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Here's how we did it
Our approach for the "2023 Local SEO Benchmark Report" was significantly greater than the 2020 report. We increased the dataset from 6 to 36 cities and from 6 to 14 retail branches, giving us a broader perspective. We analysed retailers in the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders) on two pillars: Google Business profile optimisation and reputation management.
Our research had specific research questions:
How do the Dutch and Belgian retail sectors perform in terms of local SEO?
What is the degree of optimisation of the Google Business Profile listings?
Is reputation management being taken seriously?
What are the most striking differences between the 14 industries analysed?
Are there any discernible differences between the Netherlands and Belgium, and between the 2020 and 2023 benchmarks?
Using SEO Data partner Flipstream's Google Data Scraper, we combined selected locations with relevant search terms, and then used SQL to analyse and categorise Google Maps search results based on industries.
What did we discover?
Total Optimisation Score
Despite some progress since 2020, it appears that more than half of business locations have an overall optimisation score of less than 50%. Only 19% achieve a score of 75% or higher. This demonstrates that retailers are not making optimal use of the (free) possibilities in Google Business Profile and that there is still plenty of space for improvement.
Difference in industries
Looking at the verticals, we see that banks score the worst in terms of local SEO, with an average optimisation score of 30%. On the other hand, the 'telecom' and 'electronics' sectors score best, with 57% and 59% respectively. In addition to the banks, there are the most opportunities for optimisation in the 'supermarket', 'car garage & car wash' sectors.
Netherlands vs Belgium
In terms of the differences between Dutch and Belgian companies, we see that Dutch retailers score slightly better on average than Belgians, with an average total optimisation score of 53% compared to 45%. Especially in the 'car garage & car wash' sectors, 'DIY store' and 'optician & hearing care professional', Dutch companies perform significantly better than their Belgian counterparts.
Want to know more about your organisation’s Local SEO performance?
Our specialists will perform a (free) Local SEO Opportunity Scan for any organisation with more than 10 physical locations. This scan will give you insights into how your organisation is performing based on the assessment points from the Local SEO benchmark report. Or would you like to know how Local SEO can help your organisation to grow?
More than 50% are only slightly optimised, or not optimised at all
Although the optimisation scores in 2023 are on average higher than in 2020, more than 50% of the business locations surveyed are only slightly optimised, or not optimised at all. More specifically, 30% of all business locations have optimisation scores of below 25%. Only 19% of the locations analysed achieve an overall optimisation score of 75% or higher. These figures show that there is a significant opportunity for improvement in local SEO within the retail sector. If we look at specific optimisations, we see, for example, that a large number of business locations are missing additional categories in their Google Business Profile which means that potential customers receive limited information about the nature of the services offered, which causes reduced visibility in local search results.
Only 26% of business locations have ever posted a Google Post. So, the vast majority are not taking advantage of this free advertising opportunity.
It also emerged that a significant number of business locations do not make full use of the space available for a business description, and often add less than 10 photos, which affects the attractiveness of their profiles and conversion.
Another notable point is that a significant percentage of business locations do not use UTM tracking when placing a website link in their Google Business Profile, making it impossible to analyse the traffic to their website. In addition, a significant portion of business locations remain unclaimed, meaning that organisations do not have full control over their own locations' information.
Reputation management
More than half of the reviews (52%) are missing text and only have a star rating, resulting in reduced visibility for relevant search terms. In addition, 39% of business locations have a rating of less than 4.0 stars or no reviews at all, which can negatively impact their reputation and conversion.
The striking thing is that 88% of reviews with a score of less than 3 stars do not receive a response from the owner, which means that retailers are failing when considered in terms of customer service. Only 11% of business locations respond to a review at least once, indicating limited engagement with customers.
The differences in ratings by industry are striking, with companies in 'storage' and 'car garage & car wash' having the highest average rating, while 'banks' have the lowest. There are also differences between the Netherlands and Belgium, especially in the frequency of responding to reviews. The Netherlands is more active in 10 out of the 14 industries we analysed. The decrease in the percentage of business locations that do not respond to reviews at all (from 92% in 2020 to 88% in 2023) indicates that there has been some improvement in responsiveness. The increase in the number of reviews per business location is significantly higher in the 2023 Benchmark than in 2020, indicating growing customer engagement in sharing their experiences.
