As a local entrepreneur, of course you want to be easy to find in your region. Aren't you good locally? This leaves you a very important target group. Since local search results are shown, in general, above the regular search results, it pays to pay extra attention to this. In this blog we give you three main tips to be better found locally.
3 tips to be more discoverable locally
1. Google My Business
To add business information to Google Maps, Google Search, and other Google services, you'll need to create a Google My Business listing (or access an existing listing). With Google My Business, you manage your business information on Google websites for free, including Google Search and Google Maps.
Only verified locations are shown in Google Search. That's why connect your business to Maps.
Sign up for Google My Business
- Go to google.com/business, and then click Start Now in the upper right.
- In the upper left corner you can see a map with a form. Filling out the form speaks for itself.
- Fill in the rest of your business information in the fields, and then click Continue.
You may see a potentially matching business in the suggestions. If this is your business, click on it. If it's not your business, click Save the Information I've provided.
Check your business information before it's published
It's essential that when you verify the business information, everything is ready to be shown live to customers on Google.
If your business information is neither correct:
- Click Verify Later.
- If you manage multiple locations, click Manage Location for the location you want to edit.
- At the top of the page, click Information.
- Click on the section you want to change and enter your business information.
- After you edit your business information, click Edit Done at the bottom of the page.
After you make your listing, it's time to verify your business. After creating and verifying a local company, you're not done yet. In addition to entering opening hours, contact details and website url, the most important category may be 'Category'. In this section you can indicate what kind of company you are. It is possible to indicate multiple categories, make use of this.
Add your business to Apple Maps/Maps
Don't forget to add your business to the Apple maps app. This app is now fully grown and is standard on the Apple devices.
- Go to: mapsconnect.apple.com
- Sign in with your Apple ID
- Choose a language
- Click 'Add my businessFirst
First, see if your company is already in between. Isn't that the case? Then you can add it and fill in all the data. As with Google My Business, it's important to choose the right category. All filled in? Then you can submit the form for review. After approval, your company will also appear on Apple cards.
2. Encourage reviews for a higher CTR
The reviews in Google are often forgotten. Reviews not only give potential customers confidence, Google also processes them in the local results algorithm. Therefore, try to collect as many reviews as possible and also respond to these reviews. Thank the writers, or try to resolve any problem transparently so that other people also see that you are trustworthy as a company.
Do you want to know where you stand with SEO? Request a free SEO scan.
3. Contact details & local SEO listings
It sounds obvious, yet we often see from companies that this is not happening consistently. Process the company's contact details in all online profiles. Think of your website and all social media channels but also in your email signature, for example. On the website itself, you process the contact information not only on the homepage, but also in the footer and on a separate contact page with a Google iFrame. An important part is that in this card you not only designate the address, but also immediately refer to your current Google My Business listing.
It is also important to provide a number of local mentions. Perhaps the most famous example is detelefoongids.nl. Most valuable are these entries when they also contain a backlink to your site. Even without backlink, these listings are valuable considering this site can also be searched. In addition, these local listings often appear high in local search results.
We have a list of more than 30 local websites where you can sign up your business to be found locally. Would you like this list? Then leave your e-mail address here.
Of course it is also possible to advertise locally to be directly at the top.
Advertise through Google Ads and Facebook Advertising. Both channels offer the opportunity to do region targeting. This allows you to be visible to customers who are in specific locations and regions within a radius of your business. Don't you know how to start Facebook ads? Read our previous blog: How do you start With Facebook Advertising?
