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Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process that makes a website better for search engines resulting in improvement in quality and quantity of online traffic to that site. Do not think that only big businesses need SEO. A local business i.e. a small company can get the advantage of SEO. This definitive guide to small business SEO is intending to help you lead in local search.
Introduction
Small business SEO is simply the Local SEO in which a website is optimized for region-specific results. For example, ‘near me’ key phrase followed by your keyword enables users to find the products and services available in their respective locations.
In fact, optimizing your small business website meant for local searches includes many steps same as regular SEO. This guide will help curious minds through the SEO basics in a way that brings sense for smaller websites, plus the extras you need to know about local SEO.
Note – This ultimate guide is prepared not just for small businesses but also for medium businesses that target a specific region at a limited budget. If your business is something big and eyeing to tap a wider audience, you can check out our post – 7 strategies to increase your online presence.
Small business SEO and local search ranking factors
There are four primary things search engines decide what to rank in a local search result. They are –
- Is your website ready to rock?
- What’s the location of your store? Is that near to the searchers?
- What are you offering? Is it related to what the person is looking for?
- What’s the level of your online reputation?
If you are very serious about optimizing your small business but do not know how to begin, stay with us. The rest of the post would let you know the most essential factors to succeed at local SEO.
Step 1: Build a good website
Having a good website is the first step to take your business to the next level. It does not mean your website should be absolutely perfect from all angles; however, your site needs to satisfy the basic standards pertaining to small business SEO parameters.
Make sure your website ensures a good user experience by making it fully responsive, reducing loading time and offering easy navigation. These all are very important from small business SEO perspectives.
Some businesses do not have a website, and if you are one of them, fill this lacuna today. You can get started with a WordPress website design. If you are completely unaware of WordPress website promotion, you can follow our WordPress SEO Guide for Beginners.
Branding at Limited Budget
Branding means stuff such as a company’s logo and tagline. Make sure your logo and tagline represent your company without further explanation. They bring recognition and add values to your business. Branding is essential for small, mid as well as large size businesses. This is why you must work on your branding even at your limited budget too.
You must have a presence on social media networks. You can take advantage of them for branding purposes.
Step 2: Let Google know your exact location
In order to display your business in the right places, you should let Google know your address properly. It’s crucial to align your info across the platforms you operate on. Search engines regularly check the details to make sure that the details are the same everywhere.
Make a contact page
Your job is not limited to letting search engines know the place of your local store. Online visitors too need to know your business address. You can mention the location at your website footer in addition to creating a separate contact page with embedding a Google map to let customers reach the place without any hindrance.
Besides, mention your email address and telephone/mobile number clearly on your website.
Local business structured data
When it comes to local business SEO, having a proper structured data keeps significance. Keeping NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) correct at all times is inevitable for local businesses. All these things are better managed through structured data. It is created using Schema.org and later added to the website.
It might sound technical for you. No worries. Our technical team can help you out. Apart we can help you add your city and state in the title of your pages for easier recognition.
Google My Business
Google My Business (GMB) is a free profile listing tool offered by Google itself. The GMB lets business owners promote their company in the search results as well as on Google Maps. It can also facilitate you to position in your specific area. You can improve your listing with a list of ways supported by GMB too.
In addition to location address, you can add logo, photos, videos, opening and closing hours, and your products and services here. The GMB listing can let you connect with your customers better.
Always maintain the same name, address and phone number on both your GMB page and your website. Be sure to include your website link in your GMB listing. Taking it as a medium, Google understands the relationship between them. Read our blog on Google My Business: The Complete Guide 2023 and GOOGLE MY BUSINESS OPTIMIZATION CHECKLIST.
Step 3: Write content about what you offer
Content is the most crucial stuff search engines consider while ranking a website. When you wish to rank a certain keyword, it’s important to prepare the content with relevance to that search term. With its rich algorithm, Google connects users with the products and services they’re looking for.
Before you write the content, you need to make sure about your niche and research which keywords need to be targeted.
Find your niche and your long-tail keywords
You should amass all your efforts to make your small business SEO quite effective. As you know content mostly decides your position in search results, you should prepare an informative piece on your niche by maintaining appropriate keyword density.
As long-tail keywords work fast, you must find out those keywords. Later on you can work on specific keywords i.e. short keywords.
When you have set everything up, you can take on large national brands in your local area. Do not forget to evaluate your niche on a regular basis as it evolves with your company’s growth.
Make great content
Your small business SEO receives a major boost from the right content. A lot of small business seo owners just place the products and contact details on their website. But you cannot take a nap now. Remember there is a lot more to tell and share.
You need to focus on creating an unforgettable first impression on your prospective customer. Write something about your business, goals, products and things like that. You can discuss events or market developments that relate to your business. You must follow the most powerful local SEO content strategy.
At the time of creating your content, you must be realistic about the opportunities of getting that content to rank in search. If your small business is in a highly competitive market, content works fine as a marketing tool and is considered as input for social media, but it cannot help you to get first position in Google.
Step 4: Share your expertise and reputation
Once you are all set, you need to create a buzz on your business in your locality. People talking about your business will enhance your sales, that might be directly or indirectly.
If people link to your website from their web pages, search engines consider the worth of your website something better. This improves rank growth in search results. Further, you can scale up your website traffic by implementing a planned social media strategy. In addition, ratings and reviews encourage customers to trust your brand.
Links from related sites
Inbound links play an important role in small business SEO. That’s why you need to take steps to get mentions or citations of your business on other websites. The process of doing the things varies from industry to industry. Still you can consider Yelp, Apple Maps, Yahoo Local and Bing Places.
Listing your website on the high-volume of traffic getting sites can give a further boost to your small business SEO approach. Getting a backlink from those sites also helps your website in higher visibility in local search.
Social media
Social media is mostly used for brand awareness and can lead potential consumers to your website for a sale. When it comes to a small business, social media is a great tool to promote your brand, company, and products to set up your image and to drive the potential traffic to your site.
While flaunting your products and services on social media, make sure about the interests of your target group. No doubt, you can even boost your sales by utilizing the proven social media marketing strategy.
Ratings and reviews
Like Facebook, Google My Business allows people to leave a review on any company. If a company satisfies its customers, definitely it would get similar reviews. And a business with good rating dominates not just competitors in sales but visibility in search results. Ratings and reviews are two intrinsic factors in small business SEO.
In case of getting a negative review, try to solve the issue by reaching out to the customer. He/she can later change it. Negative reviews discourage others from buying products/services of your company.
Step 5: Keep your online information up to date
Once your small business is up and running smoothly, you should not keep aside your website totally. You must throw a thorough look to make sure the site is fine. You need to update your contact information right away in case of any changes.
Performance of small business SEO depends on your identical information across channels. Therefore take steps not to commit a single mistake anywhere that can put you down.
Conclusion
When you are running a local store, you must opt for powerfulsmall business SEO services to get past your competitors. The local SEO tips and tricks mentioned above are not limited; they often vary a bit based on industries too. Taking help from a reputable SEO company Irvine California can make your journey simpler.
