Search Engine Optimization for Small Businesses
Use this powerful inbound marketing method to get customers to find your business when it counts.
What is Search Engine Optimization?
Search engine optimization, or SEO, isn't just a buzzword: it's a necessity in today's hyperconnected world.
Imagine this is you:
You own an electrical company, or pool company, or landscaping company in Frederick, MD.
Peter, who just bought a house with his family, is looking for an electrician, a landscaper, and a pool maintenance company to do some work at his new house.
Rather than flipping through the Yellow pages or asking a new neighbor, Peter is likely to take out his smartphone or open his laptop and type a query into a search engine—something along the lines of "pool service company near me."
With local SEO, your company could be the first listing Peter sees, enticing him to click on your listing and call or contact your company.
Optimizing your company's website for local search can drastically increase the chances of your business appearing as the top result, or at least on the first page, when Peter makes his search.
This doesn't just mean you've won the digital lottery; it translates to real-world gains.
Studies have shown that the first three organic search results account for approximately 54.4% of all clicks.
Therefore, the higher your site ranks, the more clicks you'll get, and those clicks translate into potential leads and sales.
Want to see how local search engine optimization could help your business?
Or get your Free SEO Audit →
How Search Engine Optimization Can Take Your Business to the Next Level
Think about this.
A staggering 43% of people use search engines like Google to discover local businesses.
What does that mean for you?
It means that almost four out of every ten individuals looking for services like yours aren't just stumbling upon your business by chance; they're actively searching for it.
When users like our hypothetical homeowner Peter type something into Google, they're not merely looking for information.
They have an intent behind their search.
It could be transactional, like finding a local electrician to fix a malfunctioning switch, or informational, like understanding how to maintain a swimming pool.
Either way, each search query is an opportunity for your business to meet that specific need—provided you've optimized your online presence to do so.
Want to learn more?
Or get your Free SEO Audit →
Google's Algorithm: Four Key Signals
Understanding how Google's algorithm works can offer invaluable insights into climbing up those precious search result rankings.
Google looks at several different signals to determine which page should be shown first, but for local searches, four primary signals take center stage:
Search Query Keywords:
When Peter types "pool service company near me," the algorithm instantly scans for webpages that contain those words. This is the most basic form of matching, and it’s where keyword optimization plays a crucial role. By using targeted keywords in your website content, meta descriptions, and even image alt texts, you increase the likelihood of your page matching the user's query.
Page Relevance:
Google doesn’t just look for keywords; it evaluates how relevant your entire page is to the search query. The search engine uses complex algorithms to assess whether the content on your page actually meets the needs expressed in the search query. High-quality, relevant SEO content is rewarded with higher rankings.
Subject Expertise:
Your website's credibility is another significant factor. Google evaluates this through the quality and quantity of backlinks your site has, the depth of content you offer, and your online reputation. Accurate, well-researched content, positive customer reviews, and authoritative backlinks can go a long way in establishing you as an expert in your field.
Location Proximity:
For local searches, proximity is a massive determining factor. Google uses geolocation data to provide users with the most relevant and nearest options. That's why it's crucial to optimize your Google My Business listing and make sure your website mentions your location, ideally in key places like the title tag, meta description, and content body.
Want to see how your website stacks up?
What Happens To Your Business When You Don't Invest In or Practice Local SEO?
Here are the downsides of not investing in local SEO.
You Become Invisible in Local Searches
You know the old saying, "Out of sight, out of mind." Well, this also holds true in digital marketing.
If your business doesn't appear in the local searches, you become invisible to customers searching for your services.
Reduced Foot Traffic
If people don't know your store exists, they cannot visit your store.
Even if you're on a busy street, you miss out on all the customers searching online before they decide where to go.
Lost Leads, Sales, and Revenue
Less visibility and fewer customers lead to reduced revenue.
Meanwhile, competitors who invest in local SEO get more of the local business.
Loss of Trust and Credibility
When people search for services and find verified, ranked websites, they will likely trust those businesses.
If you're not one of them, your trust factor takes a hit.
Competitive Disadvantage
Think about it. If your competitors are ramping up their local SEO game and you're not, they'll easily outrank you in the search results.
Costly to Catch-up
The longer you ignore local SEO, the time consuming and expensive it will be to establish a strong online presence later on.
You'll be starting from scratch while your competition is miles ahead.
Or get your Free SEO Audit →
How Your Business Can Benefit By Investing in Local Search Engine Optimization?
Here are the perks you get when you start doing local SEO.
Boost in Local Visibility
With a solid Local SEO strategy, your business can be the first in the local listings and in the Map Pack.
Increased Foot Traffic
Ranking higher means more online visibility and more visibility translates to more foot traffic.
Higher Conversions
Local searches are often more intentional and ready to convert.
