“IF YOU WANT NEW CUSTOMERS TO SEE WHAT YOU HAVE GOING ON YOU NEED TO GO WHERE THEY ARE LOOKING”

 With over 45% of people searching google daily for local products & services, optimizing  your business to the top of those searches is an opportunity to drive massive amounts of targeted traffic for FREE.

Search engines, business listing sites & review sites provide customers with detailed and extensive information to help them locate exactly what it is they want when & where they want it. Local businesses can take advantage of this by claiming their listing and optimizing them to give themselves the best chance of getting on or as close to page #1 of a search for the specific products or services they have to offer, because the majority of people do not look past page #1 when searching (we are a very impatient society).

How to Optimize your Brick & Mortar Business Listing on Search Engines

First, you will need a list of the top search engines & business listing sites, you can download a Free PDF with tips & advice along with a list including the links to the most important sites here.

Next you will want to make a list of the main topic words you would want to be found for – these are called keywords, and search engines use them when returning search results to your potential customers. You want to use the most accurate, relevant and exact keywords & long tail keywords (phrases) that pertain to what you do or what you sell as possible – this is the most important part of optimizing your listing.

Start with the most important and often basic words that describe you – (ex. Women’s, Dress, Store, Miami) add brands, services, or specialities that make you unique & different (ex. Plus Size, Custom Alterations, Free Gift Wrap) Brainstorm as much specific and beneficial information as possible.

Next, enter your main keywords into a keyword tool online to get idea’s for the most common long tail keywords (phrases ex. white summer dresses) that your customers are searching for in the language that they are using. There are several tools that you can use to do this for free, one is ubersuggest.io. If you are a member of my private Facebook Group Brick & Mortar Mastery check the videos tab for a step-by-step tutorial on 2 free keyword tools. You can also download a free PDF here with information and the links to several more free keyword tools as well. 

To fully optimize your listings you should

1. Include all of your basic business information – name, address, phone, email, web address
2. ADD your store hours * This is very important and can be the determining factor in a new customer choosing your store over your competitors
3. Write a detailed description of your products, services and unique benefits using (secret weapon #1) the most popular keywords & long tail keywords from your research
4. Add video whenever possible and (secret weapon #2) make sure that the first 7 seconds are attention grabbing
5. Add images – This is the second most important way after keywords to optimize your listing – visuals are viewed first and tell a story
6. Secret Weapon #3 – show any exclusive product lines, special services, or unique identifiers in those images!!
7. Add your location (Town) to your listing title (ex. my Dress Store Miami, FL)
8. Reviews are very important – they convert browsers into buyers – whenever possible, try to get your best customers to leave an honest & unbiased review. You can offer an incentive, just don’t ask for a positive review or tell them what to say – that is unethical. If they are a good customer you won’t have to worry, and reviews in their own words will come across more genuine & believable.

If your interested in learning NEW ways to build, scale & grow your business with information tailored specifically to Brick & Mortar, then sign up below to receive weekly content and video tutorials.  If you are interested in getting support & sharing valuable information with a community of passionate small business owners, click here to join my private Facebook Group Brick & Mortar Mastery.

I hope you found this useful, helpful and full of opportunity.

Wishing you much success,  Jodi