The more often you show up on the first page of Google, the more likely you’ll get website visitors, in-store foot traffic, and new customers. This issue is the first of a two-part series on how to get on the first page of Google.
If you are a legitimate business, Google wants you to rank well when local customers search for you. It doesn’t happen on its own and to make sure you rank well in all possible sections, your business has to put in a little time and effort.
Are you doing everything you can to show up on the first page of Google? Click here to learn three strategies to help your business get on the first page.
You might be asking: Is it really that important to get on the first page of Google? Absolutely yes. Just consider that:
- 82% of local searchers follow up offline via an in-store visit, phone call, or purchase (TMP/comScore).
- 73% of all searches have a local element (Google).
- Customers are 69% more likely to go with a company if they can find its information online (comScore).
Google McDonald’s: Exploring the search results page.
We need a good example to see what a search engine results page looks like at its highest potential. For that example, let’s take a peek at how the fast food chain McDonald’s shows up to get a feel for how your business can appear more often.
McDonald’s does a great job claiming all their first page sections. The results for a “McDonalds” search on Google lets you see the sections your customers should see for your business when they search for you.
Note: We will focus on Google, but these strategies work for Yahoo! and Bing as well.
Go to www.google.com and type in McDonald’s.
Are you doing all you can to show up on the first page of Google?
1. Organic (Natural) Search Results – When you typed McDonald’s into Google, it didn’t come up with Michael McDonald from the Doobie Brothers or the actor Christopher McDonald who played Shooter McGavin in Happy Gilmore. No, it was the fast food restaurant McDonald’s. That’s because Google wants to help you find what you’re looking for, and it does that by showing you the most relevant and popular pages. (Not that Christopher and Michael aren’t relevant or popular, but most likely if you were searching for them, you would use their full names.)
Search engines use algorithms to rank Web pages. Although very few people know exactly how those algorithms work, we know updating your website and linking to other websites are two generally accepted strategies that should increase your rank on organic search results.
Google says that 73% of all searches have a local element. For you that means when you’re updating your website, you need to include keywords for your city, community, and perhaps even your region. In general, the more specifics you have the better chance your store and products will show up on organic searches.
2. Social Media – If you don’t know anything else about social media, you need to at least acknowledge that it will help you rank better on search engines. Look at the McDonald’s search results page and both the Twitter account and the Facebook Business page should be on the first page. It’s pretty easy to set up a Facebook Business page and a Twitter account. You can do it yourself. Social media websites do an excellent job walking you through setup, and giving you hints and tips along the way. Be patient with yourself, just read and follow what Facebook and Twitter have to say, and of course if you have any questions feel free to give us a call or email us.
3. Sponsored Links – At the top and along the right of the search results page, you’ll see “ads for McDonald’s” These are sponsored links. McDonald’s bought the keyword “McDonald’s.” When someone types “McDonalds” into the search bar, that sponsored link should appear on the first page.
You have to pay for these keywords—called Adwords–from Google. I’d suggest testing it for three months and look at your ROI. Go to the Google Adwords website to learn more and purchase sponsored links for your business.
What good is a map when there is nowhere to go?
You need a website for your customers to go to when they find you on the first page of Google. 50 Below websites are designed to help you rank well. Our skilled staff will make sure your website is filled with keywords that help lead your customers from a keyword search right to your website. Our HelpForce is on call to assist you with whatever you may need, whether it’s with social media, or sponsored links, or any other Internet or website question. Schedule a time to chat today! We want to help your business succeed online.