Reading Time: 3 minutesLearning how to establish Google rankings is one of the most important aspects of effective marketing for a small business. Navigating Search Engine Optimization is sometimes overwhelming without the right strategy for success. Fortunately, remembering ten basic
guidelines can transform search results and help your business get the exposure essential for a thriving business.
1. Use Local Business Listings
While diving in to the complexities of algorithms and rankings is a necessary part of SEO strategy, sometimes the simple steps get neglected in the process. One of the most basic steps toward effective SEO is creating accurate business pages on major search engines. From Google to Yahoo, each platform should list correct contact information.
2. Keep Content Fresh
Engaging content is crucial for SEO. Small businesses should consider blogs, Twitter, and Facebook an integral part of their strategy for gaining better ratings. This angle increases visibility on search engines.
Be intentional about being personable, relatable, and not overly sale-oriented on social media. People are tired of receiving pushy content from businesses. Make your business stand out by focusing on relevant topics in your industry along with fun office happenings and personal musings about day-to-day activities.
3. Be Careful About Links
All SEO experts emphasize the significance of linking, but not all links serve appropriate purposes for building an SEO reputation for your company. Businesses must remember to be picky about their links to truly have an impact on SEO results. Instead of focusing on quantity, make quality links your priority. Work to make your website easily accessible from outside sources. Share links through social media and include links in all company email to build an SEO network.
4. Stay Active with Your Audience
Don’t be afraid of responding to comments, tweets, and whatever feedback you receive. By taking the time to interact, you demonstrate how important customer satisfaction is to your business. The consumer isn’t afraid of criticizing places where your business needs improvement; therefore, use social media as an opportunity to improve your services.
5. Details, Details, Details: Optimization through Categorization
There is no such thing as “too much information” when we are talking SEO strategies. Your website can heavily influence SEO results when the right information is included. Take time to provide as much detail as possible to optimize various pages on the website. Include hours of operation, thorough service descriptions, company history, and more. Each tidbit contributes to overall SEO rankings.
6. Take Time for Title Tags
Creating a descriptive URL is helpful for SEO, but an effective title tag is exponentially more valuable for SEO purposes. Title tags provide an opportunity for you to tell a search engine exactly what you want the public to know about your content. Title tags must be less than 70 characters. They should include your location, business name, and a brief description of your services. The best title tags feature keywords to identify your niche.
7. Keep Communication Easy
Make it easy for people to subscribe to the company blog, write a review, and contact a representative when they visit your website. Making communication accessible allows customers to feel like you truly want their feedback and value their role in creating a better business.
8. Create a Network to Generate Publicity
Partner with bloggers who support your business and ask them to create content featuring your services. Building buzz about a local business through personal experiences is one of the most effective ways to increase business. It also creates more links to your website, which boosts SEO rankings.
9. Pictures are Worth a Thousand Words
Take quality photos to display on your website and various local listings to strengthen optimization. Good pictures signal quality service. It shows time and effort toward making a positive impression on customers. Include photos of your workplace, employees, products, and anything else to help potential customers gain an accurate depiction of your business.
10. Find a Balance
Over-optimizing can create negative kickback in ranking. Google recognizes when people are including keywords for the sake of getting better rankings. Although rankings are important for all small businesses, gear your website towards customers first, and then think about SEO. The balancing act is tedious, but prioritizing the customer always pays off.
Although some recent tech chatter claims SEO as no long useful, learning to navigate complex search engine algorithms still helps small businesses gain exposure and increase business.
At Vizion Interactive, we have the expertise, experience, and enthusiasm to get results and keep clients happy! Learn more about how our Local Listing Management services and Franchise SEO can increase sales and boost your ROI. But don’t just take our word for it, check out what our clients have to say, along with our case studies.
