How to Help Customers Find Your Small Business on Google

These days, if you aren’t taking advantage of the Internet, and more specifically Google, you aren’t giving your business the best chance to succeed. Even if you don’t have a lot of time to dedicate to digital marketing, focusing on a few important elements can make a huge difference.

Search Engine Optimization

Google and other search engines like Bing and Yahoo! use algorithms to find the best content based on a user’s search query. Ultimately, you want your website to show up in as many search results as possible so that more people visit your site. Search engine optimization (SEO) techniques help make your site and its content visible and easy for search engines to understand and classify.

Moz is a marketing software company that specializes in search engine optimization. If you’d like to learn the basics of SEO, their Beginner’s Guide to SEO is a great resource. While it’s important to make sure search engines can understand your content, it doesn’t mean much if you’re not creating content that people want. That’s where content marketing comes in.

Content Marketing

Without a doubt, “content marketing” was the biggest marketing buzzword of 2013. According to Content Marketing Institute (CMI), “Content marketing is a marketing technique of creating and distributing relevant and valuable content to attract, acquire, and engage a clearly defined and understood target audience – with the objective of driving profitable customer action.”

Simply put, it’s creating stuff that people want to read about. Some businesses may benefit from educational content, like tips or tutorials, while other businesses should focus on entertainment value. The most important thing to note here is that this content is not about you or your business. It can be directly related to your industry or a problem that your company’s offerings can solve, but it is not an advertisement for your products or services.

Content marketing is really about creating awareness and building brand trust over time. Once your content is created, you need to promote it using social media.

Social Media

You are probably well aware of the benefits of social media for your business. By being active on social media and engaging with your audience, you will begin to build a community of brand advocates who are willing and eager to spread your message.

What you may not realize is that social media is also beginning to play a role in whether or not your content is found through search engines. Google and Bing are both starting to use “social signals” from platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+ to decide how much authority a brand, website, or piece of content has. In some cases, social posts themselves are showing up in search engine results.

To learn more about how we can help you grow and manage your small business, contact a small business specialist at a First Bank branch near you.

Share:

You may be interested in...

Why small businesses need powerful tools Sally’s problem (and her simple solution) It’s 9:12 a.m. Sally refreshes her email while an impatient client waits on the phone. She’s sure she sent the invoice yesterday. It should be there, waiting in their inbox — but it’s not. After months of hard work, her CPA practice is starting to grow… but the tools she’s been using to run her business haven’t kept up. She’s constantly juggling online payment apps, hard-to-track invoices, questions from her two assistants, and phone calls with clients. It’s exhausting. If any of that sounds familiar, don’t worry. The solution may be as simple as choosing a better business checking account. The hard stage that no one talks about Every business reaches a point where things start to shift. You’re not trying to make it work anymore — it actually is working! — but your systems and tools still look the same as they did when you were just starting out. Your business might look something like this: The business is real and starting to grow Revenue is steady and plans for the future are forming Business tools feel scattered, disorganized, or difficult to use You end up feeling like you’re plugging more and more outlets into a power bank, and suddenly there’s no more room — now, when you try to add another piece, something else stops working. The good news: Growing pains are normal for small businesses Most business owners face early headwinds once real growth starts to kick in. There’s nothing wrong with the product or the strategy — they’ve simply outgrown their infrastructure. This is when relying on free or fragmented tools starts to be a huge pain point. Clear transaction records and useful reporting emerge as obvious business needs. Process problems multiply until they start to impact clients and customers. With high demand and insufficient tools, it’s hard to manage the day-to-day essentials — let alone find the time to troubleshoot solutions. But the fix may be as simple as taking a hard look at your business bank account. What should a business checking account actually do? Too many small business owners think that the bank is only there to hold their money. The truth is that a great business checking account can act as the central hub of your entire operation — like a financial breaker panel that keeps everything running smoothly. The right account can help you: Separate your personal and business finances Easily track all of your transactions Simplify payroll, vendor payments, and more At First Bank, we understand that even small businesses have a lot of moving parts. That’s why we created Business Elite Checking. Business Elite helps you move beyond the basics Designed for small and mid-sized businesses that want to streamline and simplify, Business Elite Checking helps business owners cross common pain points off their to-do list. Besides being packed full of perks, it’s also easy to eliminate the monthly maintenance fee by enrolling in useful services like credit card processing or by taking out a business credit card. Get a clear picture of your finances Mixing your personal and business expenses is a headache waiting to happen. Clean separation makes bookkeeping, tax prep, and financial reporting easier. Enjoy more room to grow Business Elite offers 500 free transactions per month and up to $25,000 in cash deposits at no additional charge — because every growing business needs space to operate. Protect your business from fraud As your business scales, so does exposure to fraud. That’s why Business Elite Checking includes identity protection services, data breach support, and sophisticated monitoring tools. Do everything, all in one place The right account makes it easy to manage merchant services, payroll direct deposit, business lines of credit, and more — without having to juggle multiple platforms. Get perks like 24/7 telehealth Access to 24/7 video or phone visits with licensed doctors, providing convenient healthcare for you and your family. All with zero copays. Start building a solid foundation now If your business is moving forward but your tools aren’t keeping up, now is the perfect time to talk to a local business banker about what comes next. You’ve already done the hard work of building something new — together, we can make it even better. 4 min read

