Ten tips for improving your online visibility

Ten tips on how you can improve your business's online visibility

1. Claim your Local Business Listing
   Claiming your business listings on search engines and local search websites will help to get better rankings in search results.  This will help ensure that customers get the right information about your business and avoid having your listing hijacked.
   
2. Make sure your business appears in the right categories
   Most directories (which includes internet yellow pages) and search engines categorize businesses according to the business name.  Sometimes a business is categorized in the wrong category. Assign as many relevant categories as possible to your business to attract more customers.
   
3. Include product/service keywords in your local business listing title
   This will help customers find your business much more easily on search engines.  In addition, it will help your organic rankings.
   
4. Update your full and accurate address on all local search sites and on your website
   Make it easier for customers to find you and your exact business address. Also, a full and accurate address generates a sense of trust and realiablility for both customers and for search engines.
   
5. Create a clean, coherent website with content that targets your keywords
   Your website is the number one salesperson for your business.  Make sure to use a clean, unified design with good navigation to show your business is well organized.  Your site should be simple to use. The content should be localized and it should incorporate relevant business keywords.
   
6. Add or verify your business listing with data providers for search engines
   Search engines and local search sites use data providers such as InfoUSA, DMOZ, The Yahoo Directory, Localeze, InsiderPages and MerchantCircle.  It is very important that you update or create your listing in their directory.
   
7. Get your customers to write online reviews about your business
   Many customers look for objective reviews before they decide where to spend their money. Online reviews of your business can also contribute to your ranking on search engines as they form another appearance of your business online.
   
8. Engage your customers online on user review sites such as Yelp
   Create more "buzz" around your business. You will also see what your customers have to say about you and how you can improve your business.
   
9. Use social networks such as MySpace, Facebook and Twitter to stay in touch with customers and attract new customers
   Use these sites to form a community for your business – this is a good way to communicate with existing customers, advertise sales or specials, and a good way to be visible to potential customers.
   
10. Advertise online
    There is only so much that you can do without spending money… If you really want to boost your online visibility, you should consider advertising online. If you do your research and consult with an expert, you can easily launch an affordable and effective online advertising campaign. Click here to get help with online advertising