Any small business that sustained during the pandemic will tell you; they did so by staying focused on retaining customers and tightening the budget. However, it’s possible to expand online presence and get more customers through SEO. Before the pandemic, almost 50% of Google searches were local, and there was a huge growth of 250% in the local “near me” searches.
In the last few years —especially during the pandemic— SEO or Search Engine Optimization has become a core part of every business’s marketing strategy. For the uninitiated, SEO is the whole process of optimizing your website for relevant keywords that your potential customers are looking up online.
In the US, small businesses are considered the backbone of the economy
Companies with less than 500 employees account for 66% of new jobs in the US. From January 2021 to January 2022, more than 5.8 million new business applications were filed in the US, of which Arizona filed 1,23,245 applications. It indicates that Arizona is booming for new businesses, but all these businesses also need a proper SEO strategy to grow online.
The best bet would be to hire professional SEO service providers like Chandler SEO Services. It will help you build your strategy from the ground up and grow your online presence organically. But before you take any steps, here are the top local SEO tips every small business must know.
List the Business on Google My Business
The first order of the day is setting up their business profile on GMB or Google My Business for any small business. Creating or claiming a GMB business listing will help your business get more visibility on the local level. It’s a known fact that most first-time customers will find you through a search engine. Therefore, having a GMB listing increases your chances of appearing in Google searches.
The Google My Business listing also ensures that customers have access to the specific details about your business. These details are listed in an easy-to-read format directly on the search page to make it convenient for the customers to reach you.
Lastly, keep up with the weekly posts on Google My Business. Share either special deals or offers, o any other important information you would like to share with your customers. It will help boost visibility and attract more leads in your local area.
Pick Relevant Keywords for Your Business
Keyword strategy is the most obvious step in formulating SEO strategy and SEO 101. Choosing the best keywords relevant to your business is a key step in your SEO strategy. However, bear in mind to pick keywords that are not already populated by the big players in the industry.
Don’t try to target the keywords already dominated by large companies, as there’s simply no competition in those categories. Instead, as a small business, pick a keyword that’s more niche, related to the local area, and popular terms associated with their city. It will help local customers find the business easily.
Set Up Google Search Console
Next up, set up the Google Search Console and Bing Webmaster Tools for your business. These are very simple steps but ones that are very crucial for your SEO success. Setting up a search console will help you ensure that the search engines have accurate information for your website and business.
Moreover, a search engine console will also alert you about any errors on your website from the search perspective. These errors might include the likes of Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) or Sitemap issues, among many others. Having a search engine console set up will promptly help you identify and rectify these issues.
Look Up All Local Directories
When setting up the SEO strategy for your small business, don’t overlook the power of the local directories. Make sure to submit your business to a host of local directories relevant to your area, including niche industry directories.
It will help improve the website’s domain authority by generating new link backs to your website. These link backs also add to the prominence of your website. The Prominence is a variable that Google looks up when generating a local result, and it’s directly influenced by the number of local links pointing to the website.
Network With Other Businesses for Linkback
Speaking of linkbacks, one of the most effective ways to do so is by asking other local businesses to give a link back. You can write about other local businesses in Arizona on your blog, send the link to those businesses, and request a link back.
It can be done in multiple ways, like interviewing a local business owner or writing a research report. These articles will not only increase your local relevance but also help you get more local links as well. The link back need not be from a reputed publication for local SEO. All you need are relevant links from popular local businesses like law firms or real estate agencies.
These are the most basic yet most effective local SEO steps that every new or small business must follow when setting up an SEO strategy. To simplify, set up a GMB listing, choose relevant local keywords, set up a search engine console, list your business on all local directories, and get relevant local linkbacks.
