Amidst the competitive digital business environment, every entrepreneur understands the significance of building a robust online presence.
One of the answers to it is SEO (Search Engine Optimization).
So, you don’t need an SEO expert in Dubai to tell you why you should do it.
However, global SEO or local SEO? That’s one head-scratcher dilemma, particularly in a market like Dubai brimming with opportunities but full of competition!
Should you compete in the broader league with global SEO or focus on strengthening your local presence and target prospects near you?
Remember, making the right choice matters, as no matter whether global or local, SEO takes time to materialize. This is where consulting the best SEO services in Dubai steps in.
Therefore, let’s compare both of these strategies and see which one would suit your business. The idea is to be equipped with insights to make an informed decision.
What is Search Engine Optimization (SEO)?
OK. Let’s begin by casting a wider net and understanding the broader term – SEO.
Fundamentally, SEO involves optimizing your website to rank higher (enhance your rankings) in organic search engine results. It is a strategy that focuses on improving visibility to a particular audience (global, regional, local, or even hyperlocal). The process involves improving various on-page and off-page elements to make the website searchable, rank, and thus, visible to the audience with a particular search query.
SEO aims at driving organic traffic to the website and generating leads by fulfilling the user’s intent. Thus, while working on SEO, businesses must ensure their content, site’s speed, design, and ease of navigation are SEO-friendly and make life for users simpler!
Let’s now see what local SEO means.
What is Local SEO?
A subset of the broader SEO term, local SEO, the name suggests, involves customizing search engine strategies for a particular geography. It optimizes a site’s online presence to drive local customers. Hence, it is a strategy that specifically serves brick-and-mortar businesses with a physical presence in a particular area.
Local SEO employs tactics like Google My Business (GMB) profile optimization, creating localized content, including local citations, and managing local customer reviews.
So, for instance, a retail store attempting to target prospects in a particular city, let’s say with terms like buy a washing machine in Dubai, best offers on headphones in Dubai, etc. Each word or term used in the above key search phrases means something and is tethered to the user’s intent, addressed and fulfilled by the local SEO efforts of the retail store.
Local SEO has its unique aspects to consider. So, let’s look at them along with those of SEO in the next section.
SEO vs Local SEO: A Comprehensive Comparison
Here’s what you should know between SEO and local SEO before you make a choice.
| Aspect | SEO | Local SEO |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | Wider, catering to a broader group of target audience. It could be at the national or global level, depending on factors like content, backlinks, etc. | It refers to driving highly targeted traffic that attracts local leads or prospects, often ready to convert into customers. |
| Outcomes | Results can take time, but consistent and focused efforts can yield sustainable results across a broader audience. | The ROI is often quicker due to a smaller geographic area and lower competition. |
| Keywords | Includes generic and high-traffic keywords. | Involves location-specific keywords. |
| Tools | Uses tools like Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and keyword planners. | Focuses on Google My Business, Google Maps, and local directories. |
| Ranking Factors | Backlinks, page speed, mobile-friendliness, content quality, and user experience. | Also includes local citations, NAP consistency, proximity, reviews, and GMB optimization. |
| Content Strategy | Guides, blogs, infographics, and videos targeting broader search intent. | Localized content, community events, city-specific and service area pages. |
| Technical SEO | Structured data, crawlability, mobile optimization, and speed. | Includes general SEO plus location-based schema markup. |
| Reviews | Helpful but optional, especially for broader target audiences. | Crucial – users heavily rely on local reviews and ratings. |
| Result Time Frame | Long-term – requires patience and sustained effort. | Shorter – delivers faster visibility in local markets. |
| Competition | High – competing nationally or globally. | Lower – competing with fewer local businesses. |
Which SEO Strategy Should You Adopt?
Honestly, we cannot generalize the answer. The choice largely depends on your business goals, objectives, and vision. A specific consultation with an SEO expert in Dubai, like us, will help you make an informed choice. Nevertheless, at a broader level, here’s some generic understanding.
SEO:
You can go for it if you are a software company, a SaaS provider, a manufacturing company, an eCommerce player, etc., with a national or global target market. The strategy proves to be ideal if you want to develop long-term brand authority and generate organic traffic from various regions. For example, you can consider investing in global SEO if you are a custom software development company with prospects from the US, UK, or Australia looking for partners like you. You can leverage global strategies to enhance your visibility.
Local SEO:
On the other hand, initially, you can adopt local SEO if you are a retail store, a restaurant, a salon, an educational institution, a local finance service provider, etc. People usually prefer local service providers and have a very high buying intent when they search for something within their geographical reach. You can graduate to broader SEO based on how you grow and fare in the local market and increase your geographical expanse.
Final Thoughts!
We honestly hope the above helps you make an informed decision whether to choose broader SEO or begin with local search engine optimization, based on your goals.
Nonetheless, specific consulting proves to be even more useful. It involves assessing your requirements, current search engine rankings, business objectives, target audiences, etc.
So, partner with BrainMine for the best SEO services in Dubai.
We are a trusted SEO expert in Dubai with experience and portfolio that include helping businesses rank across global and local SEO spectrums and enjoy sustainable rankings with robust strategies and ethical SEO practices. We also help you choose what’s right from the SEO perspective for your business and drive optimal value.
Want to discover more about our SEO support and how our strategy can drive delightful outcomes? Email us at info@brainminetech.com and allow our experts to help you navigate every aspect of our SEO support in the context of your business.