The number one question that we get asked is “How do I get into the top 3 and ensure my business shows up in the local business results when someone searches on Google?” The business owner or manager then wants to know how much it will cost and what their budget needs to be.
Unfortunately, there is not a guaranteed solution to ensure your business ranks in the top spot for every search result in your town. You could argue that if your town was small enough to only have one plumber, one gas station, one restaurant, one chiropractor etc. that it would be easy to guarantee search results for those listings, but I doubt that type of business owner is still reading this.
If you get a phone call from someone that can guarantee your local ranking results please send them our way. I have a never-ending list of business ideas that would be extremely successful in New York City if they can guarantee my listing appears first in all search results.
“In life, there are no guarantees, only opportunities” ~Unknown
Define your search goals
What keywords would you like your business to rank for? What do your customers search for to find your business? You would be surprised what search terms potential customers are using to actually find your business. Take a look at the insights for your Google My Business profiles and you might be shocked. Here are some examples of business owners not realizing what they rank for…
- A plumber would like to rank for water heater installs, but only gets calls for toilet repair.
- Used car lot would like to rank for used trucks but keeps getting calls about truck repair.
- Self-storage facility only gets calls about RV and boat storage.
- The restaurant owner would like to be in the top 3 for margaritas, but only gets inquiries for quesadillas.
The list goes on and on. We try to tell clients that no lead is a bad lead, but sometimes they are just too far out of left field.
“If you don’t know where you are going,
you’ll end up someplace else.” ― Yogi Berra
Follow Google’s Guidelines for Small Businesses
This is a long-term game and over the years Google has tried to keep the playing field even. This area of marketing is one were the local mom and pop coffee shop can outperform the Starbucks Coffee Giant. If someone has called your business and offered a guarantee, questionable advice you can visit the Google My Business Support Pages to verify their claims. Some of the tips that you will find include…
Engage with your customers via the Google My Business Service.
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- Respond to reviews
- Post business updates
- Add messenger capabilities
- Post photos
- Share your menu or services offered
This is just a small list of things we suggest for small business owners to help them rank in the top 3. If ou would like a free review of your Google listing please give us a call
