An SEO plan is essential to your marketing strategy for your event planning business. However, attempting to rank for any event planning-related searches can create a task that is too large to achieve. It also may not return the best results for your goals. Instead, consider focusing your SEO efforts on local SEO. This small change can make a big impact on your event planning business.
What Is Local SEO?
Local search engine optimization (SEO) focuses on improving your event planning business’ online presence for search results in a specific geographic region. The goal is to make finding your event planning business easier for people looking for a local business. Generally, businesses with a physical location use local SEO to help people find and visit the business. Local SEO can benefit event planners. It can increase awareness for those looking to hire someone to plan an event. It can also be beneficial for increasing awareness of events that are open to the public.
Increased Visibility in Local Searches
While generalized SEO works to increase your rankings in online search results, this won’t be effective when targeting people in a specific area. Local SEO helps your business rank better in local searches. That way, people in the geographic area where you work are more likely to see your business. Often, these types of searches take a form similar to these:
- Event planner near me
- Event planners in (place)
- (place) event planners
Competitive Advantage
The other event planners in your area may not target location-specific SEO keywords and terms. By including localized SEO strategies in your content marketing, you can help your event planning business stand out from the competition. Targeted content marketing also helps establish your brand and increase recognition, which helps your event planning business stand out when compared to other businesses.
Enhanced Trust and Credibility
Part of developing a local SEO strategy is to encourage current and past clients to write positive online reviews. These reviews lend credibility to your event planning business. This credibility leads to increased trust in your target client base. For some, it may encourage them to hire your event planning business for an event they want to host. For others, it can increase their trust and encourage them to purchase tickets to your event.
Cost-Effective Marketing
Utilizing local SEO can be a more cost-effective marketing strategy than traditional paid advertising and marketing. You do not have to incur additional costs to include relevant keywords in your content production, post on social media, use relevant hashtags, or optimize your Google Business Profile. Implementing these strategies can improve your return on investment (ROI).
Better Engagement with Local Community
Part of local SEO is staying active on social media. Tag your posts with a local location or use hashtags that include localized terms. This helps your social media appear in front of other users in the same area as you. It also signals to the search engine crawlers that you focus your business in a specific location. Both of these contribute to better performance in local search results. Use your social media to engage with your target audience and past clients. You can also use it to engage with venues, vendors, and other professionals related to the event planning industry.
Improved Client Retention
By regularly focusing on local SEO, you keep your business in the forefront of your target market’s mind. By staying consistent with visibility, you can develop a stronger relationship with current and past clients. This relationship can then be leveraged to turn one-time clients into repeat clients. As it costs more to obtain new clients, you can increase your profits by developing client loyalty.
Adaptability to Mobile Searches
You can increase your mobile adaptability by developing your Google Business Profile (GBP). About 58% of all web traffic worldwide comes from mobile devices. In addition, 57% of local searches are done on a mobile device. Your GBP is already optimized for mobile and will appear at the top of search results when someone searches for your business. When your GBP is completed, and up to date, your business looks legitimate and reputable.
Increased Event Bookings
Being more visible, increasing engagement, and having brand recognition will increase bookings. Simply being easier to find will make people more likely to book your business. People don’t want to work hard to find a business or service that they need. If you appear at the top of their search results, this is where they will start. If they like what you have to offer, they won’t continue to look; they will reach out to you.
Insights into Local Market Trends
When you record analytics for your local SEO efforts, you also inform yourself about local market trends. While there are general event planning industry trends, they may not align with your local market. There are also focused trends for different types of events. You can also track the behavior of your target market. Use your analytics to tailor your marketing efforts to speak directly to your target market. That way, you can yield better ROI for your efforts.
Improve Your Local SEO
Focusing on local SEO should be an essential part of your content marketing strategy. When done correctly, you can directly engage with your local community. Your brand’s prominence will increase, improving brand recognition. You can develop stronger relationships within the industry, enabling you to provide a higher quality service to your client. Your target audience will find you quickly, increasing your bookings.
One method for improving your local SEO is to attend local industry events. The Event Planner Expo 2024 is a perfect place to get started. Get your tickets NOW, especially for the Speaker Series, where you can glean insights to take your events business to the next level!
