Every business deals with the issue of increasing their sales, and we all know this is especially true for small business. Having a consistent flow of inbound leads can dramatically change a local business. So where do you start? Here at Rinard Media, we work with local businesses to boost their local SEO (search engine optimization), or in other words, online visibility.
Search Engine Optimization is the process of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engines like Google and Bing.
Why is search engine optimization important?
When you are one of the top 5 results in Google search , your website gets 80% of the traffic. This enables your brand to get ORGANIC traffic to your website. More traffic means more brand visibility. More visibility means more sales. It’s that simple.
What can I do for my business to boost search engine optimization?
- Submit your business to Google My Business. This is the start of local SEO. Get your business submitted to Google and your rankings will begin to increase. This also allows you to be apart of the “local pack” SEO.
- Submit your business to local directories like Yelp, Yellowpages, and MerchantCircle. Google has a ton of factors when it comes to ranking your business, and your information being consistent and accurate across multiple directories is a big one. This is known as off-site SEO.
- Consult with an SEO Agency. Many SEO agencies will give you some pointers without charging you. Also, if you do decide to spend some money, it is one of the best investments you can make for your business. $100-$300 a month can go a long ways.
The last thing you need to know is that local SEO takes time. Google crawls your website periodically and adjusts the rankings accordingly. You can expect serious changes in Google rankings to take 3-6 months. So be patient and enjoy the journey of entrepreneurship!