The most important conclusion: improvement is essential
Our analysis in 2023 shows that Dutch and Belgian retail chains still have room for growth in local SEO, similar to our findings in 2020. While average optimisation scores are improving, more than half of business locations are still under-optimised.
Dutch companies show slight progress compared to Belgians, but in both countries, retailers can get more out of local SEO optimisations by adding categories and adding opening hours and photos.
In conclusion, local SEO in 2023 requires not only visibility but also active interaction with customers. Businesses that embrace this opportunity not only improve their online presence but also build a positive relationship with their target audience.
2023 Local SEO Benchmark Report
For the 2023 Local SEO Benchmark, we analysed nearly 100,000 business locations in 36 cities in the Netherlands and Belgium, across 14 different industries. Curious about how the retail sector in the Netherlands and Belgium is doing in terms of Local SEO? Find out in our 2023 Local SEO Benchmark Report .
Robin van der Sar
SEO consultantRobin is local SEO lead at iO. His passion for local SEO started 10 years ago when he led local SEO projects for SMEs. Over the years, his focus changed from SMEs to retail chains with dozens to hundreds of business locations at home and abroad. What remained unchanged is his love for local SEO and his drive to achieve the best local SEO results for his clients.
Clarissa Filius
Teamlead SEOWith over a decade of experience, Clarissa Filius, a Senior SEO specialist, is known for her expertise in Local SEO. Currently serving as a Team Lead for SEO, CRO, and Marketing Automation at iO, Clarissa has delivered results for global brands, establishing herself as a respected authority in the field.
Publishers are permitted to use the charts and data in this report with credit to iO and a link to the URL of this article. If you have any questions about the report, please contact robin.vandersar@iodigital.com or clarissa.filius@iodigital.com.
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3 trends in content marketing for 2024
Users are becoming increasingly mobile: they're freely moving from channel to channel, looking for the content they want to consume. So keeping an eye on trends and taking full advantage of them is more important than ever. After all, trends offer a perfect opportunity to be creative. But what can we expect in 2024? In this blog, you'll discover three trends you can address to increase your impact with your target groups.Read moreBlog
The six digital and marketing trends for 2024
The rise of AI, shifts in the social media landscape, and the end of third-party data...2023 was, to say the least, a tumultuous year. But this year, marketers and their organizations are also facing significant challenges. Discover the six digital and marketing trends that will dominate 2024 and, most importantly, how you can successfully tackle them.Read moreBlog
Historical data export - Universal Analytics
Deadline for exporting Universal Analytics: 1st of July 2024 After the 1st of July 2024, it will no longer be possible to access data in Universal Analytics. Therefore, it’s essential to take timely action and export the data before that day. By exporting the data before the access is closed, you can gain valuable insights, store the data securely and take any further actions. It is wise not to do this at the last minute, as there may be obstacles, such as errors in extraction or technical challenges. To avoid potential problems, it is advisable to transfer the data in time to environment where it can be stored securely. That way, you can later use the data for further analysis or transformation purposes. By acting now, you can ensure that you don’t lose the valuable data and are well prepared for the future. So don't wait until the last minute - make sure you export the data from Universal Analytics before 1 July to a secure environment, where you can continue to use it.Read moreBlog
Content marketing has become communication (and that’s bad news)
Does content marketing still serve a purpose in 2024? Patrick Severein (Head of Content and Strategist) raises some questions.Read moreBlog
Why is always-on gaining ground over ad hoc campaigns?
In the marketing optimisation of larger iO clients - such as Brussels Airport and Lidl - we see a shift from ad hoc campaigns to always-on. There are a few logical explanations for this trend. And both the elimination of cookies and the focus on the customer experience (CX) have a lot to do with it.Read moreBlog
Discover conversational AI search
Conversational search in the form of an AI chatbot lets your website visitors interact with your content, resulting in a better customer experience.Read moreBlog
What is search intent? And why is it important for SEO?
