords. Depending on your industry and the existing competition, this can turn out to be a highly complex process and sometimes even extremely unlikely. We consider an SEO agency that does not play with open cards and makes promises that cannot be kept to be extremely dubious. Our cooperation is based on honesty and trust - values that our previous clients have greatly appreciated.

Over the years, Google has developed a series of evaluation criteria that serve as a point of reference for the classification. For you, this means that you don't need a new website, but a technically and content-wise well-positioned homepage. Factors such as loading speed, barrier-free presentation, clarity, user-friendliness and unique content flow into Google's evaluation and determine your "overall grade".

As an SEO agency in Cologne, we dedicate ourselves to an SEO analysis of your website in the first step and then correct the deficits. The optimisations concern both the OffPage SEO area, but also the aspects of the OnPage SEOS. If we determine in the course of our analyses and revisions that the amount of work is enormous, we suggest that you consider creating a completely new website.

We can't tell you when your company will take off like a rocket and stand out from the crowd of SMEs. Local search engine optimisation is a highly individual process that depends on your actual and target state. As a rule, it takes several months - between six and twelve months - until the first improvements become visible.

It should be mentioned, however, that economic, political and social factors can affect the results. Thus, the improvement of the positioning can be accelerated, but also slowed down. So you should have patience and perseverance and trust in our expertise. We know what we're doing and will do everything we can to satisfy you.