Growing a Business
12 top SEO best practices for small business websites
Published
1 year agoon

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Wondering how to improve your website’s SEO and increase web traffic fast? There are plenty of actionable steps you can take today. Most don’t even require a web developer or coding knowledge to get started.
Below we’ll review 12 best practises you can easily work into your business plans to help you:
- Rank higher in search engines
- Grow your audience
- Attract more leads
We’ll also give you tips on how GoDaddy can help you on your journey, plus share plenty of free resources you can refer to along the way.
1. Optimize your URLs
Optimizing your URLs is a good way to improve SEO quickly. It’s something that takes little effort but can help boost your rankings when done right. Here are a few best practices to look out for.

Go for shorter URL titles
When it comes to URLs, you want to keep them short and compelling. Shorter URLs are often easier to remember, which makes them more shareable and higher ranking. Make sure your URL is free of fluff words (like “and” or “for”) and easy to understand.
Note: GoDaddy’s Website Builder automatically optimizes your URL title for you by limiting it to 25 characters. Simply type in your URL title into the designated text box for “Page Title” and you’re done. It also fills in any spaces with hyphens following web convention.
Include primary keywords
Adding a primary keyword to your URL is another best practice for optimization and should also be applied to your:
- Meta title: This is the blue header in the search engine results page
- Meta description: This is the copy that sits beneath the meta title
- On-page title: This is the actual title of your work at the top
Aim for placing your keyword closer to the beginning of your URL title for optimal results.
Keep it relevant
URLs should also be relevant to the content you’re displaying on that specific page. Keeping them aligned with the page copy allows Google’s search bots to easily understand and identify the information for search queries.
The more relevant your information is to a search query, the higher it ranks on Google.
Think about how relevant it will be for future use. You don’t want it to be overly specific that it becomes less relevant over time.
For example, you can make a URL more applicable for future use if you avoid adding a specific year at the end. Peek the following URL endings to see how they contrast.
Instead of a URL that ends in: .com/best-fathers-day-gifts-2022
Go for something like: .com/best-fathers-day-gifts
If other websites link to your page, the URL without the year enables that page to keep hold of any authority and associated rankings in the future.

A note on changing URL titles
Editing your URL title is an option using GoDaddy’s Website Builder, but it’s not recommended you make any changes when dealing with older existing pages.
Changing an existing URL can hurt your SEO and result in decreased traffic, since it’s likely you have backlinks attached to the post you’re trying to change. This means that anytime someone finds the old link through a partnering site or newsletter, they might end up at the dead link instead.
Unless you really need to for rebranding purposes, it’s best you avoid this route to prevent any damage to you SEO.
2. Optimize metadata

The term “metadata” comes up a lot when researching how to improve SEO quickly. It refers to the data on a webpage that provides Google with information about a particular site. In other words, it’s data that describes other data.
By itself, metadata won’t affect SEO rankings. But it can help in the following areas:
- Boost engagement
- Increase click-through rates
- Give you the upper edge over your competitors
It’s a small piece of the SEO puzzle that is often overlooked but can be beneficial when combined with other best practices. Let’s look at two ways to improve your meta data below.
Meta descriptions
Meta descriptions appear in the search results page underneath the meta title. It often gives a quick snippet of what the web page is about and typically includes a call to action (CTA) to encourage more clicks.
Examples of these CTAs could look like:
- “Shop now”
- “Schedule an appointment”
- “Click here to read more”
As noted earlier, you’ll want to include a primary keyword within the description and keep the copy to 155 characters or less. The primary keyword will also appear in bold anytime it matches a searcher’s query.
Meta titles
The meta title (aka title tag) is the text shown in large blue font in the search engine results page. It’s often the first thing searchers will see and can sometimes be confused with the H1 tag.
However, the meta title and H1 tag are two separate things.
The meta title is named with SEO and Google in mind, while an H1 tag is more for the user’s benefit. A lot of times digital marketers will use the same title for both the meta title and H1 tag to cause less confusion for users.
When naming your meta title, you should always:
Editing the meta title and meta description is easy using GoDaddy’s Website Builder. Simply use the editor and go to the page you need optimized. Click on Settings (cog symbol) and then select Get Found on Google to edit what you need.
3. Check your speed
An important element of improving SEO is speed. The time it takes for your webpage to load will affect whether your users stay to engage or bounce back in search of something better.
Between July and August 2021, Google rolled out a measure of core web vitals (CWV) to help website owners evaluate their overall page performance.
This report is based on real-world user data (or field data) and includes three segments that evaluates a user’s experience loading a webpage — two of which are related to a site’s speed.
Here’s a quick breakdown of each one for reference:
- Largest contentful paint (LCP): This refers to the largest block of text, video, or visuals that take up the most amount of time to load after a user clicks on your site.
- First input delay (FID): This is the amount of time it takes for a browser to respond to a user’s first interaction on your site (typically when they click on a link or tap on a button).
- Cumulative layout shift (CLS): This has to do with any layout shifts your user be experiencing as they interact with your page. Too many unexpected shifts could result in a bad user experience if left unchecked.
One best practice is to score below 1.3 seconds when reaching the First Byte. This means that the overall responsiveness and speediness of your website should fall within this time frame after a user clicks onto your site from a search query.
How to optimize your CWV score
Rankings are affected by a CWV score, so it’s best to aim high in good rankings to increase web traffic.
Google’s search advocate, John Mueller, noted in a recent YouTube discussion that if a site had lost or gained traffic steadily over the period of the CWV roll out, then it was likely related to the website’s CWV score.
GoDaddy’s Website Builder scores nearly 68% in good CWV rankings and outperforms most other competitors. It’s a great option to consider if you’re looking for low-hassle performance speed on your site. Plus, it includes other fool-proof elements like SSL certificates and more.

