Getting recognized by Google search results may seem like a daunting task. However, there are a few things you can do to make it easier for yourself and your website with these four simple steps.

Lately, we’ve been asked, “How do I get my business recognized on Google?” Today, almost all businesses have an online presence through a website or social media. Therefore, it becomes very important for you to have a basic understanding of what it takes to get recognized by search engines to stand out amongst your competition.

Here are four simple steps you can start with today.

Register your Business with Google My Business

This very simple and FREE step will help your business appear in relevant search results. The best part is you don’t need a website. This can be important to small businesses just starting to lay the foundation and set you up for success as you work to secure a website.

First, you need to create a business Gmail account. Yes, even if you have your own private business email, this is a necessary step for ALL businesses. This email can be used for this sole purpose only!

Second, once this account is set up, Google My Business will send you a postcard containing a pin to your business—this is another step to ‘verify’ your business with Google. This may seem mundane, but it lets Google know you are legit, meaning there is a stronger chance your business appears in search results and on Google Maps.

For example, if you run a hair salon near Waconia, MN, and someone with an IP address enters ‘hair salons’ or hair salons Waconia’ into Google, your chances of popping up in search results increase.

Ultimately, Google My Business is a huge part of search engine optimization (SEO), and registering on Google is vital to your digital presence as a business if you rely on attracting customers.

Identifying the Right Keywords

Knowing which keywords and phrases are right is an important step to SEO success – phrases and words you want to rank for in search results.

Finding the best keywords for your website and social media requires some research. Here are three ways we monitor effective keywords.

First, think like your customers, identify your target audience, and put yourself in their shoes. One way to do this is to think of your searches and how you like to research who you do business with. This will likely lead you to inspiration for how others find your place of business. Repeat after me…”If I were my customer, what would I type into Google.”

Second, study your competition. Who are your competitors? Next, go to their website and see what words they are targeting. This will help you find blind spots in your keywords and also help you grow a more refined list of words.

Lastly, utilize keyword research tools like Moz, SEMrush, and Google Search Console. With these tools and others, you can get insights on keywords and trends, similar words, and more.

Local Directories

Local directories online are very similar to your print directories of the past, like phone books. These directories are designed to give your audience a more tailored search. The more you list your business online, the more search engines use this data to analyze your information and rank you higher. In addition to Google, a few directories could be Yelp, Yellow Pages, and  FourSquare.

Google Analytics

By this point, you may have implemented the above tips. One more piece to the puzzle is to know what efforts, including the above, are working – when it comes to your online efforts. You can do all of the above, but you may be spinning your wheels with minimal results if you are not collecting data on those efforts. Your business can’t improve and make changes if you don’t have a pulse on what works and what does not.

When you know which online platforms are working and deserve your time, the more you can fix or eliminate what doesn’t work from your marketing strategy to drive business.

Google Analytics – is another free tool that allows you to analyze your website traffic while providing insights to help you shape your marketing strategy.

Action Items

You don’t need to stress about not being found online. These tips, paired with simple discipline and habits little by little, have a compound effect on how you grow your business and brand. This can impact six months, a year, or even three years from now. Refer to my 3 Marketing Habits to understand how to make your website and business more visible in Google search results.

If you need more help, let K M D Marketing and Design review your marketing strategy and make additional recommendations.