These days, people tend to discover new businesses through Google. They’ll search for what they need, and then choose which businesses to contact based on what they see in the results.
Do you want your business to show up when people search for the kind of products or services you provide? Of course you do, and you can make your business easier to discover through search engines with SEO, which stands for “Search Engine Optimization.”
Here are a few very easy ways to improve your business’s SEO efforts:
Set Up Google Business Profile
Rule number one for small business SEO is setting up a Google Business Profile. This tells Google – and potential customers – that your business is legitimate. A Google Business Profile is free to set up, and it lets you share important details about your business, such as your phone number, hours, location, and products or services.
The more information you include in your Google Business Profile, the easier it is for someone to find your business when searching for products or services like yours in your local area (i.e. “pizza restaurant near me”). To optimize your Google Business Profile, make sure it includes a brief yet informative description of your business, your industry, and high-definition photos.
Leverage User-Generated Content
Any small business knows the power of social proof, like reviews and testimonials. Well, social proof can improve your SEO efforts as well, giving you yet another reason to encourage your customers to leave reviews, testimonials, or any kind of positive feedback on your website or social media platforms. Search engines favor websites with fresh and relevant content. You can also add reviews and testimonials to your Google Business Profile, so users will see them when checking out your business.
List Your Business on Directories
Your website, Google Business Profile, and social media platforms aren’t the only places where people review your business. Many people also trust other review websites and business directories like Yelp or TripAdvisor. These websites are usually the first links to show up on Google when someone searches for products or services in a specific location. If your business is not listed on popular niche or local directories, you are losing out on second-hand search traffic.
Not sure which directories you should be listed on? To find out, simply Google “(what your business does) in (location).” Your business should be listed on whatever directories show up on the first page of results.
Blogging!
Blogging is a popular SEO strategy because it’s free and it can be highly effective if you follow the golden rule of blogging: be helpful. Search engines favor in-depth, detailed content that features relevant information about the topic.
You know what kind of problems your customers have. Blogging gives you a platform to provide the information they need to solve them. Posting content that speaks directly to your customers’ problems is a great way to outperform other players in your industry on Google, not to mention giving you more valuable content to share on social media.
If you’ve noticed a theme throughout this article, it’s legitimacy. SEO is about showing Google that your business deserves to be ranked highly because you check all the boxes of a legitimate business, like a good reputation and a solid understanding of your customers. For further advice on how to maximize SEO for your small business, contact our team of marketing experts and enthusiasts at The Found Gen today.