Getting Started with SEO

Search Engine Optimisation basics and getting started


Chances are you’ve heard of Search Engine Optimisation or SEO; maybe you’re across it or maybe you’ve wondered what on Earth it means.  This article is a quick overview of what SEO is and some tips for improving your business’ results. 

At its heart, SEO is about getting your business to the top of the results when people search for it. But this doesn’t just mean it's top of the list when they type in your business name, but also if they’re looking for products or services you offer in the area where your business operates.  

For example, let’s say you own Jack’s Supermarket in Melbourne. You want to be found when someone types ‘Melbourne supermarket’ into Google. There are a few supermarkets in Melbourne, so being the one at the top is important. But you also want to appear when people search for ‘buy groceries in Melbourne’ or ‘supermarkets near me’, and so on.

There are companies that specialise in SEO, and chances are you’ve been contacted by them in the past, but we don’t think you need to spend money on SEO.  Instead we suggest you complete the suggestions in this article and review your results after that. 

 

Here we’re looking specifically at Business Listings with Search Engines, which are a great starting point and will help super-charge your SEO ranking. 

Screenshot of the Foodworks store search on Google and Bing

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Google Business Profile (GBP) optimisation
  • Claim and verify your GBP listing, and make sure the information is accurate and kept up to date.
  • Encourage customer reviews, and be sure to respond to them promptly and professionally. Remember you can always keep your response to customer reviews neutral, regardless of what they’re saying. For example, ‘Thank you for reviewing our business’, or ‘Hope to see you in store again soon’, or even ‘Thank you for taking the time to review our business, we appreciate the feedback’.
  • Post updates and engaging content on your Google My Business profile.
     
Bing optimisation

To create this listing, it’s easiest to sync with the Google Business Profile - this can be done via the Bing Places dashboard: https://www.bingplaces.com/
 

Citations

Citations are listings of business information that are submitted local/national directories which help build brand presence and ensure NAP (name, address, phone number) consistency.


Main manual listings to create
  • Facebook
  • Truelocal
  • Yellowpages
  • Yelp
     
Google Business Profile engagement
  • Generate and manage online reviews
  • Respond to review requests and post on GBP
  • Enable FAQs and add 5+ FAQs
  • Respond to message requests from customers
  • Utilise the Google post feature continuously - this can list product specials and other offers
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