Finding and utilizing local business opportunities on the internet can be a difficult task. At Mega Web Link, our clients often ask “How do people find local businesses?” and “How do I market my business locally?” These are important to ask because knowing their answers can directly lead to online success.
Working in this sector for the past 10 years, our team at Mega Web Link have gathered plenty of knowledge. In this blog post, we want to share our discoveries and tell you how you can promote your business locally.
The number one success factor at a local level is ranking highly on search results. So, before learning how to boost your local ranking, let’s try to understand how search engines actually rank businesses at a local level.
How does Google determine local ranking?
More people use Google than other search engines combined, so let’s see how Google determines the ranks of local businesses. Google ranks the business in your locality based on the following criteria:
1) Distance
When users search for your business category (for eg.: Hotels near me), Google will only display the businesses that are close to them. However, Google isn’t always able to access a user’s location; in such scenario, they will use whatever limited information they have and show businesses that are within short distances.
2) Relevance
How well does the search query match with your business profile? This is another question you must ask yourself, because that’s very important for search engines like Google. Therefore, it is good idea to add complete information when putting your business on the internet.
3) Prominence
Google doesn’t just list all nearby businesses; they also show the ones that are the most prominent. Prominent businesses are those who have lots of reviews, more visitors, and are popular locally.
Moreover, it also considers additional information about your business that is on the internet. For example, if your business is mentioned in several articles, links, or directories in other websites, then it is considered more prominent.
4) Search engine rank
Lastly, your SEO ranking also affects your visibility to local internet users. Business websites that are ranked higher on search result page are going to be more visible. If you have lots of relevant images, they will be displayed high on the “images” search category too. So, make sure that your website follows the best practices of SEO.
How to get your business noticed locally?
You must take advantages of the above ranking criteria to get your business seen by a maximum number of local people. Let’s see how you can take advantage of them:
1) List your business on Google Maps.
You can easily list your business on Google Maps from “Add your business” section of your map menu. You can also claim an already existing business if it is on the map, but you will need to verify it. The steps are simple, and we highly encourage you to do it as soon as possible.
2) Verify your location.
A lot of businesses make the mistake of not showing their precise location. In order to stay ahead of them, make sure that your location shows up in the exact building within the area. This will help visitors to reach your office without any issue; and they will have a positive impression of you.
You can also write down your address on the address details section. Write the directions accurately so that people don’t have to call you repeatedly in order to reach your office location.
On your website, provide accurate address and embed google map if possible. Furthermore, don’t forget to update your location if you move to a new place.
3) Enter complete and accurate information.
Make sure you fill in all the details. The more information you provide, the better your location will show up on Google Maps. You also need to make sure that all information is 100% accurate
Local results favor the most relevant results for each search. Businesses with complete and accurate information are easier to match with the right searches. Give information such as your physical address, phone number, work hours, website, labels, etc. Also show highlights of the place if it is relevant. Choose the correct business category and attributes too.
Google favors businesses who provide complete information. Such businesses are considered highly relevant, and thus, is more likely to be highlighted when someone looks for it.
4) Add photos.
Photos will help people observe and understand you better. Furthermore, photos of your building’s exterior will help people determine your address more easily. Take multiple photos from different perspectives and upload a few videos too.
These images can also be displayed in the image search results if they are relevant. So, we encourage you to upload high quality images that accurately show off your goods and services. Add the photos to both your business website and Google Maps.
5) Show working hours.
You can add working hours for each day of the week. Local people will be well-informed if you take the time to update this information. Also, if there are events in which you will be open for longer duration due to holidays and festivals, you should add those as well.
6) Manage reviews.
Reviews are a big part of online visibility. By adding testimonials on your site and encouraging people to review your business on Google Maps will make you more relevant. If you have a lot of positive reviews, you will stand out.
Reply to as many reviews as possible. This will tell your visitors that their opinions and concerns are important to you. It also increases the level of engagement and trust. You might see abusive reviews that don’t make sense sometimes. If you find such responses, you can either report them or give a professional reply yourself.
Implementing these strategies will align your business with the criteria considered by search engines. In addition, it will also create a compelling online presence in the eyes of online users. Remember, visibility is not just about being seen; it's about standing out and leaving a lasting impression. So be more informative than others.
Conclusion
While widespread recognition is great, the true source of profit for most businesses lies in capturing the attention of local customers. By understanding and utilizing Google's local ranking criteria, you can significantly enhance your business's online presence.
Put these strategies into action, and see your business get the attention it deserves locally. Be sure to stay tuned for more insights and tips from Mega Web Link. You can also contact us for web design, branding, and online marketing services. We appreciate the time you give us and wish you all the best!