With Google processing well over 100 billion queries per month, 43% of which are local in nature, it may be safe to say that if you want local customers to find you, you have to invest in SEO- but for many small businesses, Search Engine Optimization can be a confusing subject.
At Web Strategies, our focus is to help our clients create an online marketing strategy that will get positive results with a manageable level of effort and/or money. The best part is, most of our clients are small businesses! We know exactly what steps you need to take to ensure that your website is found easily by potential clients.
Get Your Business on Google+
When people search for you, does your phone number show up? Are you listed on Google Maps? Is the right address and website listed? From a local SEO point of view, nothing beats having your company listed on Google+. Through your GMB (Google My Business) dashboard, you can see and manage reviews, categories, directions, stars, photo uploads, interior photos, maps and hours. This information is vital to get found quickly on Google maps and SERP (search engine result pages), even if your website isn’t optimized yet. Verify your business and see the difference it makes!
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Customers for Reviews
We all know that reviews make or break a local business in SERPs – a fact backed up by a recent study from BrightLocal that shows 92% of consumers read online reviews and that star rating is the #1 factor used by consumers to judge a business. The problem is, most customers don’t typically review businesses that they interact with on a daily basis unless something goes wrong. So why not ask happy customers to post a review?
Marketing Land recommends asking customers in person.
“At the end of the sale, there is now no person better positioned to ask for a review than the sales associate. The associate can explain that it helps other customers who are researching them and gives a true perspective on the business.” -Brian Patterson, Marketing Land
Optimize Your Social Media Profiles
Clients ask us all the time which social media sites they should use in marketing efforts for their businesses, and the reality is that there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer. One thing is true, however, and that is that it’s counterproductive to divide your time among the many different networks that exist. We always recommend choosing the platforms that are most relevant to your business/industry.
Once you decide which profiles you will be using, make sure they’re optimized! This means adding descriptions, photos, native video (if possible) and utilizing hashtags. But also, continuously check that the information you provide is up-to-date and accurate.
Expert tip: If you can get your keyword or phrase in your profile or page name, it will help it rank best in keyword searches on Google and within the social network search itself. But ultimately, the name of your profile or page should be focused on branding for your business name.
Build Links By Making Your Content Shareable
The surefire way to drive traffic to your website is to publish highly engaging and shareable content. But how? Here are our tips for creating shareable content:
- Make sure everything’s mobile friendly
- Add native social sharing buttons
- Use visual content that will resonate with your customers
- Make your content useful to the reader (guides, tutorials, how-to’s, FAQs)
- Be consistent
Much like a website, any online profile that is representing you and your business should be a reflection of what you “stand” for and should be a reliable and interesting portal of information that will engage your followers. There are so many tools and options out there for anyone to consider when progressing into the online marketing world but the key is to stay true to what makes sense for your goals and your target audience.
If you are feeling overwhelmed with the options for improving your overall SEO, let us take that weight off your shoulders and show you the surprisingly easy steps to moving forward.