As local search becomes more and more influential for small businesses, there are a few simple steps that will help small businesses to get higher rankings and consequently get found by local customers.

1. How to Get
Your Small
Business
Found
In Local
Search

2. How to Get Your Small Business
Found In Local Search
• If you are developing an online
presence for your small business
without the help of an expert SEO,
understanding a few basic principles
of SEO will revolutionize your
business’s online potential.

3. How to Get Your Small Business
Found In Local Search
• You may be familiar with SEO,
but local search poses an entirely
different set of issues.
• Since small businesses are usually
on tight budgets, these tips focus
on SEO strategies that are
inexpensive and efficient.

4. Focus on Consistency
The most important element of getting found in local
search rankings is consistency. Every time you claim a
listing, these components must be correct and
consistent:
• Name of your business
• Your business address
• Your business phone number
If one of the search engines detects conflicting
information, you may lose ground in the rankings. Plus
you’re going to lose potential customers who can’t
contact or find you.

5. Focus on Consistency
The point of local search is that it
finds businesses in the near vicinity
to the searcher. So if an individual is
searching for a business in your
category, your proximity will get
you higher rankings.
If you are the type of business that
has a general service area, it is
crucial for you to detail that area in
your listings so that search engines
are aware of your relevance
throughout the whole area.

6. Clean Up Your Site
• An attractive, clean web
design will appeal to
customers.
• If visitors like your site, they
will be less likely to bounce
back to the search engine,
which can hurt your ranking.
• Keep your site up to date
and relevant, so that visitors
see an active, engaged
business.

7. Establish Authority
Building your reputation as an authority will also
influence your place on the SERPs. Jessica Ward
suggests that authority is built on a base of technical
optimization and strong content that encourages
organic link building and social media sharing. Another
way to establish authority is to clarify your small
business’s association with a regional or national chain.

8. Establish Authority
In order to inform people about your authority, you
must identify the proper categories to describe your
business in listings. Connecting yourself with categories
opens up a new way for consumers to discover your
business if they are browsing through a site. Don’t
forget to mention all of your different services.

9. Spread the Word!
As you claim your listings, identify
as many relevant local directories
as possible. First, claim your space
on big directories such as:
• Google+ Local
• The Bing Business Portal
• Yahoo Local
• Yelp

10. Spread the Word!
Next, find out what other sites have authority in
your area.
• Your region might rely on Angie’s List, Craigslist,
Citysearch, or other niche sites.
• Take the time to research which ones are popular and
then build your presence accordingly.

11. Spread the Word!
• Reviews and ratings on
these sites are also
influential on search rankings
since they are a signal of
your popularity.
• Other popularity indicators
include your Click Thru Rate,
any likes or check-ins on
social media sites, and user-
generated content that
indicates customer
interaction.

12. Spread the Word!
• One final tip – search engines
pay attention to advertiser
value.
•Essentially, we all love to
save money, so search engines
promote sites that run deals or
coupons.

13. About Us
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