Optimizing your small business for online marketing to capture local search traffic is the first step in lowering your costs for generating leads. The more leads you have the greater your opportunity to increase revenue.
The first step in the process is to find ways to position your business online in a way that focuses on local search traffic – people from your area looking for your service or product.
Quick Ways To Optimize Your Business For Local Search
Get Listed: Make sure you have submitted your business information to places like the Google Small Business Center, where you can add your business to Google Maps, Yahoo Local, Yelp and CitySearch.
Optimized Local Ads: On a regular basis you should post ads for your business on sites like Craigslist and USFreeAds.
Website Optimization: Two simple things you can do is first make sure your business address and contact info are listed on every page of your website and second, be sure to include on your site the areas of your community that you serve. These are key to geographically targeting your business online for local search.
Coupons: On Google Maps you can create a coupon for your business that appears on your listing. I personally use Google Maps to find local businesses as I find it’s a great way to locate something I need close to where I live and will usually go with the business offering a deal.
Links and Reviews: Post links and reviews of your business on your local business association or chamber websites. Ask the business development manager how to have your business featured. Links from local associations back to your website are a great way to improve your visibility on local search.
That’s it for now. Implementing these strategies is the first step. Additional things to consider are search engine optimized blogs, fresh relevant content and targeted pay per click advertising.
On our next post, Making Money From Non-Customers, we will give you an overview of how you can make money from people who may not buy your service. Who wouldn’t want that?
About Eddie Perea
Its nice to know there are places to get the type of information and help you offer.