If you would like to grow your business faster than you once thought possible, consider the benefits of search engine optimization. SEO helps put your content on the first page of Google and other search engines. In addition to giving you exposure, SEO also helps you build trust with your target audience.
This guide contains plenty of small business SEO tips you can use to reach your marketing goals. To make sure you don’t miss any steps along the way, create a unique small business SEO checklist for your business. Using SEO for small businesses is one of the top ways to reach your long-term goals. If you take advantage of these small business SEO tips, you will gain impressive returns over the long run.
Keyword research
Keyword research is the first item on your small business SEO checklist. During this part of the process, you find keywords your target market uses when they want products or services related to your business. Keep several factors in mind if you’re going to get the most from SEO for small businesses.
You want to know how many people search for a keyword each month before trying to rank for it. Also, pay attention to how much competition a keyword has. Begin by entering a phrase or word into Google that you think people might use when looking for businesses related to your industry. Once you complete the search, Google will give you a list of related search phrases. Enter those phrases into Google’s Keyword Planner to see search volume and other relevant information.
Use location-based keywords
In addition to using standard keywords in your content, using location-based keywords is also essential. Location-based keywords ensure that people in your area see the content you create. Location-based keywords also have less competition than general keywords, making them much simpler to rank.
To use location-based keywords, add the name of your city or state to the keywords you picked in the last section. You can even use the cities near you to get even more exposure. Creating additional content for each of your location-based keywords enhances your results and lets you get the most for your time and energy.
Create articles and blog posts
You are now ready to begin creating articles and blog posts centered on the keywords you have selected. In an article that has between 1,000 and 2,000 words, you can use one main keyword and up to four secondary keywords. Use your keywords about one or two times per paragraph to increase your odds of success.
Each article you create should offer information that the people searching for those keywords want. Offering guides with useful information builds trust and establishes you as an expert in your industry. For the highest rank possible, do your best to use your keywords in a way that appears natural.
Generate backlinks
While writing useful articles that focus on your keywords is a step in the right direction, it’s not enough. The top search engines want to know your content is relevant to the keywords you target. To increase your SEO rank, earn backlinks from other websites.
A backlink is a link that other websites use to direct traffic to your site. Search engines count the number of links other websites give you, and they view them as votes of confidence. Write guest posts and submit press releases to get your first backlinks.
Learning to earn backlinks is simple once you learn the process. Check out the free Link Building Mastery courses to get yourself up to speed.
Improve your website’s speed
Every search engine wants to provide high-quality websites to its users. So, put yourself in the position of your prospective customers to see where you stand. Nobody wants to wait more than a second or two for websites to load, and that is why search engines give higher ranks to sites with fast loading speeds.
If your website is not loading as fast as you would like, consider upgrading your hosting package. You can also go through your website and remove unneeded media. Pictures, videos, and sound files decrease your loading speed and make your prospective customers wait a little longer. Removing them addresses the issue and improves your website’s speed.
Have a mobile-Friendly Website
More people than ever view the web from tablets, phones, and other portable devices. Standard websites do not fit in the small screens of such devices, so your site could become distorted. But mobile traffic is not the only thing you will lose if you don’t have a mobile-friendly website.
Most of the significant search engines prioritize mobile-friendly websites over those that are not mobile-friendly. If you want to get as much web traffic as possible, ensure that your website is compatible with mobile devices. Many web hosts have a feature that automatically converts your content for mobile users. Speak with your hosting provider to see what options are available to you.
Create a business listing
Create a business listing on Google to improve your results. When you make a Google My Business listing, you control how Google displays your business to prospective customers.
You choose what picture to display, list your contact information, and disclose your hours. You can also use your listing to answer questions people might have about your business. With a Google My Business listing, you can respond to reviews and show your customers that you care about their needs.
Final thoughts
Search engine optimization is a powerful way to get your message to the right audience. Following your SEO checklist and taking each step will give you the exposure you need to grow and expand. SEO can take weeks or months to provide you with a spot on the first page of the search engines, so don’t get frustrated if you don’t see results on the first day.
Taking your time and putting in the effort are the keys to your success. Use SEO in addition to other digital marketing methods to achieve the best outcome possible. If you remain focused on your goals, SEO can take your profitability to new heights.