When was the Last Time You Googled Your Business?
Let's face it...Google is practically King when it comes to the internet. If you're business doesn't show up in Google results, most likely you're not going to be found! With Google periodically making algorithm changes and businesses struggling to keep on top of technology with new content, those search results are changing daily. It's important to know where you stand and what people are seeing about you and your business! For businesses that rely mainly on online search to generate new customers, keeping your business in tip-top shape in search results is imperative. Check out these three tips from Direct Marketing News for auditing your business online to start improving how people view you on the web!
Knowing how frequently your business name shows up in search results and what those links say about your business is a good test of your overall web presence. Since a large number of people don't ever look past the first page of results, making sure you're on page one is critical. Before you start searching for yourself, be sure to clear all your cookies and log out of any accounts such as Google accounts. If you are logged in, Google is going to tailor the results to your past online activity and searches. When searching for your business, you immediately want to see the sites and profiles that you own show up in the results such as your custom website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Yelp, etc. If you see these, you're off to a good start. If you see sites such as yellow pages, other directories or other sites you don't own, you have some work to do!
Showing up in Google for your actual business name will gauge the general sentiment and see what people think about your business. Chances are you will see content from others like reviews, blog posts, articles on third-party sites and even social media mentions. People are often quick to post negative experiences as a way to vent or seek resolution, so don't be discouraged when you see more of that than the positive stuff. By adding "reviews" or "complaints" to your search terms, you will probably uncover even more content about your business you may not have known about, but that your prospective customers are seeing. What can you do about this negative content that you see? If its on sites that you have claimed, like your listings or social media pages, you can respond professionally. this can improve your online reputation while also improving customer satisfaction. It's also a good idea to ask your best customers to post positive reviews about your business, especially when they've had a great experience.
Remember, these steps aren't just important to do once, you need to continually check how your ranking online. Your competitors will be constantly updating content and trying to reach the top of the search engine results just like you. With Google continually making changes, your online presence can change dramatically over time if you don't keep an eye on it.
MSW Interactive Designs is here to help with all your online marketing needs. From search engine optimization to social media engagement, MSW Interactive Designs makes it affordable to establish an effective, professional and custom internet presence for your business! Request a FREE Quote today by calling 877-211-5492 today!
~ Erin Burdette, Social Media Coordinator
www.MSWInteractiveDesigns.com
Phone: 877-211-5492
Info@MSWInteractiveDesigns.com
1. Do you own the search engine results pages (SERPs) for your business name?
Knowing how frequently your business name shows up in search results and what those links say about your business is a good test of your overall web presence. Since a large number of people don't ever look past the first page of results, making sure you're on page one is critical. Before you start searching for yourself, be sure to clear all your cookies and log out of any accounts such as Google accounts. If you are logged in, Google is going to tailor the results to your past online activity and searches. When searching for your business, you immediately want to see the sites and profiles that you own show up in the results such as your custom website, blog, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+, Yelp, etc. If you see these, you're off to a good start. If you see sites such as yellow pages, other directories or other sites you don't own, you have some work to do!
If the sites you own aren't coming up first in the Google results, you need to claim and optimize these sites and profiles immediately. Not only will claiming those sites help you appear more frequently in search results, but it also gives you more control over the content people see about your business online. Bidding on your business name keyword in paid search will also help ensure that your competitors aren't hogging space on search results for your business name. Covering both organic and paid results on the same search engine results pages has been shown to give you incremental lift.
2. Are your business listings hurting you?
Now that you are showing up on page one for your business name search, you need to check to make sure your business information is complete and accurate. Look at everything from page titles to descriptions to contact information. Everything should be optimized for your business name and your location, at minimum. This may sound minor, but making sure everything about your business is accurate and consistent is critical to improving your search engine optimization (SEO) and helping potential customers find YOUR business rather than a competitors. Accuracy and consistency across all channels, even the local citations is an important factor the Google looks at. In addition, keeping all your pages fresh and up to date with professional photos, current offers, positive customer reviews and more will improve your chances of getting discovered and contacted by your target consumers.
3. Do you have a boasting online reputation?
Showing up in Google for your actual business name will gauge the general sentiment and see what people think about your business. Chances are you will see content from others like reviews, blog posts, articles on third-party sites and even social media mentions. People are often quick to post negative experiences as a way to vent or seek resolution, so don't be discouraged when you see more of that than the positive stuff. By adding "reviews" or "complaints" to your search terms, you will probably uncover even more content about your business you may not have known about, but that your prospective customers are seeing. What can you do about this negative content that you see? If its on sites that you have claimed, like your listings or social media pages, you can respond professionally. this can improve your online reputation while also improving customer satisfaction. It's also a good idea to ask your best customers to post positive reviews about your business, especially when they've had a great experience.
Remember, these steps aren't just important to do once, you need to continually check how your ranking online. Your competitors will be constantly updating content and trying to reach the top of the search engine results just like you. With Google continually making changes, your online presence can change dramatically over time if you don't keep an eye on it.
MSW Interactive Designs is here to help with all your online marketing needs. From search engine optimization to social media engagement, MSW Interactive Designs makes it affordable to establish an effective, professional and custom internet presence for your business! Request a FREE Quote today by calling 877-211-5492 today!
~ Erin Burdette, Social Media Coordinator
MSW Interactive Designs ~ We Put the Web to Work for You!
Phone: 877-211-5492
Info@MSWInteractiveDesigns.com
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