Given that so much of modern business is conducted online, SEO is pretty much a given for marketers. Even retailers who sell primarily through brick-and-mortar establishments need to maintain an online presence to attract new customers. SEO is still important. In our industry, local SEO is also important. Do you utilize it in your marketing efforts?
Local SEO is a form of SEO that focuses mainly on an organization's local audience. Most small businesses have a local focus, so capturing the attention of local buyers is important. It is as important to wholesale sunglasses as any other product.
Do a Quick Google Search
If you are a bit skeptical about applying local SEO to marketing sunglasses, do a quick Google search. Begin typing in 'designer sunglasses'. But after you enter those two words, stop a second and see what happens next. If your browser supports automatic suggestions, one of the suggestions that pops up could very well be 'designer sunglasses near me'.
'Near me' is a clear indication of local SEO. The suggestion comes up because people search for that exact phrase all the time. They search for it when they need a local retailer that they can visit to quickly pick up a new pair of sunglasses on the way to work, the beach, etc.
Never underestimate the power of the phrase 'near me'. It is a key phrase for local searches and one that Google and its competitors strongly suggest online marketers take advantage of.
They Need to Know Where to Find You
If you are running a brick-and-mortar store, mall kiosk, or even a booth at the local flea market, search engines need to know where to find you. Otherwise, they cannot make the association between your business and local searches. Fortunately, making sure they know where you are is easy.
There are two things you can do. First and foremost, make sure your company name, physical address, and contact information is on your website. Search engines will scrape that data next time your site is crawled.
Second, take a few minutes to create a business profile on Google. Business profiles are one of the main tools Google uses to address local SEO needs. When you search for local businesses on Google and see the first two or three results show up on a map, the information used to populate those listings comes from Google business profiles.
Use Local Keywords in Content
Another suggestion for taking advantage of local SEO is to use local keywords in your content. We assume you are writing blog posts, publishing videos, and creating infographics with the intent of getting designer sunglasses in front of your customers. When you do that, use words and phrases that appeal to local residents.
If we were selling designer sunglasses for men and women in Southern California, we would use locally relevant keywords like 'Los Angeles', 'Laguna Beach', etc. Locally relevant keywords can be combined with different variations of 'sunglasses' for maximum effect.
Even If You Sell Exclusively Online
In closing, we don't want you to think that local SEO is only important for retailers who sell their sunglasses at physical locations. Even if you sell exclusively online, local SEO can help endear your business to customers in your area. Many would prefer to buy from a local company than from a competitor located across the country.
Selling sunglasses can be a largely local enterprise. If your customer base is made up of mainly local residents, be sure to take advantage of local SEO strategies to boost your online presence and improve your marketing efforts.