SEO for Small Business – Crucial to Your Success
SEO for small business is big business, especially if you are using the magic of SEO (search engine optimization) to get ranked by Google, Yahoo, and Bing for your keyword phrases. I have taught these principles in the past and wanted to expand upon them and add some additional strategies as well. The topics I will share with you here are around some of the most effective ways to increase your chances of being found by your prospects:
- Videos
- Relevant content
- Resources
- Testimonials
Google purchased YouTube in November of 2006, and soon after our videos hosted on channels within that platform began to show up as SERPs (search engine results pages) when we searched by specific topic. I remember thinking at that time (I had just come online and started my business as an entrepreneur) that this could be extremely helpful for someone like me to be found for my keywords amongst a sea of experienced marketers.
Yet due to my inaction, it would be almost a year before I took advantage of this strategy. Once I began doing SEO for small business clients in my community I jumped on the bandwagon and set up channels on YouTube for each of them as well as myself. Over time you will find that your videos go up and down in the search engine rankings, but overall this is an excellent use of your time and efforts.
Content will always be king, online and off, and relevant content has never been so crucial if you are doing SEO for small businesses. Think of your online content as a full time sales forces that attracts the right clients to you and to what you have to offer them. Rain or shine, no matter what time it is, someone in the world can locate you and take the first step towards doing business with you. When you think of it in this way you can see that relevant content placed strategically around the internet can build your business quickly and efficiently.
Providing valuable resources to those you serve is also a part of SEO. For small business sites this can take many forms, including sharing the people and products you are using in your own business. You may even offer these through your affiliate link, if that is possible.
Including testimonials in your sales copy, on your website or blog, and even in your email messages is effective and helpful to those making a buying decision. Make sure to ask for clear, results driven testimonials, and ask them for their permission to make small changes if necessary. This allows you to add your keyword phrases in such a way as to be helping your SEO. Here is an example:
“When I first brought my six year old to Dallas Children’s Dentist Dr. Smith, she was scared about the procedure. She calmed my daughter down and explained how she would be pulling her baby tooth in just five minutes with almost no pain. This was exactly what she needed to hear and it was all done quickly and painlessly, especially for me. Thanks, Dr. Smith for being the best children’s dentist in Dallas.”
SEO for small business can be a simple way to grow your business quickly. Use some of these strategies and let me know how they are working for you and if you have any other questions. And you may also want to read more on this topic in my earlier post on local business marketing.
This is The Course I Co-Teach on How to Market for Small Business that Teaches You Everything You Need To Get Started Right Away
I’m author and online marketing strategist Connie Ragen Green. I work with entrepreneurs to create multiple streams of online income and would love to connect with you. Pick up my Online Entrepreneur’s Blueprint and get started right away.
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