Earning exposure for your business can be a tricky endeavour in the digital landscape of this age. With so many businesses operating on both a national, and international scale, it can be difficult to attract clients or customers to your businesses website. An online presence is vital nowadays, and without an optimised digital marketing strategy your business can suffer immensely. Boosting your Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) is a cost-effective marketing channel that can help increase your website traffic, and attract the local market to your products or services. Here are a few ways to utilise Google in order to boost your local SEO.
Search engine optimisation is a way to produce targeted advertising to customers based upon what they search in Google. Having effective SEO allows for the promotion of your business to those who are looking for it, and essentially cuts through the noise for potential clients and customers. This means that a web search relevant to your business will result in your website and information readily available. According to a 2017 study, 35% of all website traffic is local, so tapping into this market can expand the scope of your digital marketing strategy immensely.There are many ways that your business Google ranking can be optimised, but perhaps the easiest is through Google Mybusiness. This allows your business details to show up prominently through Google searches, and also in Google Maps. Here are four ways that you can use Google Mybusiness to optimise your search rankings on Google.
Details.
In order to make the most out of your Google Mybusiness listing, it is important to fill out the details correctly. Make sure to include opening hours, payment methods, your company logo and plenty of photos. It is important to check this information frequently, as anyone can “suggest an edit” that could potentially harm your listing. If Google successfully authenticates your business, your listing may appear in the sidebar space of a Google search. This will allow your business page to further stand out from the rest.
Reviews.
According to a study by Bright Local, 85% of customers give online reviews the same weight as a personal recommendation. Encourage your customers to leave positive reviews on your Google Mybusiness listing, and it will allow you to take advantage of the effect it may have on new customers.
Local Keywords.
The core of an SEO strategy is knowing what keywords will bring the right customer to you. Knowing these keywords, and utilising them in your website and Google Mybusiness listing will allow you to properly attract customers that are actively seeking your services. Something to note, however, is the advantage you may gain from tailoring your keywords to the local market. Use Google Keyword Planner allows you to filter keyword searches by location, and provides insight into popular search terminology for certain areas. This will allow you to further optimise your SEO by effectively pinpointing a target audience local to your business. Another factor to consider, is the emerging use of emojis as search terms. If you are a pizza shop owner for example, it may be beneficial to include a pizza emoji in your business listing.
Google Mybusiness Posts.
These posts appear at the bottom of your Mybusiness listing, and serve as social media posts for your page. You can use these to your advantage by advertising events, sales or a link to a particular product or service. This allows you to package certain attractive features of your business into bite size portions that can easily be absorbed by a consumer. Furthermore, these posts can spark interest in a business, and allow it to stand out from the crowd. It is a tool that should be utilised in order to increase the online presence of your business.
Improving your business SEO should be a priority for anyone wishing to grow a presence in the digital marketing space. Utilising Google should be your first step, as alongside being a great tool, it is free! Get to work and start your search optimisation strategy today!
