A Simple Checklist for Local Business SEO

If you’re trying to be found online, you may be wondering how you can make that possible. SEO is an important tool in your business, however, there are many layers to social media. There is actually a list of things you can do to help making be found online even easier! Check out this complete checklist for small business SEO to be found online!

Establishing Yourself with the Search Engines for Small Business SEO

One of the first steps with SEO is to establish yourself with the search engines. Although you may not request reviews on each of these search engines and online business directories, it’s important to claim your business on each platform. Doing so ensures that you alone control your business’ information online.

Set Up “Google My Business”

As a small business owner, it’s crucial to make sure your company can be easily found online. One way to do this is by creating a FREE Google My Business account. By setting up a Google My Business profile, you can make sure that your business appears in Google Maps and local search results. This means that potential customers can easily find your business’s location, operating hours, website, and contact information.

Google My Business allows customers to leave reviews and ratings, which can help build trust and boost your online reputation. Overall, using Google My Business is an essential step towards ensuring that your small business is visible and easily accessible to potential customers.

Make sure your Google Business Page is updated and correct!

Utilize Other Directories

In addition to having a Google My Business profile, small business owners can benefit from utilizing other directories such as Yelp, Bing Places, and Apple’s Business Connect. These directories are also free to use and can help increase the visibility and credibility of your business.

Yelp is a popular platform for users to leave reviews and ratings, while Bing provides local search results to users who are not utilizing Google. Apple Connect is specifically targeted towards iOS users, making it a great option for B2C businesses.

By setting up profiles on these directories, small business owners can increase their online presence and reach a wider audience. It’s important to maintain accurate and up-to-date information on all directories, as customers may turn to one specific platform to find your business.

Prioritize and Utilize Reviews

Getting positive reviews on Google is crucial for small business owners to build credibility and attract new customers. One of the easiest ways to get reviews is to simply ask your satisfied clients to leave a review for you on Google.

You can do this by sending a follow-up email after a sale or service, or by including a prompt on your website or social media pages. It’s important to make the process as easy and straightforward as possible by providing a direct link to your Google My Business page where customers can leave a review.

When asking for reviews, make it clear why their feedback matters to you and how it can help your business grow. Remember, the more positive reviews you have on Google, the higher your business will rank in local search results, which can lead to more visibility and increased sales.

Add Local Service Pages to Your Website

To further increase your small business’s visibility online, it’s a good idea to add local service pages (location based service pages) to your website. Local service pages are dedicated to specific cities or regions where your business operates. They can help improve your rankings in local search results.

These pages should include relevant information about your services in the local area, such as operating hours, service areas, and pricing. It’s important to make these pages unique and valuable to users by including relevant keywords and helpful content that informs and educates your audience.

By creating local service pages, you’re not only providing valuable information to potential customers, but you’re also creating specific content for search terms that people commonly use in your area, resulting in higher rankings on Search Engine Results Pages (SERPs).

Utilize Cheap Adversitements Around Town for Small Business SEO

Sponsor Local Youth Sports Teams

Another effective way to increase your small business’s visibility in the local community is by using cheap advertisements around town. One option is to sponsor a local youth sports team, which can offer a range of benefits such as exposure to a new audience, positive brand association, and the opportunity to give back to the community.

By sponsoring a team, your business’s name and logo will be prominently displayed on team jerseys. This can help raise brand awareness and reinforce your business’s connection to the local community.

In addition to sponsoring a sports team, other low-cost advertising ideas include participating in local events, hosting a contest or giveaway, or creating eye-catching flyers or posters to display around town. With a little creativity and effort, small businesses can generate significant results from these cheap and effective advertising strategies.

Hand Out and Pin Up Business Cards

Handing out business cards is a great way for small businesses to increase their visibility and promote their services. Business cards can be handed out at networking events, trade shows, or even in day-to-day interactions with potential customers. When designing your business card, be sure to include your company logo, contact information, and a brief description of the services you offer.

Consider using colors and fonts that stand out and reflect your brand image. It’s also important to keep a stack of business cards with you at all times. This is so you can hand them out whenever you meet someone who may be interested in your business. By using this simple and effective marketing tactic, you can help ensure that your services are top of mind for potential customers who may need them in the future.

Leave Door Hangers

If you’re providing services such as lawn care, house cleaning, or pest control, leaving door hangers at people’s property can be an effective marketing strategy. Door hangers are inexpensive. They are also easy to distribute. They can be targeted to specific neighborhoods or areas where your services are in demand. When designing your door hanger, include a clear and attention-grabbing headline, a brief description of your services, and your company’s contact information.

You can also include a special offer or discount to encourage potential customers to give your services a try. When distributing the door hangers, be sure to follow local regulations and respect people’s privacy by avoiding leaving them on do-not-disturb signs or in mailboxes. Done correctly, door hangers can help you connect with potential customers in a personal and efficient manner, and increase bookings for your service-based business.

Send Hand Written Letters

Sending handwritten letters to neighbors of your clients can be a unique and personal way to increase your business’s visibility and generate new leads. For service-based businesses like landscaping or home cleaning services, contact your current customers and ask them if you can send a personalized letter to their neighbors, introducing your services and offering a discount or promotion for first-time customers. In the letter, include information about your company, a friendly introduction, and the reasons why your services can benefit them.

Keep the tone personal and conversational, and sign off with a call to action such as “Contact us today to schedule your first appointment!” By reaching out to neighbors of your loyal customers, you can take advantage of word-of-mouth marketing and build trust in your brand within the local community.

Create an Email Marketing List

• Cost-effective – Email marketing is inexpensive compared to other forms of marketing.
• Targeted marketing – Email lists help you segment your audience so that you can create targeted campaigns based on customer interests, location, or behavior.
• Increased customer engagement – Email campaigns can help you build stronger relationships with your customers by providing value and personalized offers.
• Increased sales – Email marketing allows you to promote your products or services and drive traffic to your website, leading to increased sales.
• Measurable results – It provides valuable data such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates, which can help you refine your marketing strategy.
• Increased brand recognition – Consistent email marketing to your audience can help to build brand recognition and loyalty.
• Easily shareable – It is easily shareable by subscribers who may forward your emails to others in their network, expanding your reach.
• Better reach than social media – Email marketing can be more reliable at reaching your audience since social media algorithms can limit the reach of posts.

Utilize Social Media for Small Business SEO

As a small business owner, leveraging social media can be a cost-effective way to advertise your specific services at relevant times. For example, if you offer lawn care services, promoting your services in the spring and summer when people are more likely to need them is a great idea. However, it’s important to not just direct people to your home page. Instead, create specific landing pages for each service you want to promote and include a call to action on your social media post that directs people to that page.

This helps to provide a seamless user experience and increase the chances of conversion. With so many people using social media, utilizing this platform can help you reach a wider audience and increase your brand awareness. By being strategic with your social media advertising and directing people to relevant landing pages, you can turn social media followers into loyal customers.

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