Are you looking to get more visibility on Google? Want to know how to get a better local SEO score? If so, we have a list of the most common mistakes that businesses make and some advice on how to fix them.
To get you started in identifying your mistakes, ask yourself the following questions:
Have I Optimised Google My Business?
If you are a business owner but aren’t sure what Google My Business Profile is, you are missing out. It is the easiest way to get your business listed in Google Maps for local search results. If someone is searching for “accountants near me,” they’ll see a list of three local firms below a map. It is called a “local map pack”, and it’s designed to give users information about businesses located in that area.
You may think that Google pulls information about your business from your website, but this is not true. Typically, this data comes from the official Google My Business profile page (which can be found at google.com/business/).
Don’t miss out on the opportunity of getting more clients to contact your business and optimise yours today. Make sure to get your listing verified to control your profile. Make sure you use your postal address on your listing because Google usually sends you a postcard in the mail.
Do I Have Duplicate Content?
Google does not like duplicate content in search results. Therefore, you should always create original content on your other online properties listed in Google search results. Google wants to send its users the most relevant results, and if you are duplicating content, Google will look at it as a form of spamming and may not give you the desired high position in SERP.
It’s easy to find duplicate business listings. Type your business name and address into a duplicate business search tool, and let it match them against all other businesses in the area. Then you’ll know which listing is a duplicate and can easily contact Google to have it deleted.
Am I Using Relevant Categories?
It is crucial to keep up to date with the latest search engine trends. By not using a recommended (or even relevant) category, you’re running the risk of missing valuable traffic and sales. Having a vital understanding of the various categories most pertinent to your business will pay off in terms of exposure.
Think of your categories as a “business directory” section. Your business category should have relevance to your business and should be searchable by potential customers.
You can easily find relevant categories for your business by checking what kind of categories your competitors are doing. GMB everywhere is a free tool that can help you find what categories your main competitors are using.
Do I Have NAP On My Website?
NAP stands for name, address, phone number. The best place for your NAP is your website footer. That’s how your website is going to send strong local signals to Google and have better chances to rank higher in local SERP.
One big mistake, we sometimes see is using images where information can be presented in the text. To check if your information is saved as an image, you can highlight the text you have listed on your site by clicking and dragging the cursor from the text to the graphic. If it moves, then it is an image and not text.
Remember, your NAP should be the same across all of your online business listings. NAP is the first line of defence in preventing Google from displaying duplicate content on its search results pages.
Make sure the information is consistent. If you have your address in Google My Business as “1/5 George Avenue”, don’t display it on your website as “Unit 1, 5 George Ave”. Same with the phone number “+61 2 123 456” not “(02) 123 456”. Even the brackets matter – Yes! It’s that fussy.
If you find that your business listings are inconsistent, make an effort to correct that. You can use software such as Brightlocal to automate the process or contact a local SEO consultant to help you with that.
Is My Website Optimised For Mobile?
If you view your website on a smartphone and the text is too small to read, your business may be losing potential leads. Mobile-first ranking is now the top-ranking factor, and all websites need to be mobile-ready. It’s more important than anything else to make sure that your website is mobile-friendly, particularly when it comes to local search. The majority of people looking for a local listing use their smartphones to do so.
Do I Have Poor Quality Content?
If you have thin and low-quality content, Google will not see you as a viable competitor. It could allow your competitors to overtake you on page one. Content is an essential part of the recipe for search success. Make sure your site has quality original content relevant to your niche. Keep it fresh and up-to-date with new blog posts, articles, and other content.
It’s also important to have relevant and engaging content that matches search intent and provide a great user experience. If your content is not relevant and engaging, your website certainly will not show up amongst the first search results. That means you are losing an opportunity as it’s rare for people to look beyond the first page of Google results.
Do I Have Customer Reviews?
Public perception is always going to be one of the most significant factors in your reach and success. If your loyal customers are reviewing your site, you shouldn’t ignore them. Instead, it would help if you used these reviews as a tool to help improve your overall website experience.
Why does this matter? Local SEO is an essential element of effective marketing for a business. Local search results are important to consumers as they can help them locate local businesses, which in turn can help boost overall sales. It is vital that your brand has its presence on local search results pages, with the keywords you have chosen in mind.
If you liked this article on local search and Google My Business, check out these other Marketing.com.au articles:
Dessy Angelova is an SEO consultant and an entrepreneur. Dessy has a Bachelor of Intellectual Property, MBA from UNWE and a Diploma of Marketing from AIPE. She is a founder of SEOlancer.com.au, a performance-based digital marketing agency, and helps Legal Firms and Attorneys increase traffic and revenue from search.
