Local SEO for Your Architecture or Design Firm: How to Get More Leads from Local Organic Searches

Architecture and design firms can do a lot more global business than some industries, but there is still a time and a place for local optimization efforts. For example, if you’re a design firm that works with local corporate clients, you’d want to make sure that those “local” companies could find you when they search online. That’s where local SEO comes into play. 

Search engine optimization helps improve your online presence and ensures that your firm can be found by search engines based on the search terms that are used. This can drive valuable traffic to your website and other online listings, and it can help you outrank the competition when it’s done well. In addition to an overall SEO strategy, you need to have a sub-strategy for your local SEO needs so that you can reach all the right clients and get the best organic rankings. 

Local SEO is more than just keywords

Keyword usage and research are integral parts of your local SEO and even your overall optimization efforts. However, they aren’t the only factor involved here. Local optimization is about creating a credible brand image online and getting your business listed in as many reputable places as possible so that you appear to be the best of the best in architecture and design when the search engines come looking for results. 

Local SEO includes business listings, creating a blog, getting backlinks, being engaged on social media, and so forth. It’s about optimizing your presence and creating a brand image that is relatable and appreciated by your audience. Outreach and building relationships can go a long way in helping your business with local SEO efforts. 

Of course, your keywords do matter and they need to be used properly. You should also try to incorporate them into your titles, URLs, headings, meta descriptions, and other page elements. Do your homework and do it carefully so that you can put the right keywords and phrases to work. Make sure that you’re optimizing your website, as well as all of your off-page content, including directory listings, social media, and so forth. 

Offer quality content in several forms 

Google is smarter than ever before and it’s paying attention to companies trying to get ranked. No longer can you just use location keywords like the world depends on it and come out on top. In fact, that can actually get you docked points these days. Instead, you have to build a reputable business and online presence. That includes creating educational and informational resources that your customers can appreciate, such as:

• Blog posts
• Service pages
• Long-form articles
• News/press releases
• Social media content
• Videos (YouTube/TikTok)
• And so much more

The more content you create and the more value you add, the higher your prominence and authority score will rise. Google likes businesses that focus on being the best in their industry and not just trying to sell people something. If you’re not sure about writing blogs or other content, consider hiring someone to handle content marketing as part of your SEO efforts. 

Link and list 

One of the biggest parts of the SEO process involves getting listed in local business directories and gaining valuable outbound links and backlinks that help reaffirm the authority and reputation of your business. Find quality websites to get backlinks from and create partnerships with others so that you can build your links both internally and externally. 

As far as listings go, you’ll want to get on as many reputable directories as you can. Google and other search engines know how to search for quality, though, so make sure that you’re not just getting listed anywhere. Relationship building and networking are an integral part of the process here. Take advantage of industry forums and resources like LinkedIn to build your reputation by connecting with others. 

Mobile-friendly is a must

Of course, none of your local SEO efforts to this point matter much unless you’ve taken the time to build a mobile-first website. Mobile-friendliness is about having a site that will render on any device. You should also get listed on directories and improve your rankings so that you can rank higher on those mobile searches in the first place. 

4 out of 5 Google searches are for a local business. Not only that, but Google has embraced mobile-first indexing, which means that instead of indexing a separate listing for your mobile site, Google primarily uses the mobile version for indexing. In the past, this may not have been effective, but as many as 46% of all Google searches have local intent. Therefore, it’s safe to say that people are more reliant on mobile than ever before and that means you need to be ready for that with a well-designed mobile deployment. 

Other tips for success

As you’re setting up your local SEO strategy, you’ll probably come across some other places where you can make changes or tweaks and help create a different outcome for your organization. There is no single path to success here, but we do have a few more tips to help you succeed:

• Get good reviews and make sure that you resolve any negative ones
• Create and complete your Google Business Profile
• Remember to focus on a mobile-first design
• Engage on social media 
• Make sure that your name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across all listings 

This process takes a little work, but it’s well worth the investment of your time and effort if you want your architecture or design firm to rank well in local searches. 

Are you ready for the results?

Mind you, now that you’ve stepped up your local SEO game, you’re going to see an influx of new leads coming your way. You’ll need to make sure that you have the right systems in place to field them all, including a 24/7 answering service. The virtual receptionists at Smith.ai can deliver this along with lead intake, appointment scheduling, and even assistance with your outreach campaigns in the first place. 

You can learn more when you schedule a consultation to discuss how the virtual receptionists at Smith.ai can help your architecture or design firm. You will also find us at hello@smith.ai. 

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