Experts are now predicting that online searches for local businesses using mobile technology (smart phones, tablet computers, etc.) will overtake PCs by 2015. That means, when it comes to making purchases, more people are turning to their mobile devices.
For you to get YOUR piece of that sales pie, you want to make sure your shop appears in local search results.
What are the necessary steps to make that happen?
You need three main components:
1) Use best practices focused on local SEO.
Make sure your SEO efforts put you on page 1. It's too inconvenient for most users to scroll past page 1 on mobile devices to find you if you don't appear there. So make sure you have location-specific keywords and phrases incorporated into your website. Similarly, make sure you have updated your Google+ and Bing local listings. Both of those sites are more likely to put you at the top of the search results if you are part of their networks.
Other tips recommended by the folks at Vocus.com are:
2) Set up a mobile-friendly website.
Mobile users are on the go and looking at smaller screens. Make sure the mobile version of your website clearly communicates important information – phone number, location, hours you are open – to prevent customers from moving on to the next search result. Make your text large enough to read on mobile devices and your font simple enough to read on a small screen.
3 Integrate social media into your site.
The three most-important social media sites are:
• Yelp!: Encourage customers to leave positive reviews. Check your business’s profile regularly so that negative reviews can be remedied and won’t appear first when new customers search for you.
• Foursquare: Recent updates to Foursquare let users find businesses in their current location and see what customers have to say. Be on the lookout for any negative reviews and consider offering “check-in” specials to engage customers and encourage referrals.
• Facebook Nearby: With the introduction of Graph Search, users can look to the social network’s “nearby” feature for local ratings, reviews and recommendations from their networks. Now more than ever, make sure your business’s page is complete with address, phone number, hours and other key details.
The trend toward mobile local search isn’t going to reverse anytime soon, so act now to avoid getting left behind.
For you to get YOUR piece of that sales pie, you want to make sure your shop appears in local search results.
What are the necessary steps to make that happen?
You need three main components:
1) Use best practices focused on local SEO.
Make sure your SEO efforts put you on page 1. It's too inconvenient for most users to scroll past page 1 on mobile devices to find you if you don't appear there. So make sure you have location-specific keywords and phrases incorporated into your website. Similarly, make sure you have updated your Google+ and Bing local listings. Both of those sites are more likely to put you at the top of the search results if you are part of their networks.
Other tips recommended by the folks at Vocus.com are:
2) Set up a mobile-friendly website.
Mobile users are on the go and looking at smaller screens. Make sure the mobile version of your website clearly communicates important information – phone number, location, hours you are open – to prevent customers from moving on to the next search result. Make your text large enough to read on mobile devices and your font simple enough to read on a small screen.
3 Integrate social media into your site.
The three most-important social media sites are:
• Yelp!: Encourage customers to leave positive reviews. Check your business’s profile regularly so that negative reviews can be remedied and won’t appear first when new customers search for you.
• Foursquare: Recent updates to Foursquare let users find businesses in their current location and see what customers have to say. Be on the lookout for any negative reviews and consider offering “check-in” specials to engage customers and encourage referrals.
• Facebook Nearby: With the introduction of Graph Search, users can look to the social network’s “nearby” feature for local ratings, reviews and recommendations from their networks. Now more than ever, make sure your business’s page is complete with address, phone number, hours and other key details.
The trend toward mobile local search isn’t going to reverse anytime soon, so act now to avoid getting left behind.