As a lawyer, SEO and local SEO can be a great way to help increase your online presence and visibility. But do you know the difference between these two strategy techniques? Understanding the differences between the two is essential in finding out which approach will best suit your marketing goals.

Here, we’ll explain what exactly both of these terms mean, their common similarities and distinctions, as well as tips on how you might use each method to benefit your business. So let's dive in!

SEO vs. local SEO

Search engine optimization (SEO) and local SEO are two essential components of online marketing for businesses. Both aim to increase the visibility of a website in search engine results, but they differ in the scope of their efforts and the target audience they aim to reach.

SEO is a broad term that refers to the optimization of a website to improve its ranking in search engine results. It encompasses a wide range of tactics and strategies, including keyword research, content optimization, link building, and technical SEO, to help a website rank higher for relevant keywords and phrases. The goal of SEO is to improve the overall visibility of a website in search results and drive more organic traffic to the site.

Local SEO, on the other hand, is a subset of SEO that focuses specifically on optimizing a website for local search results. The goal of local SEO is to make it easier for people to find your business when they are searching for products or services in your area. Local SEO focuses on improving the online visibility of a business in local search results, including Google Maps, Google My Business, and other local directories.

Local businesses need local SEO

One of the key differences between SEO and local SEO is the target audience. SEO is focused on reaching a global or national audience, while local SEO is focused on reaching a local audience. This means that local SEO focuses on optimizing a website for keywords and phrases that include local terms, such as "best law firm in [city name]" or "attorneys near me."

Another difference is the type of optimization tactics used. While both SEO and local SEO focus on keyword optimization and link building, local SEO places a greater emphasis on local directories, Google My Business, and other local search platforms. This means that local SEO efforts are focused on building a strong presence in these platforms, including creating and verifying a Google My Business listing, claiming and verifying your business in local directories, and optimizing your website for local keywords and phrases.

Finally, the metrics used to measure success also differ between SEO and local SEO. While both rely on metrics like keyword rankings, organic traffic, and conversions, local SEO also focuses on metrics like local search visibility, local pack rankings, and local directory citations.

Conclusion

In summary, SEO and Local SEO are both important elements of digital marketing. While SEO focus on making a website easier to find in search engine results pages, local SEO targets prospects in specific geographical areas. Knowing the difference between the two can put a business in a prime position to drive quality leads to their business.

We hope this blog post has given you a clear understanding of how SEO and Local SEO work together. Armed with this knowledge, businesses can develop strategies that help boost their online visibility and make it easier for prospective leads to discover them.

If you're new to search engine optimization or have any questions about implementing either strategy, rest assured knowing there is an array of experts available to help optimize your website for success. Have questions? Feel free to reach out - we'd love to hear from you. To learn more about SEO for Law Practices, click here.