As a small business owner, you likely rely on having a steady stream of customers to keep your doors open. In the world of online marketing, there are multiple ways to achieve this goal.
For large corporations, it usually means devoting an expansive budget to buying Google or social media ads. As a small business owner, you may feel you’re at a disadvantage because you aren’t able to compete with that.
Fortunately, organic search engine optimization really does work, even in today’s competitive landscape. More than 90% of global traffic still comes from Google searches. In fact, organic SEO drives 1,000% more traffic than organic marketing tactics on social media, and 60% of marketers say it’s their highest-quality lead source.
As a small business owner, that’s great news. However, in order to take advantage of the benefits of SEO, you need to know where to start. For that, here’s a helpful guide of SEO tips you can follow to get started on your journey and grow your business.
1. Focus on Quality Content
Remember that Google’s first priority is serving up quality search content that matches users’ intent. Google has its own quality standards for judging content. These are called “quality rater guidelines.” The company breaks these guidelines down using an acronym affectionately known as E-E-A-T, which stands for:
- Experience
- Expertise
- Authoritativeness
- Trustworthiness
The content you create for your site must reflect these four standards if you want to have any chance of gaining visibility online and moving up the rankings.
2. Use Keyword Clustering
Keyword clusters are keywords grouped together based on a user’s search intent. Using clusters effectively can help marketers increase page visibility and rank for multiple keywords with just one piece of content.
When looking for keywords to use in a cluster, start with a seed keyword in your chosen keyword tool. Then, look for related long-tail keywords.
Once you have a list of terms, try grouping them together based on what you believe someone using that keyword would be searching for (e.g., just looking for information vs. wanting to make a purchase). Planning your content around these related terms can help you gain visibility while ensuring you meet customer needs.
3. Don’t Neglect Local Search
If your small business has a brick-and-mortar location, don’t neglect the power of local search tactics. This means optimizing your Google Business Profile to ensure you’re showing up when residents search for companies in your niche.
It also means focusing on local keywords and ensuring that your name, address, and phone number are listed consistently across the internet. Having positive reviews can be extremely helpful as well.
Reap the Benefits of SEO With the Help of Small Business Marketing Experts
As a small business looking for SEO optimization tips, it’s likely you don’t have a huge marketing team to help you increase visibility in search engines or follow other marketing avenues. Fortunately, that doesn’t have to stop you from reaching your goals.
At Hero Marketing Agency, we specialize in helping small business owners gain a competitive edge. We’ll not only assist you in creating and launching an effective small business SEO strategy, but we’ll also show you where it fits into the larger marketing puzzle.
With the right tools, tactics, and perspective, we’ll help you achieve the ROI you want. Schedule a call with our team to see how we can increase your online visibility and push your business toward SEO success.