When you look something up on the Internet, you always do so with a specific intention. Whether it's to gather information, compare products or actually make a purchase. Either way, you want to see results that match your intent as closely as possible. This intent - called search intent - is a crucial factor for both Google and marketers.Read moreBlog
Enhance your brand experience with strong content
Do you want to capture your target audience’s hearts? Well, great content is one way to achieve that. After all, positive content experiences are an essential part of the customer experience. They strengthen your brand and increase your growth opportunities. Find out how to build brand loyalty with consistent, quality content.Read moreBlog
Marketing budget allocation for 2025: data driven or a roll of the dice?
For many marketers, allocating budgets for the year ahead is a real headache. Will you carry your budget over from last year – even though technology is evolving at lightning speed and the marketing world could look completely different tomorrow? Or will you follow your intuition and take a chance? Fortunately, data modelling exists allowing you to allocate your budget with the certainty that you are spending it in the right place, and at the right time.Read moreBlog
The energy transition is enormous, how do you make it personal?
How do you explain the energy transition? iO and Enexis developed a permanent campaign with smart tech and several storylines.Read moreBlog
AI is changing how we search and it is time for brands to face this head-on
The impact of AI on search engine marketing and business models is huge. So start experimenting now, advises iO CEO Pieter Janssens.Read moreBlog
The professional communication dilemma: To email or not during the festive season.
Email campaigns during December are always a challenge. The volume of email increases steadily every month of the year and reaches a peak during the festive season. For example, MailChimp, the leading email service (according to their 2023 annual report) sends no less than 21.3 billion emails in December. Do you want to know how to make sure your festive emails reach your target audiences?Read moreBlog
6 tips for maintaining focus in a fragmented MarTech landscape
Navigating the rapidly expanding MarTech landscape can be overwhelming, but with a clear strategy and focused approach, you can build an effective MarTech stack that drives your marketing success.Read moreBlog
From a brilliant seasonal whodunnit, to cringe-worthy singing oven mitts: here’s the very best (and worst...) Christmas commercials of 2024.
It's the most wonderful time of the year again! Christmas! Or no, better still: it’s time to feast our eyes on the spectacular (British) Christmas commercials. They’ve released a tidal wave of clichés (snow, turkey, tears, Santa Claus/women in all shapes and sizes and gifts, lots of gifts). What’s striking about this year: the brands you expect a lot from are disappointing (spoiler 1: Disney...) (spoiler 2: John Lewis...) and brands that you don't expect much from after years of misery and gloom, excel (spoiler 3: Etsy). Let’s get into the festive spirit with 2024’s Christmas offerings.Read moreDossier
Dossier: Brands & society
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Dossier: E-commerce
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Dossier: Infinite Opportunities
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Dossier: Cookieless future
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Dossier: Video marketing
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Dossier: Marketplaces
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Dossier: Google Analytics 4
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Dossier: B2B - Turning B2B challenges into solutions
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Dossier: Marketing automation
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Dossier: Successful marketing budgets and plans
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Dossier: Holiday marketing: how to score as a brand with Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Christmas
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24 insights for 2024
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Dossier: The Opportunity Report
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Infinite opportunities: Steven De Deyne (Proximus)
"With digital transformation, you can deliver added value to your customers," says Steven De Deyne, Head of Media and Production Competence Center Proximus), it in this video.Read moreVideo
Infinite opportunities: Dorien Gevers (Carglass)
The Carglass website is a crucial platform, but other channels — digital and non-digital — are also very important in the omnichannel approach. Giving a personalised experience to every customer, with content tailored to their stage in the customer journey. Dorien Gevers (Email marketer at Carglass) explains every stage.Read moreVideo
Infinite opportunities: Leslie Cottenje (CEO Hello Customer)
The decision to digitise has to start from the customer, not from an internal, business perspective. That's what Leslie Cottenje, CEO of Hello Customer thinks. Technology can help improve customer satisfaction, but the human factor has to be central. She tells you all about her vision in this video.Read moreVideo
Are you fed up with boring marketing too?
