Why Can't Customers Find My Business Online? (And How to Fix It)

Ever searched for your business online and struggled to see it in the results? You're not alone. Many business owners need help getting their websites to rank well. The good news is there are concrete steps you can take to boost your visibility across search engines.

Understanding How Search Engines Work

Google is the dominant search engine, but understanding how its competitors work offers additional opportunities. Search engines generally look at these factors:

• Keywords: The words and phrases on your website that indicate what your business is about.
• Relevance: How well your content matches a user's search query.
• Authority: Whether your site is considered trustworthy and credible in your industry.‍
• Location: Essential for local businesses.

Common Reasons You're Not Ranking (and Solutions):

Your Website Is New:

It takes time for search engines to discover and index new websites. 

Solution:

• Submit your sitemap to Google Search Console, Bing Webmaster Tools, etc.
• Start building links: Get listed in relevant local directories and contact partner websites.

You're Not Targeting the Right Keywords:

If you're not using the same words your customers search for, they won't find you.  

Solution:

• Use various tools to uncover what people search for related to your industry. Start with Google Keyword Planner, but also try SEMRush or Ubersuggest for different perspectives.
• Think like your customers – what questions do they have that your product/service solves?

Your Website Needs SEO Help:

This includes technical issues like site speed, mobile-friendliness, and accessibility (like alt text on images). 

Solution:

• Use Google's Pagespeed Insights tool to check your site and pinpoint improvement areas.
• Use tools like Moz and SERanking to conduct an SEO audit of your website.
• Consider a quick audit from an agency like Modthink to uncover technical issues you might be missing.

You Don't Have Enough (Quality) Backlinks:

Links from other websites act as "votes of confidence."   

Solution:

• Guest blog on industry-relevant sites, offering genuinely valuable content.
• Create resources that others naturally want to link to (infographics, in-depth guides).

You Have an Issue with Your Listings: 

This is crucial for local businesses. 

Solution:

• Claim and verify your listings on Google My Business
• Bing Places for Business, Apple Business Connect, and Yahoo Business also have business profiles for your company
• Make sure all the information is correct, and branding is consistent
• Here are helpful articles on how to claim your business profiles‍
  • Google Business Profile‍
  • Bing Places for Business
  • ‍‍Apple Business Connect

Additional Tips:

• Create High-Quality Content: Publish blog posts and articles that address your target audience's pain points and showcase your expertise.  We uncover these pain points by working directly with your sales team!
• Focus on User Experience:  Make sure your website is easy to navigate, fast-loading, and works well on mobile devices.
• Be Patient: Building SEO takes time. Consistent effort is vital.

Need a Helping Hand?

If tackling this seems overwhelming, marketing agencies like Modthink specialize in improving search visibility. We can perform in-depth SEO audits and create a strategy to get your business ranking where it deserves across search engines.

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