For non-GoDaddy sites, your biggest priority is to minimize image sizes before uploading to your site. Try using an image compressor to cut down on load time and apply a lazy loading plugin if you have a WordPress site. This will display all images below the fold only when the user scrolls down.
4. Find the right keywords for your content
Improving SEO means creating content Google can easily comprehend. That’s why optimizing with keywords helps. It allows Google bots to decipher what your page is about so that it can provide relevant results to search queries.
Let’s take a look at some best practices for keyword usage.
How to choose the best keywords
When creating content for your site, try to think of phrases and terms your target audience may be typing into a search query. For example, if you’re a retailer that specializes in kid’s clothing, you could aim for keywords like:
- Toddler girl dresses for spring
- Zipper onesies for baby boys
- Activewear for boys and girls
Keep an eye on your competitors and note how they utilize their keywords for search queries.
It’s important to know the keywords your competitors are ranking for that you are not.
Let these findings guide you when deciding what keywords to create for your own content. Ensure your version is better optimized and more informative to win the upper edge.
Where to include primary keywords
Here are other areas where you should include primary keywords throughout your text:
- Each page on your site: Include a primary keyword for every 60 – 150 words in each of your posts. Ensure they sound natural and avoid keyword stuffing to prevent Google from penalizing you.
- On-page title: Make sure each page on your website has a primary keyword within the on-page title at the top.
- First 100 words of every page: Include a primary keyword in your opening paragraph for each post. The sooner you introduce it, the better.
It’s also best to add a secondary keyword that’s similar in meaning to your primary keyword. This provides Google with extra information (or clues) to what your page is about.

Editor’s Note: GoDaddy’s website builder automatically assigns your primary keyword as a required H1 header tag in the backend, so there’s no extra coding necessary for you. This makes things easier any time you want to adjust the font size or style. Simply edit as you go.
Keyword length
When it comes to keyword length, there are two things to remember:
- Short keywords with a large volume are harder to rank for and are more competitive
- Longer keyword phrases with three to five words are easier to rank for and are less competitive
Let’s imagine you run a clothing shop. Instead of choosing a generalized keyword like “T-shirts,” you can opt for something more specific like “cruelty-free vegan T-shirts.” The competition for the longer phrase is lower and has a better chance at ranking higher on Google.
Duplicate keywords
On a similar note, you want to avoid including the same keywords and phrases on multiple pages of your website. This is known as keyword cannibalization and could lead users to the wrong page when they enter your site from a search query. It’s also not good for bounce-back rates.
The same goes for duplicate content. Try to avoid creating posts that are similar in topic, since this could confuse the search engine bots.
An example would be targeting “divorce lawyer near Los Angeles” on one page and “how to find a divorce lawyer near me” on another. The angles are too similar for Google to recognize the difference.
Helpful tools and resources
To help you optimize strategically, you can use the following tools when deciding which keywords to go for:
- Google’s Keyword Planner: This is a tool for finding keywords that many digital marketers tend to utilize – especially in advertising. But you don’t need to be an advertiser to use it. Anyone can sign up for free and use it for insight on keyword search volume.
- KWFinder: If you’re looking for a tool with more advanced features, try KWFinder. It offers a free trial and helps you find keywords that are easy to rank for.
- Keyword Tool: Ecommerce store owners can find extra ideas using predictive search tools like this one. It gives you free keyword search suggestions for Amazon, eBay and more.
Remember, it’s best to avoid using keywords that have volumes in the highest and lowest categories. Refer to these tools any time you need help.
5. Write for your audience
Developing content that improves SEO quickly should be centred around your audience first and foremost.
You need to know who you are trying to target before you begin writing posts for your website.
This will allow you to create content that is genuinely helpful to potential customers visiting your site. It’s also something Google will reward you for in rankings and will lead users to CTAs that apply to:
- Purchases
- Email sign-ups
- Inquiries and more
When drafting content for your site, you should note that there are two main categories to consider:
- Standard pages and blog posts: These typically consist of informational content. A standard page should have a minimum of 300 words, while a blog post should have 700 or more.
- Ecommerce product pages: Ecommerce pages focus more on product details. The recommended word count for these pages should range between 120-200 words.
Let’s discuss them even further to help you better understand why both are important for improving SEO.
Pages and blog posts
Pages and blog posts provide informational content to users but differ in the type of content displayed. Pages are more static and don’t often need updating (like About Me or Contact pages), while blog posts provide constant updates to queries that are relevant to your product or service.
Google ranks all web pages according to a mixture of:
- Relevancy for the searcher
- Value of content on a page
- The page’s uniqueness
- A website’s overall authority
Authority takes time and is something you earn as your audience grows. It’s not something you can control right away. But optimizing the other categories can help you achieve authority success down the line.
Dwell time
Google rewards websites with higher rankings if searchers stick around for a while (aka dwell time).
To increase dwell time, owners should write for their prospective customer and not for Google.
Write as if you are encouraging a friend to take the next step with your business offer. Use words that inspire and provide informative content that helps users with pain points.
Ecommerce product pages
Ecommerce pages provide users with information about your product or service, but also convinces them to follow-through with a purchase.