Our attention spans are shorter, we skip commercials, and we click from video to video all the time. When consumers are bombarded with an avalanche of content every day, how can your brand stand out? Ruth Nys explains how to do creative content marketing without falling into the same old boring marketing tactics trap. Expert:Ruth Nys, Strategy Director ContentRead moreVideo
Steven Van Belleghem: The cost of poor 'Customer Experience' is frequently underestimated.
Companies are unaware of the enormous the cost of bad customer experiences. Out-of-pocket costs such as customer service are being pushed up, at a time when it’s becoming more difficult and expensive to find new customers.And this is happening while the brand credibility is declining and there is erosion in terms of new business development. In the video below, Steven Van Belleghem calls for more investment in customer focus, as a driver for a successful 2025.Read moreVideo
AI - The future is not what it used to be
Do you remember when ... the invention of the computer caused a seismic shift in the job market? People unwilling to work with computers were quickly replaced by people who were; and today everyone carries a laptop. Today the same thing is happening with AI. In this webinar, Rodger Werkhoven will share his passion for Artificial Intelligence and introduce you to OpenAI as a love brand.Read moreVideo
The Canon of Flanders: from Van Eyck’s brothers' Ghent Altarpiece to Rock Werchter.
From Van Eyck’s brothers' Ghent Altarpiece to Rock Werchter: the Canon of Flanders is finally here. The much-discussed list resulted in a bulky book of more than 300 pages and includes an overview of the Flemish language, culture, and history from the end of the last ice age to today. But there is also an online version: www.canonvanvlaanderen.be . iO developed this on behalf of the Commission Canon of Flanders, which received a mandate from the Flemish Government, Department of Education & Training.Read moreVideo
Primagaz & iO: a shared journey of growth and success
Discover the fruitful collaboration between Primagaz and iO in this 'Walk and Talk' video. In this video, you'll get a behind-the-scenes look at the collaborative dynamics between Primagaz and iO. We discuss how we dealt with challenges, how we exploited opportunities and what strategies we developed. We'll take you through our shared journey of growth and success, where trust and a commitment to excellence are central. This Walk and Talk is more than just a conversation - it is a celebration of a collaboration that has stood the test of time. It is a story of mutual growth, of learning and evolving, and of creating value for both organizations.Read moreVideo
Video: Leaving no one behind digitally (David De Block)
In his talk at the 2023 BAM Marketing Congress, David De Block (Public Services Director at iO) talks about e-inclusion — or what it means to leave no one behind digitally.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: Brandt & Levie turns the meat industry on its head
For Brandt & Levie, responsible production is not an afterthought, but the core business. The Amsterdam sausage maker produces animal-friendly meat according to its own recipe — exclusively from well-kept pigs. An impactful story about sustainability in an industry that sometimes struggles to find it.Read moreVideo
Challenger Stories: Natuurhuisje protects local biodiversity
Natuurhuisje is not just a booking platform for holiday homes, it's a full-fledged climate company. Nature is at the heart of everything they do, and it's — in their own words — their responsibility to protect it. The booking platform is merely a means to that end. That's why Natuurhuisje donates part of its revenue back to local projects to improve biodiversity.Read moreCase
How do you support expats moving around the world?
Gosselin, active in international relocations, wanted more leads to boost growth. Our experts helped to bolster their digital presence.Look at this client storyCase
How does De Kindertelefoon enhance online reach through clever and creative utilization of TikTok?
For De Kindertelefoon we developed a channel and content strategy to reach kids and young people on TikTok.Look at this client storyCase
How can a Flemish brand get a foothold in the Walloon market?
iO helps Torfs, the Flemish shoe giant, to position itself better in the Walloon market and as a fashion player. Read more about this case.Look at this client storyCase
How to optimise and increase the conversion rate in specific target audience groups?
Maximizing ROI: iO's Approach to Boosting Conversion Rate in Beobank's Campaigns. Read the full story here.Look at this client storyCase
How to combine rebranding and site redesign for a better user experience?
Creating a Cohesive Platform: Assuralia's Rebranding and Site Redesign for Enhanced User Experience Read the story here.Look at this client storyCase
How to use social networks to modernise your digital communication?