A person looking for "pool maintenance," is more likely looking for a company to perform the service than someone looking for "how to do pool maintenance,"
Out Rank Your Local Competitors
This is your chance to get ahead of your competitors because you are doing local SEO, and your competitors aren't.
If they're doing local SEO, then you also need to do it to remain competitive.
Builds Credibility and Trust
When you always appear in the local searches, and your Google My Business profile is filled with positive reviews, you build trust and credibility with your local community.
Cost Effective Marketing
Unlike paid ads, organic traffic generated through local SEO comes at no cost per click.
It's an upfront investment but pays off in substantial, long-term results.
Enhanced Customer Engagement:
With features like Google My Business Messaging, customers can interact with you directly from the search results.
You can answer questions, resolve issues, and build relationships even before they walk through your door.
Transparent ROI
One of the best parts of local SEO is the ability to track your return on investment through analytics.
You can measure key metrics like search rankings, web traffic, and conversion rates to understand how effective your local SEO strategies are.
Or get your Free SEO Audit →
Our Geographic Reach: Cities We Help Businesses with Search Engine Optimization
Our Maryland SEO services extend to businesses in:
Clinton, MD
Wheaton, MD
Or get your Free SEO Audit →
Why Work With Us?
1. All We Do is SEO
All we do is SEO. We live, sleep, and breathe SEO. Whether developing strategies, executing campaigns, or analyzing data, our team is 100% focused on getting you results.
2. We're Partners in This
We don't succeed unless you do. We take your success personally and will work tirelessly to ensure your campaign is successful. We're not satisfied with "good enough." We want to deliver results that blow the competition out of the water and help you dominate your market.
3. We’re an All-in-one SEO Solution
We offer everything you need to rank your website in search engines, from keyword research and strategy development to on-page optimization and link building. Plus, we have a team of experienced SEO copywriters who can create quality copy for your website.
Or get your Free SEO Audit →
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Do I Need SEO?
If you want to reach more potential customers and want them to see your business when they search for your services, you’ll need an SEO strategy.
How Do You Know If You Need Local SEO?
You need local SEO if the customers you serve are in the same location or city as your business. If you want to target customers in surrounding cities, you’ll still need local SEO.
What are the benefits of SEO?
SEO can be a very effective way to drive organic traffic to your website. It is a long-term strategy that can result in increased website visitors, leads and sales. SEO can also help to improve your brand awareness and visibility online.
How long does it take for SEO to work?
The effects of SEO can often take weeks or even months to show, depending on the competitiveness of your industry and the effectiveness of your SEO strategy. However, it is important to remember that SEO is a long-term marketing strategy, so the more effort you put into it, the more you will see results.
What is on-page optimization?
On-page optimization is optimizing the content and structure of your website to improve your visibility in search engines. This can be achieved by optimizing your website's title tags, meta descriptions, and other elements.
What is the Difference between SEO and Local SEO?
SEO (search engine optimization) is the process of improving the visibility and ranking of your website in search engine results pages (SERPs). Local SEO, on the other hand, is focused on optimizing your website for local search results.
What is Technical SEO?
Technical SEO includes things like improving site speed, making sure the website is mobile-friendly, and fixing crawl errors.
Basically, anything that makes it easier for Google to index and understand your website falls under the umbrella of technical SEO. And while it might sound complicated, there are a few simple things you can do to get started.
What is an SEO consultant?
An SEO consultant is an individual who specializes in helping businesses improve their visibility in search engines. They can help with keyword research, on-page optimization, link building, and content marketing.
What are Keywords?
Keywords are the words and phrases that people enter into search engines when they are looking for information. They are also the words and phrases that describe the topics of your web pages. Using the right keywords on your website can help potential customers find your site more easily.
What is a Backlink?
A backlink is a link that points from one website to another. If site A links to site B, then site A is said to have given site B a "backlink." Backlinks are also sometimes called "inbound links" or "incoming links."
Search engines use backlinks as a way to measure the popularity and importance of a website. If many websites link to a particular website, then that website is likely to be high in quality and relevant to its topic. On the other hand, if few websites link to a particular website, then that website is likely to be less important and less popular.
What is link building?
Link building is creating high-quality inbound links to your website from other websites. This is done by creating valuable and interesting content and then reaching out to other website owners and asking them to link to it.
Can I Do SEO Myself?
Yes, you can do SEO yourself!
However, it is important to keep in mind that SEO is a complex and time-consuming process, so it is important to be realistic about the amount of time and effort you are able to put into it. There are also a lot of different moving parts to SEO, so it can be helpful to hire an experienced SEO professional to help you with the process.
What is Website UX?
Website UX is all about how a website's users interact with and experience the site. It encompasses everything from how easy it is to navigate the site and find what you're looking for, to the overall look and feel of the site. Creating a positive UX for your website's visitors can help to ensure that they have a good experience on your site, and are more likely to return in the future.