Many ecommerce sites miss out on visibility due to lack of content, which makes it hard to rank.
A general recommendation to improve SEO is to start by optimizing product and service pages first. You can do this by:
- Using long-tail keywords: This helps increase opportunities in competitive spaces and even converts better with keywords that are low in search volume. It’s better to have a small increase in web traffic and sales, rather than none.
- Hitting the 120-200 minimum word count: Do this for all products in your online catalogue and avoid writing beyond this range. Writing too much could be a distraction to the potential sale.
- Uploading enticing images: Try to aim for at least three images per product, including one that shows it in use. You might also consider adding product-specific text to images that highlight dimensions and special features.
- Avoid copying manufacturer descriptions: Google will consider this duplicate content and you’ll end up taking a hit to your SEO.
Related: How to boost ecommerce search rankings in 8 steps
6.Leverage SEO with a blog
Blogging is the most efficient way to increase web traffic online. They serve many purposes but are often used for informational content. Even Airbnb and Paypal use blog posts to attract visitors to their site.
Here are just a few ways blogs can improve SEO rankings for your site:
- Drive organic traffic to your site: Incorporating long tail keywords into your posts can help bring new users into your site via Google.
- Increase dwell time: Posts that have engaging content will keep users on your site longer.
- Boost authority: Informational posts are often picked up by other sites who want to linkback to your site as a source.
Focus on quality over volume
When it comes to blog content, you want to ensure your posts offer users valuable information that’s helpful and relevant.
Don’t post articles for the sake of filling up space on your site.
Instead, aim to solve customer problems by answering common questions they might have.
For example, a wedding planner might write a long form article titled “What does a wedding planner do?” to address a common query users search for.
Remember to focus on one primary keyword per blog post and scatter it throughout the text naturally. Combining words like “How”, “What” and “Why” with your keyword will make it sound more helpful for users and Google alike.
Ensure your posts are easy to read
You can make readability more convenient for your users by:
- Using short sentences
- Keeping paragraphs concise
- Optimizing images for quicker page loads
This will allow users to quickly scan the text for information they need. Plus, it makes it easier for Google bots to crawl you site for ranking purposes.
Another best practise is to highlight important information by:
- Adding bold text
- Making bulleted points
- Italicizing blocks of text
Google’s John Mueller confirmed that bolding important words in a paragraph can improve SEO.
It’s also useful for ecommerce sites to include links to priority products and category pages on relevant blog posts. Just remember to make it sound natural and not too spammy.
Continue to audit older posts
Do revisit your old blog posts on a regular basis and update or extend them when possible. Google hates inactive dusty sites and will reward sites with fresh new content.
Don’t forget that your blog posts must also include a title tag and meta description. Be sure you include your keywords in the meta data and that it is up-to-date with Google’s standards.
Related: Blog post SEO: Step-by-step guide to writing a search-friendly blog article
7. Optimize images

