Get Found on Google: Practical Steps for Small Business

More than 1,000,000 places compete for your customers when they search Google for your business services.

Incorrect business data makes it harder for you to get found. Your business data is all over the internet and typically, much of it is incorrect, which can affect whether or not your business shows up in a Google Search.

Step 1: Fix your data.

Fixing your data for every business location is hard work but not complicated. Start with claiming and optimizing your Google My Business (GMB) Page. Then follow a systematic process to update your current business listings and post new listings on directories and search engines across the internet. After optimizing Google, claim or correct your business listings on data aggregator sites, such as InfoGroup.

Step 2: Seek out new local business citations.

Not to be confused with library citation management programs that help manage literary citations in research, local business citations are web-based references to a local business name, address, phone number and other factual data that affect search engine visibility and rankings for your business. Essential local business citations that drive visibility and rankings include search engines such as Bing, directories such as Yellow Pages, and social sites such as Yelp.

On top of these, certain business categories have their own industry-specific directory websites. Examples: Findlaw and Avvo in the legal profession, the CFP website in the financial advisory profession and Rigzone in oil and gas.

Step 3: Refresh your website for mobile-local visibility.

Mobile-responsive web tools became prevalent and easily accessible to small business in about 2012. In turn, this empowered the WordPress Theme developers to segue from making simplistic, ready-made website templates into creating high-functioning, flexible Themes that provide powerful building blocks for small business website development.

Now is the perfect time to redesign – or refresh – websites developed three to five years ago, or longer. Theme option controls in up-to-date WordPress Themes have exploded in functionality, empowering small business websites to compete with big-company competitors.

Step 4: Promote your business.

Your website combines with your Google listing and social platforms like Linkedin to help promote your business. Post daily if possible but no less than weekly. In addition to established benefit copy on your website, feature timely calendar events, relevant local topics and special offers in your posts to Google My Business, Linkedin, Yelp and as many platforms as you and your team can manage.

The internet is a field of wild flowers. Keep pollinating your sales message.