Google Tips & Tricks to Improve Your Ranking
Welcome to this episode of Work Your Biz Like A Boss where we are going to focus in on some easy things you can do to improve your Google search ranking.
First things first
If you are a business that’s local or you sell products and services, you need to set up your Google My Business first. They are transitioning to Google Search now. I’ve not researched it yet but you can still set up your Google My Business and then use the Google Search platform for updates, etc. I don’t like it as much, though, so I’m holding out until I’m forced to move. Lol.
CONTENT. CONTENT. CONTENT.
Google is all about great content that helps those who visit your site—blogs, descriptions, videos, and graphics. That means you need text on your site with the keywords and phrases that people use to find products or services like yours.
Keywords. The best way to find those is by searching for your business type or product/service like you do anything else. A great way is to use the phrase “near me” or your city. For example, “facials near me.” When you do, you’ll notice a drop down with all the other phrases people are using to get ideas for the keywords and phrases you need on your site.
SEO. SEO stands for Search Engine Optimization, a fancy phrase for the words or phrases that people use to search for businesses like yours. Most website hosts (like Squarespace my fave) have a place for SEO for your overall website and each page on your website. You can change it up depending on the page and its focus as well. But don't throw in just random phrases. They need to be in your text somewhere as well on your home page, about page, product/service descriptions, etc. You don’t even have to have them grouped together as a phrase. But the words have to be somewhere on your site in addition to the SEO.
Alt tags. Alt tags are the same idea of using words or phrases but you put them in the captioning (then hide it) labeling your pictures. Squarespace uses captions for alt tags. Some sites might have a specific place to put them for pictures. It’s great for people with disabilities and also your search engine results.
search ranking solutions
With the text and SEO on your site fixed, let’s now go to three things that you can do regularly that Google really likes and will improve your search ranking.
Get Google Reviews. Now this can seem difficult but I discovered a very easy way. Use the following text: “Could you do me a favor and leave a kind review by clicking this link? Thanks! LINK HERE.” The link to use is in your Google My Business under “Get More Reviews” and click the “Share Review Form” and copy the link and insert it in the above text. Save the entire review text somewhere in your phone and copy, paste it, and text it to your clients. They can then give you a review straight from their phone. I increased my reviews over 80% since I started doing this.
Post on Google. You might not know this but you can post on Google just like you do on Facebook. The posts show up on the right hand side when people search for you under your business information. I usually post two posts once a month using Facebook posts I’ve scheduled or posted in the past. I copy the text and use the picture or video and bam! This is also done under Google My Business on the Home page. Click Create Post and then a “What’s New” post.
Blog. I know. I know. I hear it all of the time. I don’t want to write a blog. I will never write a blog. A blog can be 3-5 paragraphs even and you can get topics from using the same technique for finding keywords. Search for what people are searching for in your industry and write a blog once a month on those topics. But another thing I do is find industry-related blogs that will let me use them on my clients’ websites. I copy and paste the text and then include the source link, which Google loves other links on your site, too. I usually have that link open in a new window so my site stays put.
BONUS!
Instagram now uses SEO! It’s the same concept as above using alt tags and hashtags. Use 3-5 hashtags that are words or phrases your potential clients might be using on Instagram and use keywords and phrases for the Alt Tags on your images and Google will now include those in search results for your business!! This is a game changer and a great way to increase your visibility.
