Use Google Local Business to help your business succeed online

In 2014, Google released an update to its algorithm, aptly named ‘Pigeon’, designed to focus on improving Local Search Results.

This is great for small businesses, as it helps those nearer to the location of the user, or what they are searching for, get better rankings (instead of those massive conglomerates!).

However, you can only receive the benefits of this, if you register and actually tell Google who and where you are, so it can rank you properly.

How do you do this?

Using a tool called Google My Business.

Integrated with Google+, Google My Business helps Google know a bit more about who you are, where your address is, what you do, and where it should rank you in search results. Setting up the following options will help you ensure you are ranking highly for local search for your keywords:

• Map Location
• Opening Hours
• Website URL Link
• Reviews and Ratings
• Street View
• Photos of your Shop/Business

Head over to google.com/business and click ‘Get on Google’. Follow the instructions from there to add all of the relevant information.

Adding in all of these extra elements will also help boost your overall organic SEO rankings.