Online marketing is strongly becoming a mainstay in the online business market, and among the various and most vital skills and strategies utilized is the SEO (search engine optimization).
Within this SEO (search engine optimization) concept are the local SEO and the national SEO; the two of which looked very similar but yet has some major differences.
This guide will be giving you a side by side insights on these two sub-concepts, helping you to bring them in line and bridging the gap between them.
What Is Local SEO?
This SEO concept is primarily focused on businesses with local or regional objectives.
It’s area and target specific, especially as related to using keywords and phrases that aligns with the target market.
What Is National SEO?
This SEO concept primarily focused on businesses with broad or nationwide outreach objectives.
It’s utilized via Google search results optimization to help attain higher rankings as related to using keywords and phrases that aligns with the business’s products or services.
Side by Side Comparison (Local SEO vs National SEO)
- Target Market
While local SEO targets particular geographic areas, national SEO targets broad, nationwide audience.
- Budget Cost
While local SEO is generally cost
-effective, national SEO generally requires bigger investment.
- Keyword Focus
While local SEO requires location-based terms, national SEO requires industry and product-focused terms.
- Timeline to Results
While local SEO commands rapid results, national SEO takes a longer time to yield results.
- Link Building
While local SEO features local directories and organizations, national SEO features high-authority industry publications.
- Key Success Metrics
Local leads, visits, calls etc are often associated with local SEO, while national rankings, traffic volume, conversions etc are often associated with national SEO.
- Level of Competition
Competition is between local businesses for local SEO, and national or international business for national SEO.
Who Benefits from Local SEO?
Local SEO is mostly suitable for:
- Service based businesses like contractors, accountants, lawyers etc who operates in designated service areas.
- Any business with physical locations where customers can reach out physically to visit.
- Brick-and-mortar businesses like gyms, retail stores, restaurants, medical store etc.
- Businesses with more than one location who wants to gain audience in particular markets.
Who Benefits from National SEO?
National SEO is mostly suitable for:
- Already established businesses that are looking forward to grow their products or services beyond local markets so as to help enhance or boost national visibility.
- Content based businesses such as the media hub or influencers who’re trying to grow a national audience.
- SaaS companies and digital platforms who provide services that are location-independent.
- E-commerce businesses that does not have a physical location but that are planning to actively engage customers across the country.
Conclusion
One thing you must know as a business owner is that no sub-concepts of this SEO is capable of giving perfect answers to all your challenges.
This is why it’s so important to choose any of the SEO sub-concept to work with based on your business goals, budget and target audience.
However, also note that it’s very possible to own a national business that has local branches; in this scenario you may have to create a model that will combine both SEO concepts.