How to Get Found on Google Locally and Increase Online Orders

As a small business owner, I'm sure you're aware of the hefty commission fees charged by food delivery apps - typically around 30% of each order. This can be a significant drain on your profits, especially if you're processing a high volume of online orders. As the founder of a one-person web studio based in Georgia, I've worked with numerous small businesses across the United States to help them reduce their reliance on these apps and increase their online visibility. In this post, I'll share my expertise on how to get found on Google locally, without having to pay exorbitant commission fees.

Understanding Google's Local Search Algorithm

To get found on Google locally, you need to understand how the search engine's local algorithm works. Essentially, Google wants to provide users with the most relevant results for their search query, taking into account their location and the location of the businesses they're searching for. This means that if someone in New York searches for 'pizza delivery near me', Google will prioritize results from pizza places in New York over those in other parts of the country.

As a small business owner, you can optimize your website and online presence to increase your chances of appearing in these local search results. This involves including your business's name, address, and phone number (NAP) consistently across the web, as well as creating high-quality, location-specific content on your website. For example, if you own a pizza place in New York, you could create a page on your website dedicated to 'New York-style pizza' or 'pizza delivery in Manhattan'.

The Importance of Google My Business

One of the most important tools for getting found on Google locally is Google My Business (GMB). GMB is a free service that allows you to manage your business's online presence across Google, including your search results and maps listings. By claiming and optimizing your GMB listing, you can increase your visibility in local search results and attract more customers to your business. For instance, I've seen businesses increase their online orders by up to 25% simply by optimizing their GMB listing and responding promptly to customer reviews.

To optimize your GMB listing, you'll need to provide accurate and up-to-date information about your business, including your hours of operation, address, and contact details. You should also add high-quality photos and videos to your listing, as well as respond promptly to customer reviews and questions. This will help to build trust with potential customers and increase your visibility in local search results. I recommend checking and updating your GMB listing at least once a week to ensure everything is accurate and up-to-date.

Building High-Quality Local Citations

In addition to optimizing your GMB listing, you'll also need to build high-quality local citations to increase your online visibility. Local citations are mentions of your business's NAP on other websites, such as directories, review sites, and blogs. The more high-quality citations you have, the more likely you are to appear in local search results. For example, I've worked with a client who had only 10 local citations and was ranking on page 3 of Google - after building an additional 50 high-quality citations, they jumped to page 1 and saw a significant increase in online orders.

To build high-quality local citations, you can start by listing your business in local directories and review sites, such as Yelp and TripAdvisor. You should also reach out to local bloggers and journalists to see if they'd be interested in featuring your business in one of their articles. This can be a time-consuming process, but it's well worth the effort - I've seen businesses increase their online visibility by up to 50% simply by building high-quality local citations. You can use my free website audit tool at /free-website-audit to identify areas for improvement and get a list of recommended local directories to list your business in.

Creating Location-Specific Content

Another key factor in getting found on Google locally is creating location-specific content on your website. This can include blog posts, articles, and other types of content that are relevant to your local audience. For example, if you own a pizza place in New York, you could create a blog post about the 'best pizza slices in Manhattan' or 'the history of pizza in New York City'. By creating content that's relevant to your local audience, you can increase your online visibility and attract more customers to your business.

When creating location-specific content, it's essential to use keywords and phrases that are relevant to your local audience. For instance, if you're a pizza place in New York, you could use keywords like 'New York-style pizza', 'pizza delivery in Manhattan', or 'best pizza slices in Brooklyn'. You should also use header tags, meta descriptions, and other optimization techniques to ensure your content is easily discoverable by search engines. I recommend using my website cost calculator at /website-cost-calculator to get an estimate of the costs involved in creating a website with location-specific content.

Measuring and Tracking Your Results

Finally, it's essential to measure and track your results to see how effective your local SEO efforts are. You can use tools like Google Analytics to track your website traffic, online orders, and other key metrics. By monitoring your results, you can identify areas for improvement and make data-driven decisions to increase your online visibility and attract more customers to your business. I recommend checking your analytics at least once a month to see how your efforts are paying off and make adjustments as needed.

In addition to Google Analytics, you can also use other tools like SEMrush or Ahrefs to track your keyword rankings, backlinks, and other SEO metrics. These tools can provide valuable insights into your website's performance and help you identify areas for improvement. By using these tools and following the strategies outlined in this post, you can increase your online visibility, attract more customers to your business, and reduce your reliance on food delivery apps.

Conclusion and Next Steps

Getting found on Google locally requires a combination of technical optimization, high-quality content, and local citations. By following the strategies outlined in this post, you can increase your online visibility, attract more customers to your business, and reduce your reliance on food delivery apps. If you need help with your local SEO efforts, I offer a range of services at /services to help you get started. You can also check out my portfolio at /work to see examples of my previous work and the results I've achieved for my clients.