Local SEO is a powerful tool that helps developers reach potential buyers who are searching for properties in specific locations. In this article, we cover the importance of local SEO for your property development website - and how you can leverage it effectively.
What is Local SEO?
Local SEO is a strategic process that focuses on emphasising the optimisation efforts of your website to local people. Unlike general SEO, which aims to improve a website's visibility on a national or global scale, local SEO targets 'near me' and geo-specific search queries to attract local customers.
The importance of Local SEO for property development
When potential buyers begin their property search, they often start with a location in mind. They might use search terms like "new homes near Dartmoor" or "park homes in Braunton". By optimising your property development website for these local searches, you can ensure your developments appear in the results when these queries are made.
Google's algorithm favours local content
If your website is optimised for local SEO, Google is more likely to display your website in search results to users in the same geographical location. This can give you a significant advantage over competitors who neglect local SEO.
“Almost half of buyers living in southern England looking to move more than 10 miles, in search of better value for money” Zoopla, House Price Index: December 2023
Despite this, research also shows that a high proportion of home moves tend to be limited to within local areas - the average distance buyers are looking to move when searching on Zoopla is 4.3 miles.
These two factors make it clear that your location matters, and in search, whether someone is moving away or staying local, your website needs to be visible on Google.
How to implement Local SEO
Here are some key strategies for implementing local SEO for your property development:
Use Location-Specific Keywords
Incorporate location-specific keywords throughout your website, including in meta tags, titles, descriptions, and website content.
Create Location-Specific Pages
If your property developments span multiple locations, consider creating a dedicated page for each location. This can help Google understand where your properties are located and who your intended audience is.
Optimise Your Google My Business Listing
A Google My Business listing can significantly improve your local SEO. Ensure your listing is fully optimised with your current address, phone number, and business hours. Regularly update your listing with new photos and posts.
Collect Reviews
Encourage satisfied customers to leave reviews on your Google My Business listing. This not only builds trust with potential customers, but it also signals to Google that your business is legitimate and valuable.
Use Local Business Schema
Schema markup is a code that you put on your website to help search engines provide more informative results for users. Using local business schema can help search engines understand more about your business, including its location, what it sells, and its ratings.
Your location matters, and in search, whether someone is moving away or staying local, your website needs to be visible on Google.
Local SEO matters in property development
Local SEO is a powerful tool in the property development industry. By targeting specific geographical locations, you can reach potential buyers when they're actively looking for properties in your area (or wanting to stay in their local area).
Implementing local SEO strategies on your dedicated property development website can significantly improve your online visibility, helping you attract more leads and ultimately, sell more properties.
Interested to learn more?
We are Local SEO experts, and we can help with every aspect of website visibility from content to schema to a full custom website build.