Google has become a global household name in terms of free online services, and has recently forayed into the field of business with its dedicated “Google for Business” platform for SMEs. Despite this, most small businesses are still having trouble getting their site to a decent SEO ranking, while some aren’t even sure how to get it done. Google is a fantastic platform, but is only going to help if you know how to use it properly.
So, here are a few quick tips that will help you optimize your rankings and make the most of out of Google, so that you can give your small business the kind of exposure it needs to grow:
- Google’s “My Business” Page
This is the easiest and least obvious thing to do. Young businessmen using Google on a business front should claim and fill in all their business-related details on the “My Business” Page. Adding your business’s location, operating hours, and contact details will ensure that it appears as a complete listing when potential customers are searching for related businesses.
- Customer Reviews & Ratings
If you’re doing business online, remember that the Internet is a marketplace and that your customer’s good word comes in the form of positive reviews and ratings. Having comprehensive customer reviews and ratings for all your products and/or services will help you enhance your brand’s trustworthiness, as well as increase overall conversion rates.
- Product Images & Videos
Adding product relevant images and videos is a great way to improve your Google business experience. Even web marketers agree that this not only enhances user experience, but also makes your site more engaging as visitors get to see the product before making a purchase. Product images and videos also rank your content in order of those product’s keywords, increasing the chances of your product appearing on Google image search results as well.
- Descriptive Content for Product Listings
Remember that if you’re a business that runs an e-commerce website, the majority of your content will be product based, including product listings and their descriptions. And it is that content that will affect your SEO ranking and listing.
So, make sure you spend some time to ensure that each and every one of your descriptions are complete and contain the appropriate keywords that are related to your product or service. Include details like the product’s uses, the category under which it falls, its durability, shipping and handling costs, etc. Why? Because you want your product page to feature in Google’s top 10 when a prospect searches for the same to buy online!
- Site Encryption
Site security is a critical factor in today’s digital world. It doesn’t just keep your site and customer data safe and secure, but encrypted websites also fare better in Google’s rankings, instilling consumer confidence in your brand and company.
6. Location, Location, Location
As a young entrepreneur, you probably thought you’d never have to hear that phrase again because of a virtual business. On the contrary, focusing your business’s SEO activities to ensure that they are as localized as possible will give your business the best chances of ranking at the top of local search queries. You could do this, either by building links via external local sites, making sure your on-page factors include the indicative location tags, or by getting reviews & ratings from local review sites.
