The pandemic has changed the way the world has seen business. Local businesses have realized the importance of having a presence on the internet. But they may not possess the necessary resources or the budget to launch a campaign that can propel their business forward and help them compete with multinationals.
Also, consumers are now more open to support local businesses and help them to provide a platform to compete in the long run. But one major concern for small businesses is how can they tap the power of the internet and reach more potential customers? That is where SEO comes into play. By adopting and implementing certain measures, businesses can take advantage of SEO to project and reach more people.
Let’s briefly introduce or explain some of the SEO tips that can be used by local businesses to increase their reach and client base.
a) LOCAL SEO
Businesses have to make sure that they are prominently visible in the local search query. A search query is used when a customer searches for his requirement on the internet. The search result turns up the list of local businesses that deal with the same products.
Local SEO services can be achieved by creating local backlinks, encouraging customers to provide feedback and online reviews, using local influencers and taking advantage of the Google My Business page.
b) GOOGLE MY BUSINESS LISTING
Google has brought out a feature that makes it easier for small and local businesses to have their presence on the internet. It is called Google My Business listing. It is a free service offered by them where local businesses can create a listing for their business.
It contains basic details like name, address, phone number, products, photos, location and many more. It is a one-stop solution for businesses to come online and make their presence felt.
c) KEYWORD RESEARCH
Local businesses must do in-depth keyword analysis. It helps them to use the relevant keywords when listing their products or services. This is a very important SEO tip for small businesses as it provides visibility and helps them to stay relevant in search results.
d) OPTIMISE FOR MOBILE
It is found that most of the search happens on mobile. Businesses have to design their website user and mobile-friendly. They should choose a template that makes it easy for them to optimize it for mobile. Not only through the web should businesses be accessible through mobile.
e) ON-PAGE SEO
On-page SEO is another important factor that has to be seriously considered. On-page includes title tags, Meta description tags, robots meta tags, header tags, image tags, canonical tags etc. This facilitates the bot to crawl the page and make the business visible during the search.
f) QUALITY CONTENT
Businesses should focus on providing content that is relevant, easy to understand and simple. The content should focus on the local themes, occasions and announcements. This personalizes and localizes the content to make it more visible in local searches.
g) USE GOOGLE ANALYTICS
Google Analytics can be a powerful tool for businesses to find the high-ranking keywords that can propel their ranking. The metrics can be used for analyzing and planning campaigns.
It can also be used to identify the areas that need to be improved to reach the target audience. Google Analytics when combined with Google My Listing is a powerful SEO tip for small businesses.
h) USER EXPERIENCE
The one sure thing that will make customers come back to a business is the experience they had when they visited the business. A simple layout with pleasing colors and easy navigation makes customer shopping an easy affair.
i) VOICE CONTROLS
Voice search is fast becoming one of the to-go options when it comes to search. All the customers have to activate the voice search and say their requirements. The search result then brings out the option that can be searchable through voice command.
j) QUICK RESPONSE
Every website should have the facility for the customers to post their reviews and complaints. By consistently replying to them, the business can create a trust factor that translates into a wider reach. Google also considers this as an important metric when it comes to SEO.
Conclusion
The above are some of the important SEO tips for small businesses. By implementing them, businesses can increase their visibility in searches and also their client base. By localizing their content, small businesses can reach the target customer base and cater to the existing ones.
These SEO tips not only guide in creating a fully functional website but also guide for further improvement as the demands of the business increase. As the business grows, the scope of the services offered as well as the functionalities change. This requires constant work and updates on the SEO.
A sound SEO strategy can not only help boost sales but also guide on the future path that can be taken to maximize the company’s reach and increase profits. It also has to be noted that SEO will not work overnight. As they are implemented, it will take some time for the results to show.
These SEO tips for small businesses offer a broad guideline on what methods can be adopted. But they differ individually for each business based on the requirements of the same.
