Many, many years ago, you could simply add a few keywords to your website content and within a few weeks, your site would magically appear on the first page of search results. But several years and several million additional websites later, and it’s just not that easy anymore. Everybody is doing the “keywords in content” thing, so in order to remain competitive you’ve got to take your SEO and digital marketing strategies to the next level. Do these 3 things and there is a good chance you’ll have figured out how to get your local business to rank on Page 1 of Google.
1. Make Foundational SEO Changes for the Website
Search engine optimization is much more than simply inserting a few keywords into your website content. There are many other areas keywords and key phrases can be placed. While only a small, select group of individuals who work at Google can actually claim to know how Google’s search algorithm reads everything on your site, it’s no secret that the following foundational SEO changes are important and will help improve your chances of getting your website to rank on Page 1 of Google.
Such changes include adding keywords to page titles, page descriptions, content headings, and image tags, to name a few. That, along with really fine-tuning your content to reach an optimal keyword density, will ensure that Google places a high relevance on your site in relation to the keywords you’ve chosen.
2. Build Citations
Online citations are places where your business name and contact info are mentioned. Through citations, your target audience has more options to find you online, even if they weren’t necessarily looking for you. For example, if you have a Facebook business page, you not only have an extension of your website that serves as a viable online marketing tool, but it can be easily shared and suggested by Facebook and Facebook users.
Citations also contribute to local SEO, which is a critical component of remaining competitive. Over 70% of consumers who perform a local search visit the business they found within one day.
Other notable areas for citations include Google Places, Waze, Bing, local business data platforms, and industry directory platforms that are relevant. Think of it this way—the more citations you have, the larger net you cast to attract and catch new potential clients or customers. Additionally, Google places a higher relevance on your site, further helping you to rank on Page 1 of Google.
3. Content Marketing
Content marketing is essentially an umbrella term—videos, blog posts, Pinterest galleries, and social media marketing are all forms of content marketing. Not every marketing channel will suit your needs or your business, but some form of content marketing, along with social media marketing on a viable platform, will again further increase your chances of driving traffic to your site and boosting your relevance on Google searches.
Social media marketing is especially important because today’s consumers want a more rewarding experience from the companies they choose to do business with. Engaging with your target audience improves brand recognition and online visibility. And content on social media networks results in a higher conversion rate.
It seems like a lot, and unless you have a dedicated in-office digital marketing team who knows their stuff, it could be a really daunting and time-consuming task trying to cover all the bases. That’s why many companies utilize the services of a content creation and social media management company such as Today Creative in Holly Springs, NC. With experienced, knowledgeable, and skilled digital marketing experts ready to handle citation building, local SEO, and content creation, Today Creative is ready to help your business rank on Page 1 of Google.
