There are literally hundreds of local business search sites where business owners can claim their free online local search listings. However, some business owners are surprised to discover that these sites are the ONLY places consumers can find their business when consumers specifically for the products or services the business owner offers. They’re surprised because even though their business has its own website – it doesn’t appear in this most basic “search”.
Of course, if your business doesn’t have its own place on the web yet – it’s essential that you get one. The only thing better than claiming and managing your listing on the most visible local business directories is to have a website you can call your own which effectively finds its way into the search results when consumers not only search for your business by name – but also when people search for [product you sell] + [your geographic location].
There’s plenty of excuses business owners use for not having a web presence but this easy to use free website builder puts an end to the excuses.
If you’ve got time to watch a television program – you’ve got time to create your own website for your business. Even better – you don’t have to be a “geek” to create a beautiful, search engine friendly web presence for your business.
However, you do need to keep in mind a few tips to optimize your online presence so that when consumers search for the products and services you’re selling that they find YOUR business.
Local Search Guide Tip #1
Remember – LOCAL is the key.
When you’re thinking “locally” you need to focus on the “location” of your business.
Remember, the www at the beginning of a domain name stands for the WORLD wide web. If you’re a funeral home in Des Moines, Iowa – be sure that at least ONE page on your website declares that fact. Better yet – make sure EVERY page on your website states that fact.
It’s absolutely horrifying how often a business owner will create or hire a developer to create a website for a business and fail to put the full physical address of the business anywhere on the site. I’ve seen websites with specifics such as “just across from the Horatio Grisby Park” with nary a mention of the state let alone the town where the business was located.
Local Search Guide Tip #2
Just as its important to put your LOCATION on your website, it’s just as important to list the products/services your business offers on the website as well.
Keep in mind that simply uploading an image of a company logo is not the same as creating searchable content which contains that company’s brand name. The search engines read the words on your site and that’s all they can do at the moment. The mindless robots which crawl and index the web can’t “see” the images on your site – they can’t “watch” the videos nor can they “listen” to the audio. While the human visitors enjoy these additions to your website, the mindless robots which index the web can only read the words and try to discern where you are and what you do so it can “deliver” your website to consumers who are searching for your business online.
These two basic tips are just that – the BASICS – but you might be surprised how much better your website performs in local search queries by keeping these two tips in mind.
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