4 Easy SEO Tips for Small, Local Businesses

There are dozens of local SEO tips that you can implement to increase your online visibility, but we believe these are the four that every small, local business should implement first:

1. Write Content that Supports Your Target Keywords

You probably know that you should be targeting the keywords that are associated with your services or product, such as “landscaping” or “pest control.” However, if you really want to improve your rankings on the SERPs, you need to be targeting your location as well. When the people in your area are looking for a service, they will turn to Google and input something like “accountant Branford, CT” so those are the keywords you should be using in your content—both through regularly posted blog articles and your static website content. Note: You can make them grammatically correct and still rank (e.g. accountant in Branford, CT).

2. Review and Sign Up for Online Citations and Business Listings

A citation is anywhere that your company is mentioned online, such as Yelp, Apple Maps, Google Maps, Bing Places, etc. Making sure you are listed in all of the key aggregators for local businesses is crucial for a successful digital marketing. You want to show up everywhere that someone might search for a business, and you need to verify that all of the contact information is current. If you are new to the citation scene, Google My Business should be your first stop because it will help you get a highlighted result on Google Maps and a feature on the first-page of Google when your local keywords are searched.

3. Build Local Links

Having reputable sites link back to yours is a vital part of any marketing strategy. It tells Google that you are worth mentioning and that other sites respect you. However, when you are a local business, you will want to specifically target other local sites over national ones. You can join your Chamber of Commerce and build relationships with other business owners so that you can earn a guest blog on their site and receive a link back to yours.

4. Have a Mobile-Friendly Website

It’s no secret that the world has gone mobile—and it’s also no secret that today’s searchers don’t have the patience for sites that don’t function properly on their phones. To ensure that yours provides a smooth user experience, a responsive website design is non-negotiable. A responsive website will adapt to whatever device it is being used on—whether it is a desktop, a tablet, or a phone—so that the user gets the information they are looking for without any issues.

At Zero Gravity Marketing, we love helping small, local businesses implement SEO strategies to increase their online presence and their bottom line. To learn more about our local SEO services, contact us today.