Diamonds may be a girl’s best friend, but SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a company’s best friend. Great search results are created just like diamonds — from time and pressure. In terms of SEO, the longer your content is out there – the better. In terms of pressure, that just means adding good content and doing it consistently.
In the flurry of start-up activity, business owners typically fail to claim their digital footprint, losing months, if not years, of momentum. Failure to do these simple things when you have a new business will not only hinder your search results but also slow the progress of your branding efforts.
How do you go about getting found online?
Here are a few tips to get you on the path of creating some branding gems of your own.
First, as soon as your legal name is created (and your logo is designed), you should set up your Google My Business profile. It is imperative to secure and complete your Google My Business page because Google owns 91% of all search engine markets.
If you want to be found, you must pay attention to Google! By claiming your Google My Business listing, you can also drive customers and clients to leave reviews on it—a critical factor in how you rank on Google.
After you’ve completed your Google My Business page, you need to create your business pages on the other social media platforms. You need to engage in those where your customers spend time. This will vary depending on your industry and your target demographics.
The big players you need to focus on:
If you’re taking over an existing business or trying to finally claim your digital footprint after years of neglect, go to Google, search your company, and “claim” your Google page. You will have to verify information, but it’s important to do this because it ensures you control the information people see.
Once you’ve claimed your listing, you will be able to upload team pictures, product photos, photos of your building, images from your portfolio, and your logo—anything that people can and should associate with your new company. You will also want to add a link to your website, your hours, etc.
Why does this make a difference? When people are searching, this is what shows up often, before they even see your website!
If more than one listing comes up, it means you have multiple pages or accounts. Be sure to delete any duplicate pages you may have inadvertently set up.
Remember, Google owns the search engines, so make sure your information is correct.