Another year has passed, and optimizing your business listing for local search engine results continues to be the goal for so many business owners. Most businesses investing in SEO services are primarily vying for local search results, which means that their websites and overall digital presence must be optimized in a way that maximizes search engine ranking for local search results.
Local search is only going to get more competitive as time goes on, which means that business owners must keep up with the changes that take place within search engines. If you’re trying to find more business, it all starts with making sure your online listings are optimized for higher ranks. In this blog, SERP Matrix will provide an overview of a few tips you will need to know about in order to improve your listings.
Reputation Management and Repair
Your reputation is everything, and this is also true in the digital landscape. While it’s not exactly rocket science, it still needs to be said: your online reputation will play a huge role in not only your user experience but also your search engine rankings.
Do your best to keep track of your Google reviews, and be sure to respond to them in a professional, courteous manner. This even includes negative reviews; if your business has received a negative review, you may be quick to view it as being fake, incorrect, or done out of spite. And while these may be factors at play, you’re still dealing with it in front of the public eye. Therefore, remain cool and collected when responding to negative reviews. Below is a great example of the type of response one should employ when faced with less-than-ideal online business reviews. This is from a Houston apartment complex dealing with a negative review from an upset tenant.
“We are sorry to hear that you are having these issues and want to make sure that we get everything resolved for you. Please contact us so that we can discuss any outstanding issues that you still have to get them taken care of.”
Note the level-headedness of this response. The responder did not accuse the negative review of being fake or incorrect, even though that could be the case. The responder also made sure to encourage the reviewer to contact them while affirming the fact that they want to rectify any potential issues that may be unresolved.
If you do want to report a Google review, do it quietly and behind the scenes, not in front of potential customers.
Keeping Your Information Up To Date and Accurate
Businesses change over time, and that’s perfectly fine. However, if you’re making changes to your business, you need to make sure that those same changes are reflected in your digital presence. Any changes to your company’s physical address, website, name, or hours should be promptly edited in your online business listing. In addition to this, you need to make sure that this is accurate not only on your Google My Business listing, but every listing you have on the Internet. Search engines will penalize your business listings if your information is not accurate and uniform across the web.
Providing Full Information To Your Listing
When individuals first create a Google My Business listing, they are prompted to complete an assortment of information categories, such as your address, hours, website, and business category. Failure to fully fill out these information categories can not only cause your listing to be penalized, but it can also cause your potential customers to shy away from your business. If a visitor cannot find all of the information they are looking for on your website, they will simply go to another website that has what they need.
Quality Images
Today’s Google My Business allows both customers and business owners to upload photos that appear within the listing. And because search engine optimization is becoming increasingly based on visual content, high-res photos can potentially amplify your business listing, making it more desirable for customers.
Make sure you’re presenting your business in the best possible light. Use the best possible cameras and photographers to capture photos of your storefront, interior, exterior, and don’t forget to upload images of your branding. Depending on what type of business you are operating, you may need to add additional images that answer your customers’ questions.
Use common sense when adding photos to your listing. If you own a restaurant, snap a quick picture of your menu and upload it. If you’re operating a retail store, take a picture of some of your most visually appealing product aisles while they are clean and organized. These images will go a long way with consumers who are new to your brand.
SERP Matrix | Local Search Engine Optimization Services Houston TX
Optimizing your business’s online presence in 2020 is by no means a simple or straightforward process. It requires thorough research involving search volume, keyword analysis, competitor research, and so many other tasks. To make sure you’re getting the most out of your SEO, hire the experts here at SERP Matrix.
Backed by over 20 years of digital marketing experience, SERP Matrix is here to help you take your local business to the next level. As a Houston based company, we understand the importance of being able to compete in this incredibly competitive market. Through our website development, digital marketing, and search engine optimization services, we can make sure that your local target consumers are being made aware of your brand or business. For more information on how we can help, call us at 713-287-1134 for a free consultation.
