Small Business: 3 Ways to Boost Your Online Presence
There are a number of digital marketing strategies that can be utilized to get found online.
We all know that a strong online presence is a vital component to any successful business. Luckily, small business marketing can be quite manageable and affordable. As long as you know where to start and what your online competition looks like, you are already ahead of the game!
Without a strong digital presence, your business will have a much harder time getting found online. To improve your website ranking, gain more traffic, and attract new customers, there are several components you need to look at.
In this post, we’ll discuss three of the best ways to boost your online presence so you can get more customers through your door!
1. Optimize your website
The first digital marketing strategy is to optimize your website for local search engines. Search engine optimization (SEO) is a vital step in growing your online presence. That's because it makes it easier for internet users and search engines like Google to find you!
According to Safari Digital, local intent accounts for 46% of all Google searches. So small businesses who don't include a local SEO plan in their marketing strategy risk ranking lower in local search results.
To improve your web presence through local SEO, start with the basics: keyword research and on-page optimization.
Once you have these strategies in place, it’s time to focus on other tactics to make your digital footprint even stronger. For instance, writing unique yet engaging content for your website can help improve rankings in local search engines.
Another great marketing plan is building links from other high-quality websites to your own. Websites that have more backlinks help increase domain authority, allowing you to rank higher in the organic search engine results.
The small business marketing strategies above are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to website optimization!
2. Optimize your Google Listing
If you want to attain local search success, optimizing your Google listing is also essential. Your Google Business Profile, formerly known as your Google My Business page, allows users to highlight important information about their small business which provides easier access for those browsing the web.
In order to improve your web presence through Google, your small business information should be consistent across all online profiles. An optimized business profile on Google will include an accurate business name, geographic area, and phone number. Be sure to add a descriptive title and add images of your business. This will really help potential clients visualize your company’s online presence.
Your Google listing is not a set and forget it approach. On a weekly or monthly basis, you need to be consistently updating your Google listing with new images, posts, and Q&A’s. This ongoing activity is crucial to keep your content fresh so Google can see your updated online presence.
Optimizing your Google listing will allow your business to build trust and help you gain exposure so your local customers in your target market can find you!
3. Have more reviews than your competition
Lastly, acquiring more reviews than your competition is another crucial component to your marketing efforts for increasing your internet presence.
Depending on how many reviews your business has, your online presence could be very strong or nearly nonexistent. As a result, reviews can have a positive impact on your company. Not only do they boost your web exposure, but they also help develop digital authority and improve your overall online reputation.
Furthermore, online directories like Google and Yelp are very effective at ranking businesses. However, they do so by using keywords, which can make it more difficult for small businesses to stand out. Therefore, one of the best ways to rank higher on these sites is to get more reviews than your competition. This is because it helps people searching the web easily identify which business is the “best choice” for them.
Here are a few ways to build reviews for your small business:
- Ask satisfied customers to leave you a review on your website.
- Also encourage customers to leave reviews on Google, Yelp and other online directories.
- Consider adding “Review Us” buttons to your site so it’s easy for people to find.
- Offer incentives to leave reviews for your business.
Ultimately, having more 5 star reviews than your competition is key if you want potential customers to do business with you!
Conclusion
If you want your small business to get found, there are three main strategies that can help you compete in the online marketplace. First, optimize your website with keyword research and implement on-site local SEO best practices. Doing this will help your website rank higher in search results for relevant keywords.
Another strategy is to optimize your Google listing. This ensures that all of the information about your company’s products or services are accurate and up-to-date. This should include your contact info, physical location, hours of operation, etc.
Finally, having more reviews than local competitors is crucial in driving enough traffic to your site.
Here at NorthShore Loyalty, we offer a free consultation for small business owners who are looking to grow their online presence. Contact us today or visit our homepage to learn more about the services that we provide!
Our Recent Post
