One of the largest drivers of traffic to any local business is search engines. When potential customers are looking for a place to do yoga, go out to dinner, or shop, where do they go? Sometimes they might ask a friend, but most of the time, they go to a search engine like Google and search for “yoga studios,” “pizza place” or “restaurant.” 

Yelp and Google are the most important search engines for local businesses. The first step to driving business through Yelp and Google is to establish a presence. You can sign up for a free Google business account here or Yelp account  here.

This is your first impression for many potential customers. Your profile on these websites should look legitimate and professional: use high-quality pictures, include as much information on pricing, hours, menu, or services as possible, and write an exciting sentence or two about your business. From here, the most important aspect of your page are the reviews:

1. Establish your presence by filling out your entire profile on Yelp and Google

There are tons of different elements that you can add to your search engine profiles.

• Pictures

• Address 

• Hours

• Phone Number

• Order

• Events

• Reviews

• Social Media Profiles

• Your Competitors or “People also search for"

Put your best foot forward with each element. Make sure your pictures are catchy and professional. Make it easy for potential customers to get in contact with you. Have a solid social media presence. 

The “People also search for section can help you to scope out your competition. It gives you insight into what other businesses are your potential customers evaluating when choosing a place to go. How can you stick out from the competition?

2. Get positive reviews on Yelp and Google

The best way for you to generate positive reviews is to have great customer service. Really positive and great customer service is rare. If you put in the time to give a customers a good experience, they will be more likely to take their time to give a positive review.

In the beginning, it may take some extra work to get positive reviews, don’t be afraid to ask your customers to write a review if they enjoyed your service.

Many people will read through reviews before they purchase from or visit your business. The more 5 star reviews you have, the more likely potential customers are going to choose to shop at your business. Reward positive reviews by responding with gratitude in order to show viewers that you’re engaged with your business.

3. Deal with negative reviews

Make sure to address any negative reviews with a sympathetic and consistent message. Always offer to tackle concerns directly, and never take a negative tone. 

Even if a reviewer has had a negative experience, if viewers see that you’ve addressed their concerns in a professional, calm, and positive manner, they’ll see you and your business as trustworthy and honest. Otherwise, they could be put off by a negative review.

Take feedback from your customers seriously. If people are commenting that your business is dirty or does not have good lighting, use that information to improve your business and do better than your competitors.

It sometimes requires an investment in time and effort to establish a solid presence on sites like Yelp and Google, but once you’re set up and receive some solid reviews, you’ll reap the benefits with little extended effort, allowing you edge on the competition.

If you have any questions about how to up your search engine presence, you can contact kyle@mainvest.com