So you’ve been reading the column for a while and you are confident that you are properly leveraging your website through quality, engaging content and intelligent SEO practices. However, in spite of your brilliant application of internet knowledge, you aren’t seeing a relevant increase in traffic. What else needs to be done? Is there anything else that could help to improve your exposure?
Short answer? Yes.
Google+ Local
Google+ Local, formerly Google Places, acts as an aggregate of all your information on the web. Did someone review your store on a third-party site? Google will collect the review and attribute it to your store so that you get the credit. That way, all the good things being said about you and your shop are available to anyone locally searching for your industry!
Google relies heavily on the information provided by Google+ Local to compile their local search results. If you have a site that is maintained and up to date, you ensure that anyone locally searching for your industry gets all the details needed to choose your store.
Consistency is Key
One of the largest deterrents to getting your information properly collected is a lack of consistency in your information. To see if you’re having this issue, Google your business. Click the links that direct people to your site and see how those sites have your information listed. If one shows you to be located at 300 W Main while another shows 300 Main, it means that you have your information entered inaccurately somewhere.
Some of your reviews may not be attributed to you because the inaccuracies in your information have confused the search engine. It can also make your location incorrect on Google maps. How many people are going to drive all over town trying to find you if their phone takes them to the wrong place on the first attempt? Not very many.
You’re Not Finished Until It’s Complete!
In addition to consistency, make sure your information is complete. When filling out the page, you will want to check all the boxes that apply to your business so that Google will pull your name when searches are made for those categories. However, just like your website, it’s important not to select something that you don’t offer. A lot of people deciding that you are NOT what they’re looking for is a quick way to get downgraded.
As a small business owner, it is imperative that you use all the tools available to increase your visibility. Google+ Local is an excellent resource, and makes a big difference on those local searches. If you don’t have a page, or you’re not sure that yours is accurate or up-to-date, it will only take ten minutes to rectify the issue, and it will probably be the most potentially lucrative ten minutes of your day!
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