Understanding Regional vs Local SEO is one of the most important aspects of search engine optimization (SEO) for a small business. It’s also one of the most confusing topics.
There’s a lot of confusion around how to correctly apply regional vs local SEO in the Dallas area. Some people say “local SEO” means optimizing for Google Places and maps while others say it includes optimizing for your site. Many people don’t understand that the type of SEO, be it local or regional, matters more on the goals of the small business.
So, what’s the biggest difference between them?
Local SEO targets a single city
Whether you’re a storefront only doing work in a 10-mile radius or a service-oriented business serving the metro, local SEO is about targeting a specific geographic location. This can mean a few things:
Your website should have a physical address within the target market. If you are working with an agency, they will need to know where your office is located.
Regional SEO targets multiple cities or multiple states
Ideal for franchise businesses or small businesses that have a multi-state reach, regional SEO utilizes multiple locations or service areas to target customers across a larger region. For example, if you own a restaurant chain, you may want to optimize each location separately. You could even do this by state so you can focus on different markets depending on which state you’re in.
The best way to determine whether you need local or regional SEO is to think about your business model. Is it a storefront only business? Or does it serve a wider audience?
All in all, there’s no right answer to the question of “what’s the difference between regional vs local SEO?” The real answer depends on your business model and the geography of your customer base.
