Small Business Marketing Strategies: How to Optimize for Google Local Search

Search engine optimization for local searches requires a completely different approach than one would for larger scale searches. In this article, I'll share what it takes to perform well in local search so your small business marketing stays on target.

Claim your business listing on Google. Sign in to the Google Business Listing Center to claim your listing. You will then be able to appear on the Google map - which is really something that will help your local business.

With so many mobile devices at work these days, your business needs to be accessible online to people looking for suppliers while they're on the go. Your business will also appear in laptop and desktop searches.

Categorize correctly. To categorize, think about what a person would need to Google to find a business like yours. Think products and services. If you're a bakery, the searcher might use "cakes" or "bread" instead of "bakery." Be clear about the categories and use them consistently – they don't overlap.

Consistency, accuracy and usa buy reviews timeliness. Keep all mentions of your business consistent. This means address, categorization, phone numbers and website addresses. Google will check the data that is available. Google works hard to produce relevant results, so make sure they find you and be sure you're open for business. Check other online directories such as the Yellow Pages and InfoUSA for data consistency.