Optimize Your Business for Local Search
Claim and optimize Google My Business (GMB)
GMB is an online tool where you can list aspects of your business with Google – the kind of business you have, where you’re located, the hours you’re open, what services you offer, even list your products. Having a Google My Business listing is critical when there are particular service areas or for businesses with physical sites.
Website Optimization
Surveys show that 85% of consumers use the internet to find local business and 63% of total web traffic comes from mobile devices. And these number are only growing! Upgrade your website and optimize all your landing pages with local keyword data, making sure your phone number and hours are prominently displayed. And make sure your website is mobile friendly including a map of your location!
Social Media & Reviews
88% of consumers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations. Social media profiles are key to this, and it is critical to maintain a consistent business name across all platforms. This helps Google (and customers) associate these profiles with you. Select the social media platforms that are the best fit for your business - Facebook.Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, Instagram, etc... And remember that the existence of a page—even if it’s a simple one-- is better than not having one at all.
Directory Listings Submissions
Citations – are online mentioning of Name, Phone #, Address & Website of your business. This is your digital thumbprint, and how Google knows that a website is mentioning your business as opposed to someone else’s. Search engines look for consistency on your website and on all third-party platforms where your business is listed or mentioned. This means creating and verifying Yelp listings, Yellow Pages, MerchantCircle, Mapquest, SuperPages, Google Assistants etc... Make sure your name, local phone number, address, and website are consistent everywhere!