How To Optimize for Local Search For Small Businesses

If you run a small business locally, optimizing for local search is crucial for getting organic/non-paid traffic. Local search can be crucial for your business’ success and optimization can ensure you a steady influx of leads and customers. This article will teach you how to do just that. Here are several things to consider in order to optimize your business for local SEO.​

Claiming Your Business Listing

This is something that is extremely over overlooked by many businesses. Notify Google to list you locally with your company info. It is also important to claim all of your listings for all of your locations.

Click here for a step by step tutorial on how to claim your business listing.

Consistency

Consistency across all platforms, when it comes to address, business name, phone number and email is important in terms of SEO. You want all information to match to allow the search bots to properly categorize and rank your page.

Using Backlinks

Having links to your website around the internet builds credibility and “proves” to Google that your information is correct. This not only builds credibility and trust with customers, it will also give your website a boost in rankings on the search engines.  Some websites to submit your information to are the Better Business Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce in your local municipality, any associations that are related to your business and any niche groups that maintain directories for companies similar to your business.

Testimonials and Reviews

Getting positive reviews and testimonials posted on review sites can also help boost your rankings and SEO efforts. Yelp, Angie's List and Google reviews have a high page authority and can make a significant impact on how customers perceive you. Make sure to have people post on these pages about your company and have in store incentives for people that give good reviews.