You can have the best food, honest work practices, or the most friendly storefront in all of town. But your customers will not know about you unless you are easy to find.
Think about the last time you were in need of a new restaurant or needed a fix for your home. Most likely, you searched on your smartphone. Your next customer is most likely doing the same.
That is where local SEO becomes important. It connects your business with locals searching for the products or services that you provide.
What Is Local SEO?
SEO refers to “search engine optimization.” Simply put, SEO allows people to find you through search engines such as Google.
Local SEO is about searches that have to do with geography. For example, “lunch in Cape Coral,” “car repairs in Fort Myers,” or “salon near me.”
A local business’s website is important but so is their Google Business Profile. This is the list of information about your hours, pictures, reviews, phone number, and directions in Google Search and Maps.
For a small business, this is often the first introduction.
Being Good at What You Do Is Only Part of the Picture
Picture two local shops.
One profile has accurate hours, up-to-date pictures, and reviews that answer typical questions. The other profile has an outdated phone number and no clue what is for sale.
Which one will you contact?
The second store might be fantastic. But a potential customer has no way of knowing this just yet.
Higher visibility through Google gives your customers the opportunity to find out about you. And clear, useful information allows them to feel comfortable moving forward.
This may involve calling, coming by, or booking an appointment.
How Does Google Choose Which Businesses to Show?
According to Google, there are only three factors that influence local listings: relevance, distance, and prominence. You can learn more in Google’s local listings guide.
You can’t control where a person conducts their search from. But you can certainly explain what your business does.
It can make a world of difference. Business categories, business information, and reviews are all part of that process.
It’s impossible to pay for a higher local search rank on Google. The idea is to create a well-defined identity for your business that benefits both Google and your customers.
Start With the Details People Need
It’s not necessary to perfect everything immediately. The first step is to start improving aspects that will avoid wasting a visitor’s time or money.
Review your phone number. Check your website URL. Confirm that you have correct business hours, especially when it comes to holiday hours.
The next step is to evaluate your images. Are they showing up-to-date pictures of your business? Is it easy for someone to recognize your business entry point?
Menus should be available for restaurants. Service businesses should provide details about what they offer and which areas they serve. Product categories should be provided for retail stores.
These things may seem to be minor issues. For the potential customer who wants to decide where to spend their money, these are very important.
Reviews Help People Feel More Sure
To choose a new business means taking a risk.
Reviews help to have an idea of what to expect. Were the people friendly? Did the task finish on time? Was the food good enough to return?
It’s not difficult to ask the customers to evaluate their experience. The simplest way to start is by requesting reviews right after they visit your establishment.
Remember to take some time in your responses. Thank everyone for their feedback. For customers who have issues, answer them in a calm manner while providing an avenue for communication.
The next potential customer may come across this response.
Your Website Should Make the Next Step Easy
Getting discovered is just the beginning.
After reaching your site, potential clients should be able to get to know your services, areas of service, and contact information without any hassles.
Be straightforward. Describe each service clearly. Mention cities that you operate in where necessary.
For instance, a page related to local SEO services in Southwest Florida must highlight the services and the audience it caters to.
Check out your website on your mobile device. Is the content legible? Does the call-to-action button function properly? Can you navigate your way around your site easily?
Give Your Business a Head Start
Putting this off due to a busy schedule is natural. However, making sure that your online information is up-to-date can be a lot easier once you get into the habit of doing it regularly.
Take the step right now. Update something, add a recent photo, or even look over your services’ main page.
Here at Card Systems, we are proud to partner up with local businesses to provide them with point-of-sale systems and payment processing services. Now we can also provide you with Google SEO and visibility services as well!
If this keeps falling off your list of priorities, contact us to see how that assistance can look.
Your next client could be close by. Make sure they can find you.
