For decades the best ways to spread brand awareness and attract new customers was through radio ads and the yellow pages. These days, no one turns to either of these places to find new businesses to work at. Most people are listening to ad-free music and don’t even own a phone book.
So, other than word of mouth, how are you supposed to attract new customers?
These days it is no secret that everyone is glued to their phones and smart devices. We are all constantly plugged into the internet, using these devices to help us find products and services around us.The most cost effective and successful marketing strategy to attract potential new customers and engage with them digitally is through search engine optimization.
Search engine optimization (SEO) allows for business owners to identify their target audience and create a marketing campaign that specifically reaches them. Imagine the power of showing up at the top of search engine results for all relevant inquiries related to your business, in your local area.
Our team of digital marketing experts work with you to target customers that have organic interest in the products and services offered by your company, to ensure the highest conversion rate possible. Additionally, we optimize your online presence to help existing customer interact and engage with your company online as well, which helps them to spread the word with their peers.
We utilize a wide range of tools including content marketing, social media management, Google Business Listing management, email marketing, and more. Fill out a form with your contact information so that our team can reach out to you and share more about the services we provide and how they can help you with the customer acquisition process.
Local SEO can offer many benefits, including:
- Putting your small business on equal footing with your biggest competitors.
- Reaching the specific target audience you want—nearby prospects.
- Grabbing prospects at the exact moment they’re looking for what you’re selling.
How to implement local SEO
Step 1: Claim your business listing on local search directories
Begin with Google My Business; then move on to other directories such as Bing Places for Business, Citysearch, MerchantCircle, Yelp and Superpages. Also add any region-specific or industry-specific directories you can think of, such as Angie’s List. You may find a directory has already created a barebones listing for your business; go ahead and claim it (it’s free).
Step 2: Claim and optimize your directory listings
Start with the basic information prospects will use when deciding whether to visit your business—address, phone number, hours of operation and website URL. If you have more than one business location, you will need a separate directory listing for each; this helps improve your search engine rankings.
It’s critical for your business name, address and phone number (NAP) information to be completely consistent across the various directories. In other words, if your business is on 42nd Avenue, don’t spell it Av. in one listing, Avenue in another and Ave. in a third. Inconsistent entries confuse search engines and lower your ranking.
Once you’ve got the basics covered, go back to the listings and add details to convince customers to patronize your business. This might include photos of your location or products, menus, current promotions or seasonal hours.
Finally, make sure to categorize your listing under the proper type/s of business. (Most search directories allow this.) Proper categorization helps to deliver more accurate search results to users.
Step 3: Optimize your website for local search
For even better results, you’ll want to implement local SEO on your website, too. Start by including your business address in the footer of the home page, on the Contact Us page and anywhere else it’s appropriate. Then add location-specific keywords (such as your neighborhood, city, county or state) in your website’s meta tags, title tags, descriptions and content.
Step 4: Keep your information up-to-date
To get the most from local SEO, you need to maintain current listings on local search directories. Once a month, review your listings and make sure all the information is still accurate. Update as needed—for example, add recent photos or new specials. (Your webhosting company may be able to handle this for you as an added service, so you don’t have to visit hundreds of local search directories and update them by hand.)
Refreshing your content gets search engines’ attention and improves your standing in search results.
SEO Marketing For Businesses in Houston, TX
If you are not making efforts to optimize your website, you are falling behind because your competitors already have begun implementing SEO design strategies to their websites. As the gap grows between how much effort your competition puts into their online marketing and how little work you put into your website, the more difficult it will become to engage with customers online. The Houston Small Business Marketing team works hard to help your business stay relevant in this online-focused world by tracking the latest strategies in online marketing for businesses.
Don’t lose potential customers and become a force within your industry! From excellent web design to social media management, the team at Houston Small Business Marketing is here to help you broaden your reach and grow your audience! If you are tired of giving away potential customers to your competition, contact us today! We dedicate ourselves to working closely with business owners to come up with a marketing plan that helps them succeed. We provide each customer with a free consultation for your website and social media to let you know how you can improve your placement online and grow your engagement with local potential customers looking for your services.
Houston Small Business Marketing
713-492-0025
1415 North Loop West #950
Houston, TX 77008
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