If your business targets more than one geographical area, it might be time to consider a national SEO strategy. In this article, we’ll take a look at the differences between local and national SEO to help you decide which is the best fit for you.
What is local SEO?
This strategy focuses on a specific location. As the Federation of Small Businesses suggests, it can be particularly valuable for bricks-and-mortar businesses. One of the advantages is that it can be relatively easily to rank highly in the search results. For example, “best vegan café in Leeds” is an easier to term rank for than “best vegan café”.
What is national SEO?
With a national SEO strategy, it may be harder to rank, but the advantage is that you can reach a far wider potential customer or client base. This strategy can be particularly advantageous if you are an online business selling products or services nationwide. The main challenge is getting your keywords to rank, as you’ll likely be using broader terms and those that are more competitive.
What are the main considerations when switching to national SEO?
One the main things to consider is the cost of switching to a national SEO strategy, as you’ll potentially spend more on any Google AdWords campaign. If you already have a local SEO strategy in place, you’ll also need to consider the fact that switching to a national strategy may be time-consuming.
When is national SEO the right choice?
For some businesses, the decision is a straightforward one, but for others, the choice is less clear. This might be the case if you have multiple branches or are unsure of the geographical spread of your customer base. If this applies to you, consider bringing in some expert help. For example, if you’re based in the capital or looking to target this area, it’s worth seeking London professional SEO services such as those provided by.
As with any marketing plan, the key question is, “What do I want this strategy to achieve?”. If the aim is to drive customers to your newly-opened boutique clothing store, ranking for local SEO terms is probably your best bet. However, if your store has just gone online and you want to drive country-wide ecommerce sales, it might be worth considering taking your SEO strategy national.
