Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of getting the best results with search providers, like Google. Today we’re going to go over some very easy steps to help your website appear higher in search results.
Nothing complicated or time-consuming. If you found this article, you can do everything I mention here and each step will only take a few minutes. So, let’s get started!
Setup A Free Business Listing
Google and other search engines decide search rank by trust. If your website isn’t that old and you’re not very well known online, it can be hard to appear high in the search results. But, you can take advantage of websites that have earned trust and will appear high in search results. The top three free business listing sites that I recommend to my clients are:
If you only have time for one, the one I recommend the most is Google My Business. It’s a great way to get your website, phone number, directions, and pictures at the top of search results when customers are looking for you. It also places you in Google Maps search results, for anyone trying to find a business like yours.
Although it is a little slower, since Google needs to mail you a postcard with a code on it, it is well worth it. For the cost and effort, there is no better way to get yourself in front of potential customers online.
Get People Talking About You Online
You will hear it all the time when you dig into Search Engine Optimization, “get backlinks.” Simply put, backlinks are links from other websites leading to your website. Google uses these links to assume that the people making them trust you. But when your time is limited, there is no need for a complicated link collection strategy. Some quick and easy ways to get people linking to your website are:
- Become a member of your local chamber of commerce / Make sure your listing on their website is up to date
- Trade with a business partner – offer to link to their website if they link to yours
- Interact with publications – take opportunities from blogs or local news websites for an article about your business
It gets more complicated than this, but a simple rule to have is: get any links from other websites to yours. On top of putting your business in front of the audience on those websites, it builds trust with Google.
Reviews are another important way for people to talk about you online. When you have genuine reviews from your customers, it signals to Google that you are trustworthy. This trust also boosts your rank on the listing sites as well, putting you in front of even more customers. Make it a point at the end of every good interaction with a customer to ask for a review.
Set Up Social Media Accounts
Using social media is another way to leverage a website that search engines trust. It’s an easy and effective way to appear at the top of search results while you’re still starting out online. A good rule of thumb is to only set up business accounts with social media websites that you are familiar with. When time is limited and you have other things to do, the payoff from learning a new platform is not worth it.
Another benefit of social media is that these websites are search engines also. Potential customers browse these websites every day to find businesses like yours. By being there and having your account filled out, you can put yourself in front of these customers, like your competition. The best part is, you can apply the tactics from above to social media to rank even higher. People talking about your business, tagging it, and leaving reviews helps it stand out and puts it at the top of search results.
Be Patient
One of your most effective Search Engine Optimization strategies is going to be playing the long game. Search engines like Google base a lot of their trust on how old your websites is, and how long you’ve been around. This, along with the fact that getting people talking about your business online takes time, you will need to be patient. Understand that it gets better with time and you will start to see results after a while.
If you feel that your website could be performing better in search results, get in touch! I would be happy to take a look and see what we can do to get you to the top of search results and in front of more customers.
