Add Your Business to Google Local Listings

Even if your website doesn't rank well in Google search results, you might be able to get your listing to show up high anyway - for free!

For local business searches, Google displays a small map with company listings near the top of the results. If you have a local business, you should take advantage of this opportunity to add your business listing.

Learn how to add your business to Google Local Listings.

Single White Sock Ad

Never Let a Good Title Tag Go to Waste

It always saddens me greatly to see a browser title tag go to waste. Never will you find an easier way to give your website some search engine optimization love.

Not only is the browser title tag (AKA the title meta tag) important for SEO, it also helps potential customers identify your site within the search results.

In the "Flavors" example pictured above, the website is for a cupcake bakery, which is focused on local traffic. Search queries for local businesses will include the city and possibly state, so use this knowledge to your advantage. Be descriptive, but keep it short (under 9 words).

My recommendation: go from just "Flavors" to "CityName Bakery Cupcake Flavors - BusinessName".



Admit it, doesn't that make you feel just the tiniest bit happier?

And remember that every page on your website is a possible entrance page, not just home. So share the wealth and give all title tags across your site the love that they deserve.

Keywords Are Key

The content on your website is extremely important for search engines to spider and index your site. Take some time to identify the keywords your audience might use when searching for a product or service like yours and integrate these phrases into your content as natural language.

Learn how to generate a keyword list.

Submit a Sitemap to Google, Yahoo, & Bing

After you've generated an XML sitemap and uploaded it to your site, you should submit it to the three major search engines: Google, Yahoo, and Bing.

Learn how to submit a sitemap to Google, Yahoo, and Bing.

Create an XML Sitemap

An XML sitemap is a list of all the pages on your site in a search engine friendly format. This provides search engines with a complete view of your site and allows them to find pages they might not have otherwise.

Learn how to create an XML sitemap.

Plan a Website

Whether you're starting a new website or considering a redesign of your existing site, careful planning will put you on the right track for success.

Elements to consider:

• Value Proposition
• Web Pages
• Site Structure
• Content & Images
• Website Goals

Learn how to plan a website.