Images are the second-most popular way to search online. They help users find what they’re looking for and serve as a visual guide in their buying journey.
But if you’re not optimizing your images before uploading, you might be missing out on valuable SEO rankings.
A couple of good ways you can improve SEO using images is so to:
- Include alt text: Alt text (aka image alt or alt attributes) helps search engines understand what the image is about. It also helps with accessibility for users with screen readers and displays when browsers can’t process images correctly.
- Compress images: This helps boost your on-page loading speed and can be done using Photoshop or by using a site like TingPNG before uploading.
Optimizing for both areas will make it easier for Google to crawl and decipher your site. But if you need a little more help with alt text, read the section below.
Key notes for writing alt text
Despite the latest advances in technology, search engine crawlers can’t see images like humans do. They must rely on the accompanying alt text to help them out.
One best practice for alt text is to keep it simple. These descriptions are meant be short and should include 125 characters or less (including spaces). There’s no need for gimmicks or extra filler worlds like “this is an image of …” Simply describe what the image is about in the most direct way possible.

For example, the alt text for the image above could be, “Close up of someone holding a pair of glasses.”
Image optimization made easy
GoDaddy’s Website Builder makes it easy to edit alt text on images. Simply click on an image insider the editor and write your alt text in the box designated for “Image description.”
You can also use GoDaddy’s Website Builder to automatically compress your images, along with any other large files you may have already uploaded.
8. Is your site mobile friendly?
Making your site mobile-friendly is an important factor for Google rankings. It’s a primary reason why mobile-first indexing was created and adds to the overall convenience for users on-the-go.
Users should be able to experience your website on a mobile or tablet device the same way they do on a desktop.
It needs to be easily accessible without needing to pinch or squeeze to view your content.

Google’s Mobile-Friendly tool is a great way to test your website when optimizing for mobile devices. Or if you don’t want to hassle with checking yourself, GoDaddy’s Website Builder has standard built-in mobile responsiveness.
9. Submit your sitemap
A sitemap helps search engines crawl your website and index it faster. It consists of a file that contains all the URLs on your page, plus metadata that shows each one’s importance and the date they were last updated.
If you’re not using GoDaddy or a content management system (CMS) like WordPress, you’ll need to create one using a tool like XML sitemap generator.
Submitting your sitemap to Google is the last step in this process. You can do this by logging into your Google Search Console (GSC) account and entering it in the “Sitemaps” tab in the side bar.
Backlinko has a great step-by-step guide if you need extra help importing your sitemap link into your account.
10. Experiment with backlinking
Sometimes other websites will link to your site when they want to refer to you as a source of information. This is considered backlinking and it helps boost your authority when Google notices they are coming from relevant and reputable websites.
Another tactic is to partner with other websites in your industry and guest blog on their site. This allows you to share your expertise with similar audiences so that you can backlink and gain new leads.
It also helps to include links to other relevant blogs on your site whenever you find valuable information you can share with your audience.
Additionally, Google and major search engines consider a backlink from a site you don’t own as a vote for your business. Numerous studies suggest that backlinks from quality websites can help increase a site’s rankings and traffic.
Related: How to get backlinks to a small business website
11. Local business

Local businesses can make use of additional opportunities in search engines with things like Google My Business (GMB). This allows brick and mortar or service businesses to reach local audiences in the surrounding area through rich search results.
In other words, your business can have a dedicated profile with Google that appears any time someone submits a query for relevant businesses in their area. It typically includes things like:
- Your website’s URL address
- Photos that highlight your business or services
- Customer reviews and more
All of this info can be optimized to improve SEO and there are plenty of other distinct things to do to increase website’s traffic locally. You can find more information about local SEO with this handy guide from our blog.
12. Measure your success
Google Analytics (GA) is a free tool for monitoring website traffic from any source. Many digital marketers use it to collect insight on:
- Target audiences
- Website performance
- Ad campaigns
However, it can be a bit intimidating if you’ve never used it before. GA contains a wide variety of reports and data that take time learning how to navigate.
It can also be a challenge to set it up, since it requires a bit of coding knowledge to get started.
To make things easier, GoDaddy’s Website Builder integrates with Google Search Console to track search engine performance for you. It also provides technical SEO suggestions to help improve your website.

