As a storage facility owner, you’re undoubtedly busy with all of the heavy lifting involved in your business. You may not have the time to pursue new leads when you’re busy in the self storage industry. Consider instead maximizing this secret weapon—local SEO keywords.
For those who aren’t familiar with self storage SEO (Search Engine Optimization), it’s a crucial component of online storage marketing and sales efforts. When people search for “self storage near me” on Google or Bing, you want to appear first (that’s why makes SEO your new best friend!). However, the only way to ensure that you’re on the coveted first page of search results is by following proper SEO procedures, which can be a complex and ever-changing puzzle.
You can always count on Bluebird Storage Marketing for the latest trends and marketing ideas for self storage facilities. We work diligently with storage partners to help their businesses thrive.
That’s where we come in! This blog post will outline an easy-to-follow self storage SEO checklist to help you climb to the top of search engine results pages (SERPs). By following these simple tips, you can increase website traffic and, as a result, boost your business.
If you want to rank at the top of Google, check out our local self storage SEO checklist for pointers and ideas on how to get started.
What is Local Self Storage SEO?
Let’s take a moment to learn more about why local SEO is so essential for storage websites before we get started.
If you’re somewhat familiar with how SEO works, we’ll go a step further and dive into local SEO. It’s not enough to optimize your items or services for Google if you’re a little fish in a big pond. If you have so many company listings in a county, state, or even country, it’s critical to focus on local SEO keywords.
What is a local SEO keyword, exactly? It could be as simple as “self storage in Ontario,” but it doesn’t pinpoint a precise location. Specific local keywords focus on a particular city or destination. “Self storage in Burlington, Ontario” will improve your chances of being discovered by new leads, and Google will reward you for specificity. You’ll want to sprinkle these local keywords throughout your storage website in storage marketing materials, blogs, web pages, and other content.
Let’s look at your most essential local self storage SEO strategies now that we’ve learned a little more about what those local ratings imply.
The Local Self Storage SEO Checklist
Now that you know why local keywords are vital let’s go over the must-have local self storage SEO checklist for every self storage SEO company. Trust us. You don’t want to miss a single step in the self storage marketing process.
1. Determine Your List of Services
You must first establish your main list of services to achieve the desired ranks. Because you run a self storage facility, you probably provide various services to your local customers, but if you’re too general in your description, your chances of ranking decline. Do you offer temperature-controlled storage units? Vehicle and boat storage? Be specific about the features of your storage unit.
Consider prioritizing your top five or ten services and optimizing your local self storage SEO words around them. It isn’t enough to say that one location offers “climate-controlled storage.” Choose a handful of cities where you do business regularly and optimize your keywords accordingly. “Climate-controlled storage in Edmonton” is an excellent example of a focused keyword that will give you a better chance to rank on the first page of SERPs.
2. Complete Your Google My Business Profile
The first step in any successful SEO campaign is claiming and completing your Google My Business profile. This one-stop shop for business owners allows you to manage your business listing on Google and track insights such as website visits and customer leads. Make sure to fill out every section of your GMB profile, including the description, hours, photos, and services offered. You should also add target keywords to help improve your chances of ranking in local search results.
Ensure that your GMB description and postings are always kept up to date with keywords to improve your ranks and ensure that your company’s location on Google Maps is correct. This is a simple method for promoting your self storage SEO company.
3. Research Your Local Keywords
When it comes time to start researching local keywords, you’ll want to have a plan. You can use free or paid keyword research tools like Google AdWords Keyword Planner, KWFinder, or Wordtracker to help you get started. Start by brainstorming a list of potential keywords related to your storage business and the services.
You’ll want to focus on long-tail keywords, three or more words strung together. They’re more specific than one or two-word keywords and are usually easier to rank for. For example, “self storage in Toronto” is a two-word keyword, while “how to store an antique dresser in self storage” is a long-tail keyword. The longer the keyword, the more specific it is.
If you’re overly general with your keywords, you won’t be able to achieve the appropriate rankings. You don’t have to compete against giant corporations that purchase hundreds of SEO keywords when you define your services and location. Instead, concentrate on what you can influence – and develop a strategy for how to do so. Additionally, make sure to optimize your website for voice search.
If self storage marketing sounds overwhelming, don’t worry. You don’t have to tackle the world of self storage SEO alone. Storage marketing professionals can take care of all of the details while growing your business.
4. Optimize Your Website
Your website’s objective is to assist your rankings, but it won’t be as efficient as you would want it to be without the appropriate keywords. Make sure your meta descriptions, title tags, headers, and content are relevant to your region. Knowing your market and optimizing for relevant phrases will only benefit you in the long run.
Optimize the Following On Storage Websites:
- Meta Descriptions
- Title Tags
- Headers
- Content
5. Submit Your Website to Local Directories
For local customers to find your website, you’ll need to submit it to the most popular local directories. These directories are crawled and indexed by search engines, so including your business will give you a better chance of being found online. Popular local directories include Google My Business, Yelp, and Foursquare, but others depend on your region.
6. Get Reviews and Testimonials
When potential customers search for self storage in their area, reviews are one of the first things they will evaluate. If you don’t have any reviews, or if they’re all negative, that’s not going to give searchers a good impression of your company.
The best way to get reviews is by simply asking your customers. You can do this via email, social media, or in person. Asking for testimonials is also a great way to get some positive reviews. If you have any existing satisfied customers, reach out to them and see if they’d be willing to write a short testimonial that you can post on your website.
7. Manage Your Social Media Accounts
Social media is a powerful marketing tool, and it’s also great for SEO. Platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram allow you to connect with potential and existing customers. You can also use social media to share blog posts, photos, and videos related to your storage business.
In order to get the most out of social media for SEO, you’ll need to make sure your accounts are set up correctly and that your profile is filled out completely. You should also include keywords in your account’s name and bio.
For example, if you’re a self storage company in Toronto, you could include keywords like “self storage” and “Toronto” in your Twitter handle.
Additionally, make sure to post regularly and interact with other users. The more active you are on social media, the better your chance of being found by potential customers.
8. Start a Blog
One of the best ways to improve your storage website’s SEO is starting a blog. A blog gives you a platform to share helpful storage tips, industry news, and information about your business.
When writing blog posts, include relevant keywords so that your articles show up in search results. You should also share your blog posts on social media and other online platforms, and this will help increase traffic to your website and improve your SEO.
The bottom line is that self storage SEO is vital for any storage business that wants success. By following the tips above, you can create a solid SEO self storage marketing strategy that will help to improve your website’s search rankings and bring in more customers.
However, the process can be simplified by hiring a company specializing in storage marketing. Self storage SEO is important, but the task doesn’t have to fall on your shoulders alone.
When you work with self storage SEO experts, they will take care of all SEO tasks for local businesses. This will free up your time to focus on other aspects of your business, like customer service and operations. Plus, you can be sure that the company you work with knows what they’re doing and has a proven track record of success. So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the task of SEO, it might be time to consider working with a storage marketing company to build your self storage website.
Are you interested in more tips for your self storage SEO company? Contact Bluebird Storage Marketing for more information about partnerships, self storage SEO, and more.
