Home Based Business - Ranking in the Search Engines
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an absolute must for your home based business website to attract traffic to rank higher in search results. However, good quality SEO services don't come cheap and cheap SEO services could end up costing you more than you bargained. Most such services use unethical SEO strategies that though work well in the short run can get your website banned results in the short-term but risk your website's removal from Google, Bing, and other search engines. Home based businesses typically do not have the extra dollars to hire professional SEO services and pay for often used keywords against competition that is prepared to pay top dollar.
Even without spending any money, home based businesses can take some steps to improve the organic ranking of their website. Take for example the option of using non-textual media to generate traffic. An innovative opening has come up with Google's Universal Search concept that brings up videos, pictures, maps etc. apart from the regular search listing. Other free of charge SEO tactics that can make a difference to your page ranking in search results are:
1. Registering your business on Google Local Business Center
Google Local Business listings display your business for multiple keyword phrases in your local area, with your business name, a map with directions to your business and your address, phone, email, and website URL if any. Use this option to publicize your business irrespective of it being an e-commerce website or a brick-and-mortar establishment. Register your business address here and include appropriate keywords in the listing title and description. Google checks the data you have entered before approving your listing. Ask customers to post their review of your business in the Google Local Business listing and get links from other websites such as trade directories, yellow pages, etc. Similar features are also offered by others such as Yahoo! Local.
2. Registering your business on Google Product Search
Build a product feed and add particulars such as description, pricing, specifications, benefits, and other information. Include relevant keywords, brand name, and product name in the title and description of the product entry. If your product listing includes client reviews, it looks more trustworthy. Encourage clients to leave reviews by offering discounts or similar benefits.
3. Spread brand awareness with social media networking
Social media networking is the hottest trend in marketing a business or a brand. As these websites are visited every day by hoards of prospects, they are an ideal platform to start a conversation about your business. Websites such as Facebook and Twitter drive prospective customers to your website as trending topics often get picked up in search results.
4. Using multimedia
The sole objective of search engines is to get customers information relevant to the phrases entered by them. This can be achieved through multimedia such as videos, audio, animations etc. too. You must ensure that the video title and description includes popular keywords to make sure it comes up in search results. Again, customer reviews and feedback helps your credibility. If your video is really good, more users will post links to the video or tag it as their favorite, thereby improving your brand visibility.
5. Publishing content related to recent industry news
Websites such as Google News love to show articles on happening subjects. Create content around pertinent trending topics and make targeted search terms part of the title. Quality content can get inbound links from blogs and other websites. It helps drive traffic to the site.
This information should help home based businesses jump-start their SEO initiatives. Without applying basic SEO tactics, a home based business website cannot attract customers. Even if publicity is not the principal aim of your website, not optimizing it is a mistake. Websites cannot miraculously improve sales or expand your customer base. Some advertising is a must, and SEO is one of the most cost-effective yet powerful means of attracting traffic.
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