Easy Local Search Placement

Effective internet marketing for a small business owner requires a different approach than it would to create a strong online presence for a larger client. The good news is that smaller clients– specifically those who cater to a smaller demographic such as a local audience—are much easier to get on the front page of Google… especially thanks to algorithm updates such as Hummingbird that focus on filtering results to prioritize the most relevant.

In other words, it’s easy to place small businesses on the front page of Google. In fact, if you are a computer literate business owner than you can probably even do it yourself without the help of an SEO specialist.

Here’s how…

Claim Your Online Directory Listings.

You might notice that the front page of Google is typically dominated by directory listings. G+ / Google Plus Local listings (formerly Google Places) listings come first, and are usually followed by Yelp, Merchant Circle, Yellowpages.com, and other niche directories (such as Angie’s List).

If somebody searches for you by brand name, it should be easy for that person to find many different options for getting more information about you. If you do it right, search engine users won’t even have to click any links… your contact information will display right there in Google search results.

Better yet, claiming your listings in online directories ensures that your brand is categorized properly, increasing exposure to local consumers searching by service instead of brand name.

Directories of local business listings dominate the top of search results, and are more likely to be viewed than scrolling to the website listings (in positions 5-10) so claiming your listing on each of the following directories will jumpstart the online visibility for your small business.

Build Links That Build Local Authority

Link building is a risky SEO practice if you put this task in the wrong hands… but focusing on updating your information with any local organizations that you are a member of—such as your local Chamber of Commerce—ensures more authority for local search.

Give Visitors a Reason to Visit Your Website More Than Once

Static websites may be low maintenance, but they are also stale and there is nothing worth returning to. Try adding a blog, event calendar, or special offers section. Keep traffic interested and you might even hang on to those potential customers who just aren’t ready to buy today.

However, adding a “dynamic” section (such as a blog) to your website requires that you keep it maintained with fresh, valuable, and useful content. This is important for human users as well as for SEO purposes. To put it simply, activity on your website shows activity in your business. The same can be said about a stale, outdated website.