Previously, we discussed the importance of registering your new local business on online portals. These portals include major search engines such as Google and Bing, and even Yahoo!, as well as both local and regional portals like YP.com, Urban Spoon, and CitySearch. As the second half of this series ends, we discuss how research, reviews, usability, and content all play major roles in getting your local business started on SEO campaigns.
Rand Fishkin, CEO and co-founder of SEOmoz, suggests that local businesses that are about to get into the SEO ballgame should do some research and check out the competition. Find out who are the other local-based websites who offer the same services and products as you do, as well as the keyword phrases they are optimizing for. There are certain tweaks you can do to show where these companies are listed and knowing those listings mean that you should have your website registered there as well.
Once you’ve got your website registered, check out what people are saying about your services. The reviews can be found on whatever listing you are registered in. This will give you an idea of what changes need to be done so more positive comments will pour into the reviews. Find out what are the things customers like and don’t like about your business and make the necessary modifications to please the people who go into your store.
Local businesses aren’t necessarily in competition with big websites – B2B companies, major brands, and national-based businesses. In terms of website design, usability and accessibility, local businesses optimize SEO by focusing on their local niche. The site only has to be simple and easily navigable so visitors can find what they are looking for without experiencing too much Flash, animations, or all those other features that big websites often have.
Finally, content cannot be stressed enough. Give people the information they need. These pieces of information are most often about business hours, contact details, directions, services, and prices. Visitors can easily convert to sales if you provide the right information.
With these suggestions in mind from SEO expert Rand Fishkin, following these could easily give you success when it comes to optimizing your new local business in terms of SEO.
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