Local SEO Tactics for Small Businesses on a Budget
By now, I’m sure you’ve heard of the buzzword, “SEO.” But what exactly does this mean? What does it entail? The short answer is, it stands for Search Engine Optimization and in laymen’s terms, it is the practice of optimizing pages on your website to appear and rank higher on a Google search engine results page (SERP) in attempts to direct more traffic to your website. So, how does one do this? Well, there are four different ways. They are; On-page SEO, Off-page SEO, Technical SEO, and Local SEO.
While all are needed to help you rank in a Google search, we are going to focus on Local SEO, which is an easy and cost-effective way to help you rank your small business’s website. You may be asking, what the heck does Local SEO mean? Well, it has many parts to it but here is the simple breakdown:
Step One: Set up and claim your Google Business Profile.
This is the most basic Local SEO tactic out there. I’m sure you’ve seen the block of information on the top of the right-hand side of the page when you type in a business’s name. Here people are able to find your business details, such as, name, address, phone number, directions, location, website, hours of operation, and photos. Another important feature it includes, is the ability for customers to leave you Google reviews, which can also help increase your organic rankings. Having a Google Business Profile is a simple and easy way to leverage your online visibility. However, you need to make sure it is properly claimed and let Google know that you are who you are as a business. If you need assistance claiming your profile, reach out to our experts, who will help to get you established.
Step Two: Monitor your online reputation and Google reviews.
Your business’s online reputation is super important. Not only do they help establish credibility of you as a company, but they also can have a positive or negative influence on your SEO. Google’s algorithm is programmed to favor companies who have the best reviews. Asking your customers for reviews is the first step you should take. Then, after you receive them, be sure to respond to each one, good or bad, so that they know that you care. We understand, this can be tricky to manage as reviews come in. Here at Reimagine Main Street, we offer a Reputation Management service that will make sure all of them are answered, addressed, and managed.
Step Three: Optimize your website for Local SEO.
Now we’re getting to the meat and potatoes of SEO. When you optimize your website for Google, you need to make sure you are creating high-quality content. Google favors credible and reliable content. You should make sure any information on your website is relevant and contains targeted keywords, based on keyword research. This means you need to figure out what keywords are being searched that correlate with your topic of discussion. In addition, you need to make sure that you are placing links on those keywords that link back to other pages of your website, or out to other credible website sources. If you need help with optimizing your content, we offer different SEO packages for your small business.
Step Four: Measure and track your SEO performance.
While there are many tools out there that can do this, I recommend using the Semrush Technical SEO audit. After you enter your website into this tool, you will receive a list of the top errors, warnings, and notices that need to be fixed. These errors can range from broken pages, broken links, duplicate title tags, missing meta descriptions, and so on. This powerful tool tells you how to fix the problems, however, some can be difficult to diagnose and understand, especially if it is concerning things on the back end of your website. Have no fear! Our digital strategists at Reimagine Main Street, can help explain and diagnose the situation(s). Reach out today for a free online audit of your overall digital presence.
Local SEO is a cost-effective approach since many tactics can be implemented without incurring expenses for services or advertisements. It enables you to enhance your small business’s visibility on Google, establishing it as a reliable and reputable company. Whether you’re a beginner or uncertain about your online presence, the digital strategists at Reimagine Main Street are ready to assist you. Reach out to us today for a complimentary digital health report and embark on your SEO journey with confidence.
Content by Brooke Robinson