Organic and Local SEO: Similarities and Differences, Part 1

Advances in modern technology have increased the number of ways potential customers can reach out to or otherwise interact with a business through its various online marketing channels, and those in the SEO field are well aware of these varying pathways. There are several distinct categories involved in search engine optimization and related marketing areas, and two that offer some instructive differences and similarities are local SEO and organic SEO.

At SEO Werkz, we’re proud to offer a variety of services to meet both organic and local SEO needs for varying businesses, plus a variety of additional services like PPC, web design, social media marketing and others. In this two-part blog series, we’ll go over everything you need to know about organic and local SEO, including areas where they’re both similar and different and how you can be sure your business’s marketing efforts are focused in the right direction.

Organic SEO

Broadly speaking, organic SEO refers to the multifaceted practice of optimizing a website for search engines. Ranking for relevant keywords, for instance, is a common organic SEO practice – generally, organic SEO revolves around a central website for the business in question.

When evaluating organic SEO results, search engines tend to prioritize and favor trusted, relevant content. Google is looking for legitimate businesses and resources within a given search area, both in terms of the content they offer but also the products and services related to it.

Now, many smaller business owners might be reading this and wondering: That’s all fine, but how do I become visible and reputable enough to show up within these queries? This is where local SEO comes into play.

Local SEO

Local SEO, on the other hand, revolves around building that same reliability and relevance as local SEO, but with a particular focus on specific locations. Many people using Google and other search engines to find personal services or products will list their location to help inform the search, and engines will display results based on these geographical terms. Local businesses want to do everything they can to show up within the top areas of these results, particularly the top three – the Google Local Listings Pack.

Areas Where They’re Similar

In part two of our series, we’ll be going over several distinct differences between organic and local SEO. However, there are also some areas where they’re similar or will require comprehensive approaches. A few examples:

• Keyword research is vital in both areas – organic SEO dictates broader, more general strategies while local SEO focused more intently on niches and locations.
• Location pages are also important across both areas, appearing in both standard SERPs and Google Local Listings Packs.
• Schema (a form of HTML coding) helps search engines grasp content’s purpose, and is useful in both areas.
• Online optimization matters across both themes, as NAP consistency is vital for local SEO.

For more on the differences between organic and local SEO, or to learn about any of our SEO, PPC or web design services, speak to the staff at SEO Werkz today.