Does your website appear nowhere near page 1 of a Google search? Is it just not getting the hits it needs to justify paying a hosting fee each year? If so, it may not be your website — or your business — with the problem; it could be your search engine optimization.
Search engine optimization, or SEO, is a term used to explain how websites are poised to rank in a search on Google, Yahoo, Bing, or any other search engine. In some cases, this can be difficult to control when competing with big names, but for many small businesses, it can just take some tweaks to get ahead of other local businesses. By using website SEO to optimize your page for your region of the country, you have a better chance of being seen first in a Google search.
There are several different tactics that online marketing companies use to help businesses with their local website SEO. If you’re thinking of getting this service for your small business, here are some features to keep an eye out for:
- Local Listings: Getting a profile on Google My Business is an easy way to be listed right at the top of a search when users are looking for your name. These listings give users your website, phone number, and store hours, along with a map to your location, so they know exactly how to get to you. Other sites also feature yellow pages-like listings, too, so be sure to spread out over as much of the web as possible.
- Mobile Web Design: Mobile devices are everywhere these days, and users are performing web searches on them more than ever. If you have a webpage that isn’t responsive to a tablet or smartphone (say, for instance, in your drop down menus), then you may be losing customers. Having a website with a clean and easy to read layout can keep customers on your website rather than going to the other guys.
- Content Creation: Did you know that webpages with blogs get indexed in Google far more than pages that don’t have blogs? It’s true. Having a blog with useful information can get you noticed by search engines and establish you as an expert in your field.
- Social Media Marketing: Social media, which consists of sites like Facebook and Twitter, brings people together, but they can also bring people to businesses like yours. By having a page on social media platforms, you can interact with customers and even see reviews of your business, which can lead to invaluable feedback.
Small business SEO is a great way to get ahead of the competition, but it also takes time. Website SEO, along with social media marketing campaigns, need to evolve, too, as users become more savvy on the internet. Having the help of a professional agency can give you the right reporting tools and other services that you need for your online marketing.
Have more questions about SEO? Leave a comment below. More like this blog.
