It’s important for any locally based business to appear on the first page of search engine results (aka as “SERPS”). When a potential customer types in your business service and adds a geographic region or city name – you WANT to be on the first page. After all, 95% of searchers never look beyond Page 1 with the top 10 results.
So, what’s the secret key to getting seen by your local customers? It really boils down to 2 main factors: your website content, and getting good links back to your site. More about links in just a minute, but let’s start with getting content on your website.
Create a blog
Adding a blog to your website is one of the easiest and best methods of adding content to your website. If you write blog posts consistently and use your targeted keywords, you’ll definitely improve your opportunity to rank higher in search engines. Not only that, but writing quality content gives others a compelling reason to link to your site.
Contribute to other blogs
Often, industy-related blogs are interested in guest posts. A quick search of “bridge topics” and you’ll likely find related blogs where you can offer to contribute in exchange for a link back to your site. This builds credibility and authority – which Google loves. Bridge topics are those that are closely related to your industry but aren’t direct competitors. For instance, a massage therapist might offer to write a guest post for a chiropractic care blog.
Comments on related forums and discussions
Most discussion forums allow you to input a link to your website. When you contribute to the conversation, a signature is usually added to the end of your post. You’d be surprised at how you much you have to offer other professionals. Get involved in the discussion, but be sure to check the forum rules before posting.
Write articles and submit to directories
Create instructional articles with compelling information and submit them to articles syndication directories.
Here are some of the more popular directories:
- ezinearticles.com
- suite101.com
- buzzle.com
- helium.com
- goarticles.com
Most article submission rules will allow you two links back to your website. Make sure at least one of them is a deep link – going to a specific, related page on your site. Whatever directory you decide to submit your article to, make sure the links back to your site are NOT nofollow links.
Create an online press release
You can use a service such as PRWeb, PRLog, or 24-7PressRelease.com to distribute news releases about your business. Don’t have any news? Press releases can be about anything that is pertinent to your business. Maybe you are working with a new company? Maybe you hired a new professional? Launch a new site, or product? All of this is worthy news, and remember you get another quality link to your site.
It starts with a plan
Once you create a systematic plan you’ll be able to focus on a couple of these items at a time. Stick with it and you can start to build hundreds of links to your site. This will help you crush the competition for your key search phrases.