Modernizing Automotive Digital Communications: Unleashing the Potential of Social Networks. Read the story here.Look at this client storyCase
How do you convert festival- goers into active members of your community?
From Festival Wristbands to Online Accounts: Converting Festival-Goers with Effective Paid Media. Read the story here.Look at this client storyCase
How do you strengthen your market position as a recruitment and staffing expert with a new brand?
YER is already big but aspired to double their presence in the world of recruitment and selection and secondment. iO helped them with creating a new brand, internal branding, external activation online and offline and bringing 3 websites into 1 site for all target groups.Look at this client storyCase
How do you bring years of delicious creativity to life?
With creative always-on and ad hoc campaigns, our experts help Manna Sauzen grow into a leading Belgian brand.Look at this client storyCase
How do you launch a completely new brand for a global leader in marine recreation?
Read how we worked with Brunswick to create a full branding and international go-to-market strategy to launch their latest brand Navan.Look at this client storyCase
How can a network manager ensure we navigate the energy transition successfully?
Discover how awareness, behaviour change, and hyper-local personalization lead to cost efficiency and relevance at the right moment.Look at this client storyCase
How we blend technology and marketing for online pharmacy Farmaline
How does iO keep its long-term relationship with Farmaline fresh as a daisy? By mixing trust with a profitable synergy of tech and marketing services.Look at this client storyCase
How do you make customers salivate for your brand again?
Find out how we helped cheese brand CAMBOZOLA reactivate its existing customers and attract younger generations. Read the case.Look at this client storyCase
How has fresh branding contributed to a stronger position in the market?
For Prowise, an interactive display and educational software expert, iO designed a new WordPress website complemented by a new brand voice and copy.Look at this client storyCase
Finding and offering the right location to turn a special event into a favourite memory
Discover how iO made the websites and the personal admin portal of High Profile Locaties more manageable, findable and scalable. Read the case study.Look at this client storyCase
Repositioning a meat brand in full transition
Discover how iO helped Imperial transform into a future-proof food brandLook at this client storyCase
How to deliver a consistent brand experience across 35 countries
How do you develop a digital and internationally deployable retailer concept that takes your customer experience to the next level?Look at this client storyCase
How to catch the attention of students who swipe away every ad?
Discover how Avans University of Applied Sciences and iO attracted over 20,000 new student choosers with creative, data-driven campaigns. Learn strategies that hold Gen Z's attention and create strong brand connections. Get inspired and discover how to entice your target audience.Look at this client storyCase
Impacting the traveller and environment through technology
Brussels Airport: a look at the digital platforms iO built for the ultimate passenger experience.Look at this client storyCase
How we put Brussels Airport on the map with influencer marketing
iO takes Brussels Airport to new heights with influencer marketing. Read how we did it.Look at this client storyCase
How does a leader in furniture hardware ensure GDPR compliance and cost efficiency for all their banners?
We ensured GDPR-compliant, cost-efficient cookie management for Van Hoecke's platforms using CookieHub. Read our success story.Look at this client storyCase
How do you double your mobile conversion within 4 years?
What it takes to make booking as easy as possible for you? Discover the power of a strong management vision, a streamlined work process, and long-term, open, and transparent collaboration between Landal GreenParks and iO.Look at this client storyCase
How do you optimise a colourful campaign with data?
Gaining insight into the customer journey in a data-driven way with journey miningLook at this client storyPage
WWVD: Download the presentations of Wednesday 29 March 2023!
The first day of the Webwinkel Vakdagen (WWVD) is over! Still want to reminisce? Download the presentations of the lightning talks here.Read morePage
WWVD: Download the presentations of Thursday 30 March 2023!
The first day of the Webwinkel Vakdagen (WWVD) is over! Still want to reminisce? Download the presentations of the lightning talks here.Read morePage
Give the Webwinkel Vakdagen (WWVD) a successful follow-up, together with iO!
As far as we are concerned, the Webwinkel Vakdagen (WWVD) was a great success! Did you think so too?Read more