Most plans for GoDaddy’s Website Builder also include a simplified window inside the platform for essential organic performance. This makes is so there’s no need to log in anywhere else until you’re ready for more advanced steps. It’s a great launching point for beginners interested in learning more about GA.
Check out Google Analytics’ Analytics Academy playlist for more information.
Final takeaways
If you want to have a competitive edge in today’s online marketplace, you need to ensure your business is ranking on search engines. The best way to do that is to improve SEO on your site, so that search bots can crawl it and easily determine what your site is about.
The more SEO-friendly your site is, the higher it’ll rank in search queries.
Users with GoDaddy’s Website Builder have the upper hand since it includes built-in benefits like:
- Standardized mobile optimization
- Automatic XML sitemaps that don’t need to be maintained
- SSL certificate with HTTPS for data encryption
- Access to Google Search Console
You also get the added benefit of 24/7 support in case you need extra help determining your next move. And you can even opt for additional plans (like GoDaddy’s SEO Services) to help boost your online presence even more.
Remember, improving SEO for your site is all about time and dedication. Now’s the time to jump in and capitalize on opportune moments that get your business noticed online.
Growing a Business
Brand Authenticity: How Small Businesses Can Build Trust and Loyalty
Published
1 week agoon
May 31, 2023
In today’s competitive business landscape, small businesses need to establish a strong brand identity to stand out and connect with their target audience. One crucial element that can make or break a brand is authenticity.
In this article, we will explore why brand authenticity matters for small businesses and how it can help build trust and loyalty among customers.
Brand is Everything
Branding is the process of shaping and defining a small business’s identity. It encompasses more than just a logo or a tagline; it extends to the values, mission, and overall personality of the business. A strong brand serves as the foundation upon which all marketing efforts are built.
Through branding, a small business can establish a unique and recognizable identity that sets it apart from competitors. It communicates the business’s essence and promises to customers, creating a perception and expectation of what they can expect from the brand.
A well-crafted brand strategy helps small businesses differentiate themselves in a crowded market, attract their target audience, and build a loyal customer base. It provides a cohesive framework for all marketing and communication activities, ensuring consistency in messaging, visual identity, and customer experience.
Effective branding goes beyond aesthetics; it delves into the emotional connection between the brand and its customers. It evokes feelings, creates memories, and builds trust. Small businesses that invest in building a strong brand reap the benefits of increased brand recognition, customer loyalty, and long-term success.
Why Being Authentic Matters
In a world inundated with marketing messages, consumers have become more discerning about the brands they choose to support. Authenticity plays a significant role in this decision-making process. Customers are drawn to brands that are genuine, transparent, and true to their values.
When a small business demonstrates authenticity, it fosters a sense of trust and credibility, setting it apart from those that merely follow passing trends or adopt a contrived persona.

