Maximize your business’s search ranking
I make websites for small businesses, helping them connect with their communities. Small business owners often ask me how to increase their search ranking, placing them higher on the list when customers do a Google search for one of their products. I’ll give you an overview of how to do that for your business.
Shameless plug: check out the Website Template Project by the non-profit Open Social Resources. We create professional websites without all the tech fuss.
In our work on the Website Template Project, we ensure our websites have the best possible rating for SEO (Search Engine Optimization). SEO is a crucial part of having a good search ranking. But you need more than just SEO to make it to the top of a Google search.
How Google ranks search results
Search algorithms are a popularity contest. The more your site is referenced, especially from more popular sites, the higher your ranking.
Search engines also look at your content to determine relevance. If you want customers to find you when searching for widgets, your site should have something to say about widgets.
Finally, some rankings or app recommendations are location-based. So it’s helpful to register your business’s location. You can register your location using Google Business, Facebook, and other platforms where you connect with your customers.
Five ways to increase your visibility
Here are five things you can do to enhance your business’s search ranking.
1. Website
Get a professional website. There are a lot of options for getting or creating websites, and there’s no one-size-fits-all. The details are best left to their own post. See here to compare metrics between popular website builders.
2. Registration
Register your business with Google Business at business.google.com. Provide information about your business on social media platforms that your customers use.
3. Keywords
When creating your website content, use your keywords. For example, a restaurant might include keywords like “soup”, “ramen”, and “vegan”. Those words should be used in the website to describe meals. Modern search engines focus on content to determine keywords, not the hidden keyword list.
4. Digital marketing
Come up with a digital marketing strategy that you can handle. For example, if your customers use Facebook, create an account for your business and set aside an hour to post updates every two weeks. Consider investing in ads on platforms your customers use. Start with a simple and manageable plan and expand from there.
5. Partner links
Ask your business partners to link to your website from theirs. This applies whether you sell goods made by a partner or sell goods to a partner.
Learn more
For general questions about how to enhance your small business, contact your local non-profit SBDC (Small Business Development Center). They offer free training and consultation to help you make your business flourish.
