There are several ways to maximize the web presence of your bank or credit union website. Researching and utilizing optimized keywords and key phrases is a no-brainer. On-page SEO improves individual page rankings. Linking to internal pages simplifies navigation for better user experience, and you can reinforce your bank website’s credibility with links to external pages or websites.

Local SEO, also known as local search marketing, is a sure-fire method of gaining customers where your branches are located. Research shows that 80% of local searches convert into a sale when a user clicks through to your bank website. In this blog, you’ll learn simple actions you can take to improve your bank website rankings using local search.

 

Optimize Your Google My Business Listings

The first place to start increasing your search rankings is through the search engines themselves. Google My Business makes your bank website searchable through Google Search, Google Maps, and Local Finder. Once you’ve created a listing for each location and verified your financial institution, you’ll get the most out of your Google My Business account by optimizing it.

Be sure all information is complete and accurate for each location. Add photos or videos, business hours, address, phone number, website, and other data that will help customers. Finally, encourage customers to leave reviews on your listings. Regardless of whether the comment is positive or negative, responding to each one is good customer service.

 

Check Your NAP for Accuracy and Consistency

For customers to find you online, they must know your name, address, and/or phone number — also known as your NAP. Your NAP should be accurate and used consistently wherever your bank or credit union appears online. NAP inconsistencies can cause search engines to distrust your data, thus lowering your search rankings. Also, search results could point customers to the wrong bank website if your listing contains incorrect information.

 

Design Your Bank Website to be Mobile Friendly

An important bank website design feature is to be responsive for banking on the go. Most customers searching for your bank website on a mobile device are looking for directions, contact information, or reviews. If your website isn’t mobile-friendly, user experience will suffer. A responsive bank website is easier for your customers to use. Furthermore, Google ranks mobile-optimized sites higher.

 

Mention Your Location

Location, location, location — customers want to find a financial institution that is convenient and nearby. With local search, you should include your geographic area in your bank website’s homepage title, meta description, and content. This lessens confusion, especially if your bank has the same or a similar name to another financial institution. You wouldn’t want a search engine to list a bank across the country before yours or a customer to click through to the wrong financial institution when they search for your website.

 

Final Words

Search engine optimization goes beyond merely inserting keywords throughout your bank website, but don’t let SEO intimidate you. Optimizing local search makes boosting your search engine rankings easy. In addition to the tips we’ve shared, BankSITE® Services’ web development team can assist you with inserting the necessary code in your bank website to improve local search. Don’t risk losing customers because they can’t find you online!