How Brand Builds Trust and Loyalty
Building trust and loyalty is crucial for small businesses, and brand authenticity serves as a powerful catalyst in this process. By consistently embodying their values, being transparent, forging emotional connections, and telling compelling stories, authentic brands establish a strong foundation of trust and loyalty with their customers.
Let’s explore some key aspects of how brand authenticity contributes to building trust and loyalty:
1. Consistency
Authentic brands are consistent in their messaging and actions. They deliver a consistent experience across all touchpoints, from their website and social media presence to their customer service interactions. This consistency builds trust, as customers know what to expect and can rely on the brand to deliver on its promises.
2. Transparency
Authentic brands are transparent about their processes, ingredients, sourcing, or any other relevant information. They openly communicate with their customers, addressing concerns and being honest about challenges they may face. This transparency builds trust and demonstrates the brand’s commitment to ethical practices.
3. Emotional Connection
Authentic brands connect with customers on an emotional level. They tap into shared values and beliefs, creating a sense of belonging and resonance. By understanding their target audience and communicating in a genuine manner, small businesses can forge deep connections that foster customer loyalty and advocacy.
4. Storytelling
Authentic brands tell compelling stories that resonate with their audience. They share the journey, values, and purpose behind their business, giving customers a reason to engage and connect. These stories create an emotional bond and help customers relate to the brand on a personal level.
Takeaway
In today’s business landscape, brand authenticity is a powerful asset for small businesses. By staying true to their values, consistently delivering on promises, being transparent, and connecting on an emotional level, small businesses can build trust and loyalty among their customer base.
Remember, authenticity is not a one-time effort but an ongoing commitment that should permeate all aspects of the business.
Small businesses that prioritize brand authenticity will differentiate themselves in the market, cultivate a loyal customer base, and ultimately thrive in an increasingly competitive environment.
By understanding the importance of authenticity and implementing strategies to foster it, small businesses can build a brand that resonates with customers and drives long-term success.
Your brand is your identity. Be authentic, be true, and watch your business flourish.
Conclusion
In conclusion, brand authenticity is a critical factor in building trust and loyalty for small businesses. It goes beyond superficial marketing tactics and taps into the core values, consistency, transparency, emotional connection, and storytelling. By prioritizing authenticity and integrating it into all aspects of their operations, small businesses can create a powerful brand that resonates with customers, fosters trust, and drives long-term success.
If small businesses embrace their authenticity, they will stand out in a crowded marketplace and forge deep connections with their target audience, ultimately reaping the rewards of customer loyalty and advocacy.
Google Ads
Boost Your Local Business: Discover the Power of Google Ads Location Targeting and Local Extensions
Discover how to boost your local business with Google Ads! Master location targeting & local extensions for success.
Published
1 week agoon
May 29, 2023By
Liana Ling
Opinions expressed by SmallBiz contributors are their own.
Discover the power of location targeting and local extensions in Google Ads to promote your local business and connect with customers in your community! In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how to effectively utilize Google Ads for local business promotion, drive foot traffic, generate leads, and boost sales.
Let’s dive into the world of local advertising and unlock the potential of your local business!
Table of Contents
- Introduction: The Importance of Local Advertising in Google Ads
- Location Targeting: Reaching the Right Audience in Your Community
- Local Extensions: Enhancing Your Ads with Local Business Information
- Creating Compelling Local Ads: Tips and Best Practices
- Leveraging Google My Business for Local Ads Integration
- Measuring the Success of Local Advertising: Key Metrics and Analysis
- Conclusion: Achieving Local Advertising Excellence with Google Ads
Welcome to the world of local advertising, where your business becomes a beacon of opportunity in your community! As a local business owner, you know that your community is the lifeblood of your success. It’s where your loyal customers reside, where word-of-mouth spreads like wildfire, and where your business can thrive and prosper.
But what if I told you that there’s a way to amplify your local presence and connect with even more customers in your area? That’s right! With Google Ads, you can harness the power of local advertising to drive foot traffic, generate leads, and boost sales like never before.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the magic of location targeting and local extensions in Google Ads. We’ll uncover the secrets to creating compelling local ads that resonate with your audience and inspire action. So, buckle up and get ready for a thrilling adventure that will elevate your local business to new heights!
Location Targeting: Reaching the Right Audience in Your Community
Imagine casting a net that captures the attention of your ideal customers right in your community! With location targeting in Google Ads, you can do just that. Location targeting allows you to define the geographic areas where you want your ads to appear, ensuring that your ads reach the right audience at the right time.
Whether you’re targeting a specific city, neighborhood, or radius around your business, location targeting is your key to unlocking local advertising success. But how do you set up and optimize location targeting for maximum impact? Let’s explore!
Define Your Target Areas: Start by defining the geographic areas you want to target. Consider factors such as your business location, service areas, and where your potential customers reside. Be strategic in selecting areas that align with your business goals and customer demographics.
Customize Location Settings: In Google Ads, you can customize your location settings to target specific areas, exclude certain locations, and even adjust bids based on location. For example, you can increase bids for areas with high foot traffic or for locations where your competitors operate.
Leverage Location Extensions: Enhance your location targeting efforts by using location extensions. These extensions display your business address, phone number, and directions, making it easy for customers to find and visit your store.
Monitor and Optimize Performance: Keep a close eye on the performance of your location-targeted campaigns. Analyze key metrics such as click-through rate (CTR), conversion rate, and cost per acquisition (CPA) for different locations. Use these insights to optimize your campaigns and improve ROI.
Local Extensions: Enhancing Your Ads with Local Business Information
Transform your ads into a treasure map that leads customers straight to your doorstep! Local extensions in Google Ads are like signposts that guide customers to your business, providing them with essential information and a seamless path to action.
