Local SEO for Franchises: 7 Essential Franchise SEO Strategies
Local SEO boosts franchise visibility locally, driving online and in-store traffic. Our strategies include Google Maps and Yelp listing, location-specific keywords, review management, schema markup and consistent branding.
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insights from 100,000+ hours of franchise marketing experience
Local SEO is one of the best ways for franchisees to reach local customers and increase traffic to both a website and a physical storefront.
But there’s a lot that goes into creating an effective local SEO strategy for multiple locations. On this page, we’ll go over what local SEO is, why it’s important to franchisees, and how you can start using it to reach more customers online.
If you’d like to talk to someone that not only knows franchise SEO but also local SEO for franchises, contact us at 888-601-5359.
What is local SEO for franchises?
Local SEO for franchises is the process of optimizing a website so that it shows up in search results for location-based searches, like “ice cream Harrisburg PA.”
It’s one thing to use search engine optimization, or SEO, to rank for product- or service-related terms, but local SEO helps you reach customers searching for those things in your city or region.
A local SEO strategy for multiple locations focuses on tactics like including geographic keywords in your content, title tags, and meta descriptions, having specific location details on your website, and including location-specific testimonials and reviews.
As a franchise, you already have the benefit of an established brand – and local SEO can be exactly what you need to help potential customers find your specific location.
Why is local SEO for franchises important?
The biggest benefit of local SEO for franchises is that it helps your business reach customers near a particular storefront location.
Franchises are typically built on well-known brands, so customers will be comfortable visiting new locations. But unless they know that a specific location exists near them, they won’t be able to visit and make a purchase.
So, whether you work in the corporate office of a franchise brand, or own a specific location, local franchise SEO is essential for reaching customers and generating sales.
7 must-use strategies for improving local SEO for franchises
Local SEO for franchises is an ongoing process, but the following strategies can help establish your franchise in search engine results.
1. List your different locations in Google Maps
One of the easiest ways to find a storefront today is to search for it on Google. The search engine provides a map of options and lets users get GPS directions to the one they choose within a few clicks.
If your locations don’t yet appear in Google’s map results, you need to register them using Google Business Profile. Registering for Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business) is easy – simply visit their website and follow the step-by-step instructions.
After you’ve created an account, your storefront will be visible on Google Maps – making it easier for users to find your multiple locations in search engines and easier to get directions.
2. List each of your franchise locations in Yelp
Yelp is one of the most trusted review sites among consumers.
Many people use it to search for businesses and determine which one is the best option for their needs, based on user-submitted photos and reviews. It also provides users with hours, contact information, and other details like products and menus, depending on the industry.
If you don’t list each of your franchise locations in Yelp, you could miss out on potential customers – many of whom are already in your area and searching for your products or services. If someone searches for your franchise, but you only have a Yelp page for a location three states away, they won’t consider you as an option.
Having Yelp pages for each location also allows users to review each specific location, which benefits local audiences. They’ll be able to see exactly what local customers liked and disliked about a specific location of your franchise, as well as accurate photos of your storefront and products.
3. Use location-based keywords in website content
One of the most effective ways to improve your visibility in local search results is to include location-based keywords on your pages. For example, if you’re a restaurant based in Harrisburg, PA, you’ll want to include the phrase “restaurant in Harrisburg PA” in important elements like title tags, headings, and body copy.
You can also use local landmarks, nearby tourist destinations, and regional names as target keywords. So, for example, if someone searches for “restaurants near Pennsylvania state capitol,” your business can show up in search results.
This is an excellent strategy for franchise SEO because it helps your business gain visibility in search results on search engines like Google and Bing. While many shoppers rely on Google Maps and Yelp, they also trust search engines when they need to find something fast.
That’s why almost 80 percent of local searches convert.
4. Choose between a microsite or corporate website
If you work in the corporate office of a franchise, you should be sure to list each of your locations on your website. You can create a “locations” page with each storefront’s address, phone number, hours, and other contact information.
You might also choose to include an interactive map of all your locations so that users can find the one closest to them and see your other locations. It’s best practice for not only franchise SEO but also user experience (UX).
If you run a single location or multiple locations, you may want to consider creating your own website. This will allow you to create content specific to your location’s products and services, while also ranking for longtail keywords specific to your location.
For example, if you’re running a specific promotion that other franchise locations are running, you’d want to promote this on your website. Having the ability to add a page that you can share on social and promote with pay-per-click (PPC) ads makes it much easier to reach potential customers.
5. Use consistent branding for all franchise locations
One mistake that some franchises make when performing local SEO is deviating from established branding. Major franchises are easy to identify by colors, logos, and brand identity. If you don’t stick with this established branding, you can confuse customers and deter them from visiting your location.
