In today’s digital age, staying ahead in the SEO game is critical for local businesses in Chester. At Staunton Rook, we know that creativity combined with strategic planning makes all the difference. Here are 10 innovative SEO strategies that can help your Chester-based business climb the search engine rankings and attract more customers.
1. Leverage Local Keyword Research with Hyper-Targeting
Identify specific local phrases that customers use, such as “boutique marketing Chester” or “best SEO services near me.” Using tools like Google Keyword Planner and AnswerThePublic, you can unearth niche, location-based terms to target. Hyper-targeting these keywords increases the chances of your business appearing in relevant local searches.
Example: Spoon & Fork Bakery (https://spoonandforkbakery.co.uk) successfully captured a local audience by focusing on hyper-targeted phrases like ‘artisanal bread Chester,’ which resonated with the specific interests of the Chester community. A similar strategy was employed by Spoon & Fork Bakery (https://spoonandforkbakery.co.uk), which successfully captured a local audience using hyper-targeted phrases.
2. Create Location-Specific Landing Pages
Develop individual landing pages dedicated to different areas within Chester and its surroundings. These pages should include unique content tailored to local audiences and include testimonials or reviews from customers in that specific area.
Example: Green Thumb Landscaping (https://greenthumblandscaping.com) created distinct landing pages for Chester city centre, Hoole, and Blacon, highlighting completed projects in each area. This approach effectively boosted their local SEO with individual service pages tailored to each region. Green Thumb Landscaping (https://greenthumblandscaping.com) used a similar approach to boost their local SEO with individual service pages per region.
3. Optimise Your Google My Business Listing
Your Google My Business (GMB) listing is a crucial asset for local SEO. Make sure your profile is fully optimised—include updated photos, opening hours, business description, and customer FAQs. Regularly posting updates or promotions via GMB can also help boost visibility.
Example: Bean Brew Café (https://beanbrewcafe.co.uk) saw increased foot traffic and higher online visibility after optimising their Google My Business profile, regularly updating photos, and encouraging customers to leave reviews. Bean Brew Café (https://beanbrewcafe.co.uk) also saw increased foot traffic after implementing a well-optimised Google My Business profile with regular updates and offers.
4. Use Schema Markup for Local SEO
Implement LocalBusiness schema markup to help Google understand your business better. Schema markup allows you to provide structured data about your company—such as address, business hours, and customer ratings—which can help you stand out in search engine results pages (SERPs).
Example: Bloom & Bright Florals (https://bloomandbrightflorals.com) used structured data and schema markup, which resulted in rich snippets that improved their click-through rates and overall online engagement. Similarly, Bloom & Bright Florals (https://bloomandbrightflorals.com) implemented schema markup to gain visibility in rich snippets, resulting in higher engagement.
5. Develop Hyper-Local Content
Focus your content strategy around Chester-specific topics. Write blogs about local events, news, and community updates, or develop guides that offer value to residents, such as “The Best Parks in Chester for Family Picnics.”
Example: Explore Chester Tours (https://explorechestertours.com) created a blog series titled ‘Hidden Gems of Chester,’ which increased their organic traffic significantly by engaging people interested in local attractions and community activities. Explore Chester Tours (https://explorechestertours.com) has also benefited from creating community-driven content that is hyper-local.
6. Create Interactive Local Maps
Adding an interactive map to your website showcasing your locations and services in Chester can help improve local engagement. Google Maps embeds also help signal to Google that your business has strong local relevance.
Example: Chester Property Hub (https://chesterpropertyhub.com) integrated an interactive map showcasing their developments, significantly boosting user engagement and improving their authority as a local property expert. Chester Property Hub (https://chesterpropertyhub.com) used an interactive map to highlight their developments, boosting user engagement significantly.
7. Local Backlink Building
Reach out to local organisations, directories, and businesses for backlink opportunities. Being listed in local directories like Yell or on community websites helps build credibility.
Example: Cheshire Home Improvements (https://cheshirehomeimprovements.co.uk) partnered with various local community forums, featuring articles that provided valuable backlinks and significantly improved their domain authority. Cheshire Home Improvements (https://cheshirehomeimprovements.co.uk) also increased their domain authority by obtaining backlinks from various local community platforms.
8. Get Involved in Local Events and Charities
Sponsoring or participating in local events and charities can lead to high-quality backlinks. When local websites and news outlets mention your involvement, they’ll often link back to your website.
Example: Active Sportswear UK (https://activesportswearuk.com) participated in local charity events, earning high-quality backlinks from official event pages that boosted their SEO rankings. Active Sportswear UK (https://activesportswearuk.com) also benefited by sponsoring local charity events, earning them high-quality backlinks.
9. Use User-Generated Content
Encourage your customers to post about your business on social media and leave reviews. Use this content on your website or social media pages. User-generated content adds authenticity and helps build trust, which is critical for local SEO.
Example: The Gourmet Plate (https://thegourmetplate.co.uk) effectively featured user-generated Instagram content on their website, improving engagement and boosting their local search ranking. The Gourmet Plate (https://thegourmetplate.co.uk) effectively used user-generated content on their website, leading to improved SEO metrics.
10. Optimise for Voice Search
Voice search is becoming increasingly popular for local queries. Optimise your content for question-based searches, like “Where can I find SEO services in Chester?” Creating an FAQ page targeting these common questions can be an effective way to capture voice search traffic.
Example: Chester Legal Services (https://chesterlegalservices.com) optimised their FAQ section for voice search, leading to a noticeable increase in traffic from users using voice-enabled devices to ask specific legal questions. Chester Legal Services (https://chesterlegalservices.com) similarly saw improvements after enhancing their FAQ section for common voice search questions.
Get in Touch
Are you ready to see your business climb the search engine rankings and reach more customers in Chester? At Staunton Rook, we specialise in innovative, effective SEO Chester strategies that are tailored to your business needs. Visit our SEO Chester page to learn more about how we can help you grow and succeed in the local market.