Once upon a time, if you wanted to attract customers, you put up a sign, ran an ad in The Citizen, or relied on good old-fashioned word-of-mouth. People walked past your storefront, saw your display, and stepped inside.

Today? The storefront is digital. Customers aren’t just walking down Main Street. They’re scrolling, searching, and swiping. If they can’t find your business online, you might as well not exist! Let’s talk about it.

Billboard or a Back Alley?

Think about looking for a place to eat when you’re on a road trip. You check the map and one restaurant pops up right away, complete with reviews, photos, and directions. Another place exists, and maybe you’ve heard about it, but there’s no sign, no listing, no way to know if it’s even open.

Which one do you choose? That’s how today’s customers decide where to go. They choose what they can see, trust, and find easily. For small businesses, SEO is how to gain that visibility, credibility, and growth online.

What In The World Is SEO?

Think of Search Engine Optimization (SEO) as the modern version of word-of-mouth marketing, except instead of neighbors recommending your business, it’s Google. SEO helps search engines like Google understand who you are, what you do, and why you’re the best choice, so when people search for businesses like yours, you show up first.

What makes the difference in ranking #1 on Google? Think of this like running a physical store.

1. Your contact info is your front desk. If customers see old hours or outdated phone numbers, they’ll move on. Keep your business details accurate everywhere.
2. Your Google Business Profile is your storefront. A well-maintained listing, with a clear sign and open doors, tells people you’re there, ready to help.
3. Your reviews are your word-of-mouth. These days, testimonials carry as much weight as a personal recommendation, so ask happy customers to speak up!

Local SEO, specifically, zeroes in on your area. If you rank at the top of local results, you’re practically on the radar from the get-go.

Local Businesses and SEO 

Local businesses are the heart and soul of communities, but today, people Google first and move on if they don’t find what they need. That means having an online presence isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s the difference between thriving and fading into the background. At the end of the day, if people can’t find you, they can’t choose you.

Want to talk about SEO or your online strategies? I’m always happy to help. Wishing you success this week (in business and in life!).

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