How Local Businesses Can Win with SEO

Hundreds of small local businesses are getting displaced out of the top of Google by big brands,
publishers, and top organizations.
Nowadays, it’s becoming harder to compete with top brands especially for brands that don’t have their
own in house SEO team or hired marketing consultant.
Even with that, local businesses can still stand out in Google searches by following the right procedures:
1. Optimizing every page with location information: In your Meta titles, descriptions, etc., ensure
you are supplying information which shows that you are a locally operated business.
2. Ensure all of your NAP listings are in place and consistent: Is your business information
consistent across the web? Are you listed in every place you could be to ensure you are maximizing
visibility? If you are not sure, contact me to run a scan of your local listings performance and how we
can get your business in check across the internet. If you are going to be doing them manually yourself,
be sure to include:

• The name of your company
• Your business address
• Your primary phone number
• A geo sitemap embedded for ease of accessibility by search engines.

1. Create your Google Local Business profile to start showing up in Google Map results. Google
Places for Business was developed to control what information is displayed by Google in Google Search
and Google Maps, so you can be found more easily by prospects.
2. Get real, positive, quality testimonials from local residents. Kindly ask the customers you’ve
served to post an honest review on your Google+ local page, Yelp, or whichever service they prefer.
Never create fake reviews and testimonials.
3. Local outreach and word of mouth is always the most effective form of marketing. Reach out to
businesses and local organizations that you have a relationship with.
Be sure that the other business is quality and relevant to your brand. Participating at networking events
in your local area can also help you create connections and improve your business exposure.