3 Essential SEO Tips for Small Businesses

Many small business owners feel overwhelmed by the challenge of getting their websites to show up in search engine results pages. While it is true that going head-to-head with big brands can be tricky, there are ways for small businesses to use search engine marketing to their advantage. Here are three SEO tips that can help a small business get noticed online.

1. Use Long-Tail Keywords

Competing with big brands for single-word keywords is rarely a good strategy for small businesses. If you target long-tail keywords, you will face less competition from other brands, which means your website is more likely to appear at the top of search engine results pages.

Long-tail keywords also have the advantage of attracting customers who are at a later stage in their buying journey. For example, a customer searching for “refurbished Lenovo T450 laptop” is likely to be much easier to convert than someone searching for “laptops,” as the former has already done research to work out which model they want to buy.

2. Use Local Keywords

If your small business has a brick-and-mortar location, local SEO techniques can help you increase footfall. Using local keywords on your site is one good way to attract people who are searching for businesses in a particular city or neighborhood. Include local keywords such as “laptop repair Brooklyn” as well as long-tail keywords on your site.

3. Build an Online Presence

SEO doesn't just mean making changes to your website to attract traffic. You also need to build up your brand's presence on other sites. Add your business to platforms such as Google Places, TripAdvisor, Yelp, and other relevant review sites. These listings improve the credibility of your brand, which makes it more attractive to both human customers and search engine algorithms.

Need more help developing or to improve your small business's SEO strategy? We have a perfect guide for you here. Working with a consultant can transform your online presence from paltry to powerful. Get in touch today to find out how we can boost your site's position in the search engine results pages and bring in more traffic.