Local extensions display your business address, phone number, and a map marker, along with a link to your business details page on Google Maps. Whether customers are searching for directions, store hours, or contact information, local extensions provide the answers they seek.
When setting up and optimizing local extensions, consider these best practices:
Verify Your Business Information: Ensure that your business information is accurate and up-to-date. Verify your business address, phone number, and hours of operation to provide customers with reliable information.
Integrate with Google My Business: Link your Google Ads account with your Google My Business account to seamlessly integrate your business information into your ads. This integration enhances the accuracy and consistency of your local extensions.
Track and Measure Performance: Monitor the performance of your local extensions using metrics such as clicks-to-call, clicks-to-directions, and store visit conversions. Use these insights to assess the impact of local extensions on your campaign performance and customer engagement.
Creating Compelling Local Ads: Tips and Best Practices
Craft local ads that resonate with your community and inspire action! Creating compelling local ads is an art form that requires creativity, precision, and a deep understanding of your audience. It’s about capturing the essence of your local business and conveying your unique value proposition.
When crafting local ads, keep these tips and best practices in mind:
Highlight Local Relevance: Emphasize your local presence and connection to the community. Use location-specific keywords, mention local landmarks, and highlight community involvement to resonate with your audience.
Showcase Special Offers and Promotions: Entice customers with special offers, discounts, and promotions that are exclusive to your local area. Create a sense of urgency with limited-time deals and seasonal offers.
Include a Strong Call-to-Action (CTA): Inspire customers to take action with a clear and compelling CTA. Whether it’s “Visit Our Store Today,” “Call for a Free Consultation,” or “Book an Appointment Online,” guide customers towards the desired outcome.
Personalize and Segment Your Ads: Tailor your ads to different segments of your local audience based on factors such as demographics, interests, and search behavior. Personalized ads create a deeper connection and drive higher engagement.
Leveraging Google My Business for Local Ads Integration
Unleash the full potential of local advertising by integrating Google My Business with Google Ads! Google My Business is a powerful tool that helps you manage your online presence, showcase your business information, and connect with customers across Google Search and Maps.
When you integrate Google My Business with Google Ads, you create a seamless and cohesive local advertising experience. Here’s how:
Sync Your Business Information: Link your Google My Business account with your Google Ads account to automatically sync your business information, including address, phone number, and hours of operation.
Enhance Local Extensions: By integrating with Google My Business, you can enhance your local extensions with additional information such as photos, customer reviews, and special attributes (e.g., “Free Wi-Fi,” “Outdoor Seating”). This enriched information provides customers with a more comprehensive view of your business.
Optimize for Local Search: Leverage the insights and data from your Google My Business account to optimize your local ads for relevant search queries. Understand what customers are searching for and tailor your ad copy and keywords accordingly.
Measure Store Visits and Conversions: With the integration of Google My Business and Google Ads, you can track store visit conversions and measure the impact of your local advertising efforts on in-store traffic and sales.
Measuring the Success of Local Advertising: Key Metrics and Analysis
Unlock the secrets to local advertising success with data-driven insights and analysis! Measuring the success of your local advertising campaigns is crucial for understanding what works, what doesn’t, and how to optimize for maximum impact.
When analyzing the performance of your local advertising campaigns, consider these key metrics and analysis strategies:
Click-Through Rate (CTR): CTR measures the percentage of users who click on your ad after seeing it. A high CTR indicates that your ad is resonating with your audience and effectively capturing their attention.
Conversion Rate: The conversion rate measures the percentage of users who take a desired action after clicking on your ad. This could include actions such as making a purchase, booking an appointment, or signing up for a newsletter.
Cost Per Acquisition (CPA): CPA measures the average cost of acquiring a customer or lead through your local advertising efforts. It’s important to optimize your campaigns to achieve a lower CPA and maximize ROI.
Store Visit Conversions: For brick-and-mortar businesses, store visit conversions track the number of users who visit your physical store after interacting with your local ads. This metric provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of your local advertising in driving foot traffic.
Return on Ad Spend (ROAS): ROAS measures the return on investment for your local advertising campaigns. It’s calculated by dividing the revenue generated from your ads by the total ad spend. A positive ROAS indicates a profitable campaign.
When analyzing these metrics, it’s essential to consider the specific goals and objectives of your local advertising campaigns. Use data-driven insights to make informed decisions, optimize your campaigns, and achieve your desired outcomes.
Achieving Local Advertising Excellence with Google Ads
Congratulations! You’ve reached the end of this exhilarating journey through the world of local advertising in Google Ads! You’ve discovered the secrets to location targeting, local extensions, compelling ad creatives, and data-driven analysis. You’ve been inspired by real-world success stories and equipped with the tools and knowledge to achieve local advertising excellence.
As you forge ahead, remember that local advertising is a dynamic and ever-evolving landscape. Stay curious, embrace innovation, and continuously optimize your campaigns to adapt to changing trends and customer behavior. Keep your audience at the heart of your efforts, provide value at every touchpoint, and build lasting relationships with your community.
Running effective and profitable ads is crucial to the success of any local business. If you’re eager to dive deeper and expand your knowledge on how to maximize the potential of your ad campaigns, there’s an excellent opportunity awaiting you. Take advantage of AdSkills.com’s Free Academy, where you’ll discover valuable resources, expert advice, and innovative strategies designed to help you transform your advertising efforts. Don’t let this chance pass you by – visit AdSkills.com today and elevate your advertising game to new heights!
Liana Ling serves as the CEO of AdSkills.com and helms her own digital marketing agency. Having previously worked as an attorney, and possesses over a decade of experience as a digital marketing specialist focusing on the Info Product and coaching industry. Recognized as one of the top Facebook ad buyers worldwide, Ling uses her unique blend of legal knowledge and marketing expertise to help businesses optimize their digital strategies, thereby earning her a stellar reputation as a trusted advisor in this competitive field.

