You might not put much thought into what you see when you search for a term online, but there’s a lot more than meets the eye going on as you do.
SEO for small businesses ensures that your products and services appear when people search for certain things online.
It essentially allows you to stock a shelf potential consumers visit for answers. And, as your SEO improves, your spot on the shelf gradually shifts to reach an optimal spot for attention and brand recognition.
Below, we’ll dive into what makes SEO for small businesses so essential. Then, we’ll discuss how you can improve the local SEO for your small business in order to drive traffic and sales to your site.
What is SEO?
Search engine optimization (SEO) describes tactics used to ensure your business’ website appears at the top of search engine results.
When someone sits down to Google a term, question, or word, the first few results they see are generally the most credible and helpful.
Good SEO for small businesses demonstrates to Google that your content ticks both boxes and is the best resource for searchers.
There are two main types of SEO to consider:
- On-Page SEO: Comprises elements present on your website. Things like blog posts, meta tags, and keywords fall under this category.
- Off-Page SEO: Includes features outside of your website. Link-building campaigns are a common example, as they involve linking to your site from others.
While these practices can be performed by anyone, experienced small business SEO companies have the skills to optimize your SEO campaign. Working with a small business SEO agency is one of the best ways to get expert advice on how to put your business on the map.
How does SEO work for small businesses?
The overall goal of SEO is to gain more traffic on your website. More traffic translates to more business and revenue.
Increasing your visibility online will help you grow your business and brand significantly, especially if your business is primarily based on the web.
Many online sessions begin with a search engine, so if you want users to find your services when they’re looking to learn or buy, you need strong SEO.
Collaborating with experts from a small business SEO company can help you take advantage of a myriad of strategic techniques, including:
- Keyword research
- Mobile optimization
- Local search engine optimization
- Content creation
- Link building
By working to slowly build “points” that score big with Google, you can show that your business is trustworthy, high-quality, and dedicated to being an industry leader.
Why SEO Matters for Small Businesses
It might seem like SEO is an optional marketing tactic, but this couldn’t be further from the truth.
If you want to see your business boom, you have to meet potential consumers where they’re at.
As more people rely on the internet to shop, research, and learn, staking out your digital real estate and making it count is the key to long-term growth. Let’s take a closer look at how small business SEO services can make a huge difference.
Boosting Credibility & Awareness
Consider the last major purchase you made. How did you decide what to buy? Where did you find businesses or companies to choose from? What kind of questions did you have beforehand?
These questions emphasize the importance of small business SEO. Most people on the web conduct research before making a purchase. If your business’s name isn’t in the ring, you’ll miss out on a large portion of potential consumers.
Likewise, the internet is how many viewers learn about a local brand. Whether via social media, a blog, or paid advertisement, the people you want to reach can become familiar with your services quickly and easily.
They’ll also be more inclined to trust that your business is high-quality; after all, Google thinks so.
Reaching Audiences Organically
People don’t like when they feel like they’re being advertised to.
Small business SEO services allow you to advertise while also providing something valuable to viewers.
You might lure audiences in with, say, a helpful blog post about how to use a certain product. Then, clever keyword and product integration help translate that traffic to more business.
The higher you rank in Google’s search results, the more likely viewers will click and read through your site.
Everyone wins when a smart SEO strategy is employed.
Staying Ahead of the Competition
Recent estimates suggest that as many as 45% of small businesses lack a website.
You’ll already beat around half of your competition by simply getting one started and employing some basic SEO principles.
You can take your business even further when you build up an arsenal of powerful small-business SEO services.
How Can a Small Business Improve its SEO?
Careful planning, targeted research, and a strategy are all essential components of a successful SEO campaign.
If you want to improve your SEO, it helps to rely on a small business SEO agency with experience in your niche. This takes a lot of the stress and pressure out of the equation so that you can focus on optimizing your business for growth.
The best small business SEO companies use strategies like those below to help clients boost their online presence.
Create a Strong Website
Your website doesn’t need to be perfect. But it does need to meet some specific guidelines if you want to see success.
Your loading speed, for instance, and your site structure, security, and links are essential for SEO and user experience.
Perhaps more importantly, your website should be easy to navigate, include outbound links to other credible sites, and describe your products or services.
Overall, your website should be logical, free of broken pages or features, and able to highlight your unique offerings easily.
Let Google Identify Your Location
A crucial step for small business SEO is allowing Google to pinpoint your business’ location. This ensures Google places your content in the right results.
To do this, you’ll need to add up-to-date and accurate contact information to your site. Search engines double-check your details to make sure your brand is authentic. That means checking that your data aligns across all platforms you use is important.
You can check this box by following these tips:
- Create an up-to-date contact page to allow customers to reach you.
- Focus on including your NAP (name, address, and phone number), addresses, geo-coordinates, opening hours, etc., on your site.
- Make a Google My Business account, which allows you to control what audiences see when searching for your business. It also allows you to list your business on Google Maps and boost local search engine result rankings.
Find the Best Keywords
Identify the top keywords your clients use when looking for a relevant product or service.
For instance, if you sell electronics, you may want to consider using “fridge” instead of “refrigerator” as a keyword to match what clients are probably searching for.
When using keywords, it’s important to avoid overstuffing. Too much of the same keyword lowers your search engine ranking and limits how wide of a net you cast.
Avoid these consequences by making a list of 20 to 30 keywords based on research from keyword tools.
Additionally, ensure you don’t distort your content or make it nonsensical by overstuffing keywords. Quality and getting your message across should always be your priorities.
Add Captivating Content
Search engines are designed to help users find the best answers to their queries. So, the best way to drive significant traffic to your site is by creating informative, compelling content that helps searchers find what they need.
Make your content gripping and valuable by integrating videos, photos, and articles into your strategy. Ensure you update your content frequently to keep it relevant.
You can easily position yourself as a thought leader and industry expert with high-quality small business SEO services.
Get Social
Social media is essential for creating a killer SEO strategy, especially since many people use it to conduct product research.
Your company’s social media profile, content, and information also rank in search engine results when people surf for relevant terms.
Frequently Asked Questions: SEO for Small Businesses
How long does it take to see results from SEO?
Most small business SEO services produce results in around three to six months. It all comes down to your strategy and how much of an online presence you already have.
How do I know if my website has good SEO?
You can check your site’s search engine rankings using analytical tools or by simply looking up terms on your own. However, you’ll need the insight of a small business SEO company to grasp the overall health of your SEO strategy.
When should I start SEO for my website?
You should start SEO for your small business’ website as soon as possible.
Of course, your site should be set up and complete before you dive too deep into SEO, but the sooner you can direct traffic to your page, the sooner you can start to boost its credibility.
The Bottom Line
SEO for small businesses is not a luxury but a necessity.
Just as advertising helps keep businesses alive and competitive, SEO allows them to reach new audiences, present themselves as trustworthy, and naturally drive sales.
If your small business needs an online boost, you can count on Firestarter. We are an award-winning Denver SEO agency dedicated to being the best SEO company for small business needs in the area.
Get in touch today to learn why customers have trusted our expertise for over 12 years.
