Want SEO on the cheap? Check out these inexpensive options

A local businessperson, such as a real estate agent, can get away with making SEO their main digital marketing tool. Considering local SEO is free if you do it yourself, it has an excellent long term ROI.

Google and Bing Business

Simply verify your business with Google My Business and claim a place in Google maps. Your listing will feature a photo of your business if you submit one along with customer reviews. You can also claim a free business website from Google. Claim your Bing Places for Business page as well.

Citations

Citations are listings, such as a claimed Yelp page or a Yellow Pages listing, that have your correct business name, address and phone number. Citations serve as additional verification of your business to search engines.

Keywords

You do not need an expensive keyword planner; there are a number of free options online. Since keywords are simply phrases that someone would type in Google to find your business, imagine how someone would search for businesses in your area and start there.

Mobile Optimization

If consumers have difficulty viewing your website on a smartphone or tablet, you will lose business and lose points with Google. This may be one aspect of local SEO that you will have to pay for unless you already have a responsive website, which adapts to all screen sizes.

Images

Use ALT tags for all of your images, which helps the visually impaired, in addition to giving your SEO a boost. Search engines cannot read images; you must tell them what your image depicts.

Paid SEO Tools

There is a broad range of paid SEO tools available, however, professionals or individuals operating multiple websites use them to save themselves time. You will not see a return on your investment if you have one local website.

Reading the most popular tutorials and SEO magazines online will teach you enough to do your own SEO, saving money that you can put back into your business.