Introduction
New business owners should be wary of the saying “if we build it they will come”. Consumers must first be aware of the business and its offerings. Then they can discover what sets this venture apart from its competitors. Local SEO can be of great help with this, but numerous business owners don’t know how to leverage the internet to best attract customers. Here are some local SEO tips every business will benefit from making use of today.
Provide Business Information
No one wants to have the experience of driving to a business only to learn it is not open or that the business has moved to a new location. To prevent this from happening, make sure all information on the internet is correct. This includes not only the name of the business and the address but also the phone number, email address, and business hours.
A map and driving directions also ensure that the customer can find the location with ease. This information needs to be consistent across all web pages, as a slight deviation can leave a customer confused as to which site to follow.
Distinguish Between Offerings
The homepage of a site is designed to provide general information about the business and its offerings. However, that is not the only function of a good website. A good website connects the customer to the business and gives the business validity. Be sure to add a separate page on the site for each product and/or service offered. This allows the customer to get a better understanding of what they will find when they contact or visit the business while also allowing them to obtain more information about a specific item before venturing to the brick and mortar location.
Although numerous web hosting sites charge by the page, there is a high return on investment due to the function it serves. It helps to draw more people in, and the additional hosting costs are offset as a result.
Original and Relevant Content
Why should a consumer look any further than the first website he or she finds if all sites contain the same information? Give the customer a reason to be engaged with your website by creating a unique experience. Make sure all content on your site is original and relevant, so they wish to visit it first when they want to learn something new.
Don’t rely solely on text either. Consumers love videos, infographics, and other visual elements on a page, so be sure to include them where appropriate to not only draw visitors in but to engage them as well. Don’t attempt to cram all information onto one page. The site needs to be easy to read, or visitors will go elsewhere to obtain this material.
Google My Business
Never overlook Google My Business when trying to generate new leads and draw in more business. Although Google is only one of many search engines available to internet users, it remains the most popular. Due to this, no business can afford to overlook it.
First, verify that you are the owner of the business. This allows you to make any necessary changes to the information provided in the listing. Next, check all information, making sure it is relevant and consistent. For the best results, the Google My Business (GMB) landing page title needs to include the specific city and town that is being targeted, and primary categories need to reflect the business offerings. Finally, they need to correspond with a broader search category. Business owners who ensure their GMB listing meets these four criteria find they do better in the search engine results and get noticed more by consumers in their area.
Reviews
Although it can feel bothersome to ask customers to leave reviews, doing so will increase the flow of viewer on your site. The internet now functions just like word-of-mouth advertising did in the past. Consumers turn to reviews to obtain more information about a product, service, or business before spending their hard-earned money.
Quite a few business owners choose to include a card explaining how to leave a review with the receipt they present to the customer. This allows the consumer to make up his or her own mind about whether to provide this information online. However, countless people aren’t aware they have this option or don’t know how to go about leaving a review. The card provides this information, makes it easier for them to share feedback, and serves as a reminder, so they don’t forget to share their experience.
Obtain Quality Links
Form partnerships with neighborhood businesses to bring more light to a venture. Be certain these businesses are reputable and relevant in some way to the products and services being offered. A great way to obtain these links is to bring business owners together for a meetup or community event. Promoting other business benefits, both parties and should be an important part of any local SEO effort.
However, these are only a few of the countless ways to bring new customers in the door. In the event, more help is needed, don’t hesitate to turn to a company offering SEO services. They can be of great assistance in generating interest in the business and attracting new leads. The money spent to bring in this type of help tends to pay off significantly in the end. It’s one option no business owner should overlook.