5 Things You Need Before You Start Marketing Your Small Business Think you’re ready to tell the world about your business? Here are 5 important elements that will help you maximize your marketing effectiveness. 3 min read

ACH Prenotes Explained: How to Verify Account Information Before Sending Payments When Should You Use Prenotes? Prenotes aren’t required in every situation, but they’re a smart step when accuracy matters. Common use cases include: Paying a new vendor by ACH for the first time Setting up direct deposit for a new employee Updating banking details for an existing vendor or employee Switching from checks to ACH payments Sending high‑volume or high‑dollar ACH payments If incorrect account information would cause delays, fees, or operational issues, prenotes are worth the extra step. How Prenotes Work (Step‑by‑Step) Enter the recipient’s bank account and routing number in your ACH system Send a prenote instead of a live payment The prenote is sent with a $0 amount The receiving bank reviews the account details Wait at least three business days If no return is received, you can begin sending live ACH payments If a problem is found, the prenote will be returned so you can correct the information before any money is involved. Key Rules to Know Prenotes are optional — they are not required by Nacha rules No money moves; prenotes are always sent for $0 You must wait at least three business days before sending live payments If a prenote is returned, the account information must be corrected before retrying Prenotes don’t last forever — if account details change or too much time passes, a new prenote should be sent Your bank may have additional ACH requirements, so it’s important to follow your institution’s guidelines. Why Prenotes Matter Skipping prenotes can seem faster, but it increases risk for your business. Fraud prevention: Prenotes help catch invalid or suspicious account details early Fewer returns: Incorrect payments can lead to ACH returns, fees, and added scrutiny Operational efficiency: Fixing errors before payments go live avoids delays, rework, and frustration Prenotes help protect your business from payment errors that cost time, money, and trust. 2 min read

Where to Get Commercial Mortgage Rates Location, location, location. The value of location is just as important for commercial success as it is for where to get commercial mortgage rates. The wrong rates can lead your business off the beaten path while commercial mortgage rates like the ones from First Bank can have your business on the fast track to profitability. First Bank: Where to Get Commercial Mortgage Rates The Houston Chronicle examined the value of having just the right physical location for a business; various factors like foot traffic and visibility come into play when choosing a location. First Bank takes a closer look at this issue and provides some key insights into choosing the perfect location for your next business. When choosing a business location, consider the following factors: Location. Location, location, location–this old adage isn’t just lip service. Choosing a location that’s safe, convenient to target customers and (yes) convenient to you and your staff’s commute is essential to a smooth operation. Building. When choosing the face of your business, customers often will and do judge a book by its cover. Think about your branding, size, needed repairs, parking and growth projection when deciding upon the best place to set up shop. Terms. Always read the small print before signing that dotted line! Consider factors like leasing or buying terms and cost, always compare with like-buildings in the area. With over 100 locations spanning North Carolina and South Carolina, First Bank is proud to help businesses find a home with competitive commercial mortgage rates.* Have more questions? We’re here to help! Contact a small business specialist with First Bank and let us know how we can help you realize your goals and secure a great commercial mortgage rate. Loans subject to credit approval. ——— Sources: Houston Chronicle: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/location-add-value-small-business-77422.html Investopedia: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/commercial-real-estate-loan.asp 2 min read

How to Help Customers Find Your Small Business on Google

Ready to talk to an expert?

Search Engine Optimization

Content Marketing

Social Media

Ready to talk to an expert?

You may be interested in...