For example, think of how thrown off you’d be if you walked into a Starbucks and saw employees in yellow aprons. The green aprons are a Starbucks staple, and believe it or not, your logo and color scheme are, too.
In terms of your website, branding is also extremely important and should be cohesive with your storefront. You should be sure to stick with the same color scheme across your website – and the colors you choose should be representative of your brand.
You should also stay consistent with your brand’s theme and feel. For example, if you own a flower shop and your logo, gift boxes, and gift cards all have a sketch design, you should be sure also to implement that style on your website.
6. Encourage customers to leave reviews for different locations
Online reviews are extremely important. In fact, 84% of people trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. So, if your storefront doesn’t have any reviews, potential customers will wonder why.
Reviews give local customers a chance to see what other people think of your service, products, location, and more. They can also help your business rank higher in search engine results pages when users search for keywords mentioned in your reviews.
That’s why a franchise SEO strategy should include review management, which can help your business encourage reviews from local customers, as well as respond and interact with shoppers that leave reviews.
7. Add location-specific schema to franchise locations
Structured data, also known as schema markup, can help your franchise’s SEO and local SEO strategy.
With structured data, you’re providing search engines with a definitive answer about your page’s content. For example, a product page may feature schema markup that includes the product’s price, inventory status, and number of reviews.
A search engine can use this information to better understand your page and its content. With better understanding, search engines can rank your content more accurately and appropriately, which can lead to improved rankings.
In some cases, search engines will use that information to create a rich result.
A rich result enhances the look of your website in search results. In search results, for example, your site may feature stars, product pricing information, and more. This data can motivate users to click on your website versus a competitor.
Some go-to schema markup and properties for local franchise SEO includes:
Adding structured data to your website will take some technical know-how. Google’s schema markup walkthrough, however, can make the process smoother. You can also use Google’s Rich Results Test tool to troubleshoot and fix issues.
260%
increase in organic revenue
198%
increase in organic transactions
150%
increase in organic traffic
3872%
increase in sessions from SEO
FAQs about local SEO for franchises
Do you have additional questions about local SEO for franchises? Get quick answers with our FAQ!
What is franchise SEO?
SEO for franchises focuses on improving the visibility of your franchise in search results, like on Google or Bing. Franchise SEO can include a variety of strategies, depending on whether you’re promoting a franchise location or the corporate franchise brand.
What are some challenges with SEO for multiple locations?
With SEO for franchises, there are several challenges, as well as common beginner mistakes, that can stop your franchise SEO strategy from succeeding. If you’re managing your SEO in-house, it’s critical for your team to understand (and know how) to overcome these challenges.
A few of the most common challenges that come with SEO for multiple locations include:
- Duplicate content: You must have original content on your website. If your site features a significant amount of content from another website, like a fellow franchise location, it can cause your local franchise SEO to fail.
- Outdated NAP: Ensure your franchise provides your name, address, and phone number. If you’re promoting a location, do not use your corporate contact information. Provide users with the information they want: yours.
- Unnecessary interlinking: Make every internal link (or a link to another page on your website) count. If you excessively or unnecessarily link to internal pages, it can send a negative signal and prevent you from appearing on page one of search results.
If you’re having trouble with your franchise’s local SEO strategy, an agency that specializes in franchise SEO (like WebFX) can help. They can audit your website and discover errors and recommend fixes, as well as even provide complete management of your SEO strategy if you’re overwhelmed.
What do local franchise SEO services include?
Professional SEO strategies for multiple locations include everything your company needs to improve its online visibility, which can result in more in-store visits, sales, and revenue. In most cases, your business and team don’t have to worry about a thing — your franchise SEO agency takes care of everything.
For perspective, most SEO for franchise plans include:
- Developing a custom strategy for your brand or location
- Optimizing your website, as well as Google Business Profile
- Tracking your website’s performance, like its rankings, traffic, and conversions
- Improving your website’s usability for users
- Creating fresh, optimized content for your website
- And more
If you’re looking to build a successful SEO strategy for your business, professional franchise SEO services can help. They’re especially valuable if your team doesn’t have the time to manage your online presence, as search can help bring a massive number of customers (and revenue) to your location.
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Does your franchise need a local SEO strategy?
Businesses today have many options for reaching potential customers online, and local franchise SEO is one of the best for companies with multiple locations. So, if you’re looking to partner with a marketing agency to help you improve your visibility in local search results, WebFX can help.
WebFX is a full-service franchise digital marketing agency that specializes in custom, results-driven digital marketing strategies. We have years of experience helping our clients (including franchise businesses) improve their visibility in both national and local search results, and we can do the same for your franchise.
When you work with us, we’ll get to know your business and create a custom plan tailored to your needs and goals. Get started with local SEO for your franchise by contacting us today to speak with a specialist and to receive a free quote for Local SEO services!
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