If you have a local business or a brick-and-mortar storefront, you’re always looking for ways to get more customers in the door.
Running a business is hard work. And keeping up with your website, social and SEO is hard work, too, especially if you have stiff competition. The process can seem intimidating, but these 5 steps can help you get started or improve search rank for your local business.
1. Research Keywords
This is the very first step for a reason — to make sure your customers can find you using the right keywords. For example, if you specialize in repairing bicycles in Austin, Texas, the phrase “bicycle repair Austin” is very important.
Research competitors, and track your keywords in an Excel spreadsheet.
2. Update Your Site
Once you have your keywords list, it’s time to update your website content by updating phrasing and adding the relevant keywords.
As a local business, it is also important to make sure you include your business name, address, phone number, business hours and a geo map on your site.
Not sure about how to do this? Contact us and we’ll be glad to help.
3. Go Mobile
If your site has not been optimized for mobile usage, or you’re still using Flash, it’s time to update. These days, customers visiting your site on a mobile device has surpassed the number of visits on a desktop. And as a local business, most of your customers may be on-the-go, so it’s important your website is mobile-ready or responsive.
4. Get on Google Local
If you’re not on Google Local or have not claimed your business, make sure you jump on it immediately. By creating or claiming your business on Google Local, you control what information is displayed on Google Maps, including responding to reviews.
5. Consistency Counts
With so many points of information available across the web, it’s important to keep information about your business consistent. Do you have a Facebook page, Yelp account, or want your business listed on Bing? Make sure the core of all your information such as the name, address, phone number and website links, are the same across all pages and accounts.
Taking these 5 steps is a great start to (literally) show up on the map in local search and local business listings.