The days of calling up every name in the phonebook or handing out flyers on the street corner are over. Nowadays, for any business to grow, it must have a thriving online presence. With so many different companies competing for space in their niche and striving to win clicks, it can be challenging to see a way forward for your business.
Even so, your small company needs to incorporate Search Engine Optimization (SEO), from an agency like Peaks Digital Marketing, moving forward to develop your niche, pull more customers, and rank higher in organic searches. We’ll explain the core of SEO practices, how they work, and why they’re crucial to your business’s development, both in the short and long term.
What Is SEO?
Search Engine Optimization, abbreviated SEO, is a set of practices and techniques designed to get your website ranked higher in search engine results when searchers type in a keyword related to your niche.
Now, you shouldn’t think that SEO is only for computer experts, although there’s a fair amount of backdoor work that can improve SEO; instead, it’s a systematic approach to content production and web design to engage readers, provide authoritative data, and drive sales.
Essentially, the more helpful your content is to readers, as determined by dwell time, crawl indexing, authoritativeness, backlinks, and other metrics, the more prominently your webpage will be displayed when a user searches for a keyword in your niche.
How Does SEO Help My Business?
Improving Placement
One of the most obvious benefits of SEO is implicit in its primary purpose: getting you to the top of the search engine results page. Searchers rarely go past the first page of Google, and they are highly likely to select the first, second, or third option on the list compared to links provided further down. Google determines who gets to be the top dog through a series of bot-indexed evaluations. The closer you are to the top, the more likely you will draw visitors to your site. And, of course, visitors mean potential customers. If you’re using your website to drive sales, then it’s a little surprise that more web traffic translates to more revenue.
This positive feedback loop continues, too; more positive interactions with your site lend more credibility, which, in turn, bolsters your reputation in the eyes of the search engine.
Brand Awareness
One benefit of SEO marketing strategies is that they can really help you stand out in your niche. If you’re passionate about something that you want to share with the world, then you can quickly learn, through SEO research and marketing, what works and what doesn’t.
In other words, if your brand continues to rank at the top of the list in your niche, you can convert curious information-seekers on your niche topic to customers.
Of course, being on the top page of search engines like Google, Yahoo, and Bing builds trust and brand awareness.
When customers click on your top-rated website and see the wonderfully relevant and insightful information you provide, they are much more likely to trust you and recognize your brand.
Improving Customer Experience
One crucial aspect of SEO is web design. Google’s AI very much appreciates websites that are designed with user-friendliness in mind due to higher page views and a lower bounce rate. Surprisingly, customers also appreciate a well-thought-out website layout.
SEO uses in-depth marketing tools to deliver a fresh, user-friendly website that customers will appreciate, potentially leading to further sales.
Providing Helpful, Relevant Data
As a small business owner, you probably have lots of information and experience to share with the world in your niche. Once you decide where in the market you want to settle down, SEO can help you digitalize that information for a growing audience. Whether it’s through a blog on your website or via helpful how-to articles, the internet is a great place to share your knowledge.
Distilling your experience into a bite-sized format is helpful for readers who want to learn more about your products and share the same interests that you do. For example, growing an audience through a blog is also a great way to build your business in the long run.
Adapting to Market Change
The key marker of a business that will thrive is the ability to adapt to change. SEO can be part of your rapid force adjustment if you need to shift your market approach, product line, or media.
SEO can provide you with helpful analytics about which products consumers prefer, which topics are of the most interest to your viewers, and what your competition is doing that you aren’t. All of these factors can help you pivot when you need to and adapt to changes in the market that would otherwise lead to business stagnation.
Growing a Business
The flexibility to make changes, the opportunity to appear before a larger audience, and the ability to improve the customer experience—all of these SEO features have one commonality: progress. At its heart, SEO is about growing your business by increasing your exposure, building your brand, and equipping you with the right resources to improve your products.
SEO is a long-term strategy that can drive revenue with very little input. Most importantly, it generates a continuous stream of organic traffic. This traffic not only helps you gain more sales in the short term, but it can also build a base of repeat customers, who may then help spread your business by word of mouth.
The Bottom Line
Search Engine Optimization is essential for any business with an online presence and often serves as the distinguishing factor between enterprises competing for the same niche.
If you’re looking to rank higher in organic search results, generate more organic traffic, and grow your business in the long run by building a consumer base and providing helpful, relevant content, then it’s important to incorporate SEO strategies into your business model. Whether you’ve just started your business or are in an explosive growth phase, SEO is a necessity that can help your business tremendously.

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