As a business owner, you’re likely concerned with the online reputation of your company. Reviews have a lot to do with that. If you haven’t paid much attention to your reviews or your existing ones are so-so, you may wonder how you can better meet and exceed your customers’ expectations so you can finally earn those five-star reviews.
In today’s world of social media, smartphone-everything, and on-the-go research, online reviews can spell the difference between a successful business and a not-so-successful one. It’s true that 97% of users are searching for local businesses online.
By pouring your resources into local SEO, you can remain competitive, get ahead of the competition, and attract all the right customers.
Local SEO is the way to do it. But first, what is local SEO? This is the process of optimizing your online presence to boost local traffic, brand awareness, and visibility by optimizing your Google Business profile, finding local keywords, and creating locally-relevant content. If your business has a physical location or serves a particular geographic area, you can benefit from local SEO.
Here are some tips on how to optimize your local search listings and in turn, attract better reviews.
1. Verify Your Location
There are nine billion searches a day on Google. That’s a lot of searches. In light of this, Google knows it has to do its best to narrow things down a bit. That’s why it lists verified results higher than those it’s unsure about.
Make sure your listing is verified so Google has everything it needs:
- Verify by phone, mail or email.
- Review all information to make sure it’s accurate.
- You won’t be able to update your business name until after the verification process has been completed.
2. Add Clear Photos
Business profiles that have photos see 35 percent more click-throughs than profiles without them. Additionally, listings with photos get 42 percent more requests for driving directions. Be sure to:
- Optimize your photos for desktop and mobile devices.
- Take high-quality pictures of your business, services and products.
- Add metadata to each image.
3. Use Keywords
Seventy-two percent of consumers who search for a local business will visit a business within five miles of their current location. This is why it’s critical to use keywords to your advantage.
- Use keywords in your description naturally.
- Use “service in location” wording.
- Use a keyword generator tool if you need help.
4. Manage Your Online Reviews
Nine out of 10 users will read reviews when looking for a local business. Nearly 90 percent of people say the reviews they read make a significant difference in their decision to try out a new business. On top of that, they’re willing to spend more and travel farther to patronize a business that has a higher rating.
To increase your reviews and average rating, you can:
- Ask customers for reviews by text.
- Create a Google review link shortcut.
- Respond to all reviews — both negative and positive.
Contact Detroit Internet Marketing
Here at Detroit Internet Marketing, we have a lot of experience with implementing local SEO tactics to help businesses boost their visibility. To find out more, contact us at (248) 234-4830.
