Get Found on Google
AI-assisted writing with some human love from Madison, MS. Trust me, it’s a lot more readable that way. :-)
The basics that actually work for local businesses
Most small business owners think getting on Google means paying for ads. It does not. For local service businesses, there are things that matter way more than ads and they are all free.
Google Business Profile
If you do one thing after reading this, do this. Set up a Google Business Profile. It is free. It is the box that shows up on the right side of Google with your name, address, phone number, reviews, and a map pin. It is also what puts you on Google Maps.
Fill out every field. Add photos. Post your hours. Pick the right business categories. This alone will get you more visibility than a $5,000 website with bad SEO.
Page Titles That Actually Work
Every page on your website has a title tag. Google uses it to understand what the page is about. Most small business sites have titles like “Home” or “Services” which tells Google nothing.
Good title: “Smith Plumbing | Reliable Plumber in Jackson, Brandon & Flowood MS | Emergency Service Available”
Bad title: “Home”
Include what you do and where you do it in every page title.
Google Reviews
Ask every happy customer to leave a Google review. Every single one. Reviews are the number one factor in local search rankings. A business with 50 real reviews will outrank a business with a “perfectly optimized” website and 3 reviews.
Consistent Name, Address, Phone
Your business name, address, and phone number need to be exactly the same everywhere. Your website, Google Business Profile, Facebook, Yelp, everywhere. Google uses this consistency to verify you are a real business.
That Is Honestly Most of It
For local service businesses, these four things will get you 80% of the way there. The fancy SEO stuff matters eventually, but most businesses have not even done the basics yet.
I cover all of this on my DIY website consultation calls. We will get your site built and your Google presence set up.