When you consider that almost half of mobile search traffic has local intent and over 85% of mobile engagement with brands is local, it becomes clear: local mobile search is here to stay, and it’s only growing in importance. Use this checklist to ensure your dealership’s online presence is properly optimized for local mobile SEO rankings.
Shorter Keywords
This goes against everything you learned in SEO 101. But while long-tail keywords are a well-known best practice for desktop SEO, the same is not true for mobile. Not surprisingly, people do a lot less typing on their mobile devices than they do on their desktop devices. So, it makes sense that they also enter shorter keywords and phrases when conducting searches on mobile.
Location, Location, Location
Keep it close to home, literally. To rank for local search, be sure to include your keyword and location in all of the following elements:
- Title tag
- Page title (h1 tag)
- Within the page’s content itself
- Image alt text
Paid Search & Promoted Pins
I just told you to prioritize shorter keywords when optimizing for local mobile SEO. But it’s harder to rank using shorter keywords and phrases, so boost your SERP rankings by utilizing paid search. You can also take advantage of Promoted Pins. This feature on Google Maps allows your dealership to stand out by displaying your custom logo directly on the map.
Mobile Ad Extensions
Ad extensions expand your ads to include additional information. According to Google, these extensions “typically increase your ad’s click-through rate by several percentage points” by providing greater visibility and conspicuousness on SERPs. Some ad extensions that can be particularly effective in terms of local mobile SEO include:
- Location extensions
- Sitelink extensions
- Click-to-call buttons
- Call extensions
The bottom line is that people doing local searches are looking for local results. Taking the time to optimize for local mobile SEO can put your dealership at the top of the heap and lead to a dramatic increase in both foot traffic and overall conversion rates.
