Being the new business in town can be challenging. Not only are you trying to build a solid customer base, but you’re also trying to maintain and reach out to new customers each day. Thankfully, the internet can help spread the word–but you have to put in the work. Here are six smart strategies to rank your local business, according to the experts at Commit Agency.
Include location-based keywords
One of the first steps to ranking your local business is to research keywords that work for your company. To begin, first think about what people will type in the search bar and include where you’re located. For example, if you’re a bakery in Chandler, Arizona, you’d want to include “bakery chandler arizona” as one of your keywords. Once you’ve researched the best keywords, it’s important to use them in page titles, meta descriptions, and throughout the content on your site.
Claim and maintain all of your local listings
From local directories to review websites, you’ll want to have each listing created, claimed and maintained for your business. This is particularly helpful for ranking in Google’s algorithm as well as other search engines. Here’s where you should start:
- Google My Business
- Yelp
- Industry related sites
To create a listing, visit GetListed.org. You’ll see where you already have mentions online, which are claimed, and what listings you may be missing.
Optimize your Google My Business profile
In our opinion, Google My Business is the most important listing you should maintain. This is because it is often the first digital interaction people have with your brand. Since it’s your profile that appears on Maps and Search, it serves as the centralized source of contact information, hours, and other business attributes. Keep in mind that users can also suggest edits to this data and it needs to be maintained.
Cultivate reviews
Reviews are a necessity when trying to rank amongst your competition online. Encourage your customers or clients to leave a review on Yelp, Facebook, Google, or any other platform that is easiest for them. By receiving multiple reviews, you’re directing people to your most important listings.
Use local schema markup on your site
Local businesses that want to utilize the internet to get more customers should implement Schema Markup, as it communicates data to search engines in a way that can be best understood. Bonus: not many companies are using it, so you’d be ahead of the game.
Local PR opportunities and hyper-targeted campaigns in the areas you serve
It’s time to get creative and seek out ways to connect with your neighbors. Know of a local event going on? See how you can participate. You can also connect with local bloggers and social media influencers to share your business information. The more links to your page, the better your chance to rank!
Have any questions or need any assistance with increasing your online presence? Contact us at Commit Agency, we’d love to help!
