As a business owner you know you need to be online. You know that 85% of customers search online to find a new business and that the internet has replaced referrals. Online marketing, SEO, keywords, and advertising can be expensive and intimidating, but they don’t have to be.
There are many great resources that you as a business owner can take advantage of to help improve your SEO and help your business be found by those searching customers.
Below are the necessary steps that every business should complete when creating their presence online. They are all quick to learn, easy to implement, and deliver results fast.
1 – Google My Business: Over 85% of searches for a local business happen on Google, be found by your customers on the platform they’re looking for you. It’s important to claim your business listing and set your business details correctly. Make sure your address, hours, and contact information are correct, link to your website, or add pictures of your work! Set aside 30 – 60 minutes and follow this simple guide to set it up your listing, once you have the upkeep is relatively minor but the results are worth it.
2 – Claim our Yelp Account: Your business is listed on Yelp when a customer creates or leaves a review. It is important to either set-up your account or claim your account if one has been created for you. You cannot delete your Yelp listing, so you want to claim is to become aware of what customers are saying about you and make sure your contact and business information is correct. Follow these simple steps to set up your Yelp listing and be easily found by local searches
3 – Social Media: No one can deny that social media has grown and the influence that it has on today’s customers. Simply put, stop fighting the trend and get online. Create a Facebook page, set-up an Instagram Account and upload new posts a few times a week. Consumers look for social validation and you can easily create trust by having a strong presence online. You don’t need to be a professional, but at least play the game.
4 – Create Content: Now that you’re online, you want to contribute to the conversation. Communicate with your customers by creating valuable content, whether that’s posting about upcoming specials and promotions, information about your industry, or answering the 3 most common questions you get as a business owner. Whatever you post, make sure it is done professionally and consistently. Google ranks pages by the quality of information and value they provide.
5 – Google Trends // Keywords: This is where most people become intimidated. The internet can be overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be. Use Google Trends to learn how customers are searching for your products and services. See what phrases and keywords they are typing in and begin using those phrases on your site. Contribute content that helps answer the questions they search, create pages that involve those keywords. A little work can go a long way in the world of SEO
Don’t think you need to do everything at once. Break it up and focus on one area then move onto the next. Before you know it your business will be active online!
Now get started today!
