As a small business trying to market your auto shop you may have heard the term “search engine optimization.” Search engine optimization (or SEO) is key for maximizing your website’s potential. Here’s everything you need to know how search engine optimization (SEO) and how it can help your local auto repair shop’s presence online.

What is SEARCH ENGINE OPTIMIZATION?

The process of maximizing the number of visitors to a particular website by ensuring that the site appears high on the list of results returned by a search engine for terms that a person enters.

In other words… Increase your ranking on major search engines such as Google, Yahoo and Bing so that whenever someone searches in your area for the services you offer, they find you and choose your auto repair shop over your competitors.

Did you know…

Every month, people visit 1.5 billion destinations related to what they searched for on Google. (Google Data, March 2016.)

So what is LOCAL SEO?

Service + Local Intent = Local SEO

Local SEO is a form of search engine optimization that allows businesses to promote their services to local customers at exactly the time they’re looking for that type of business. If a search is related to a local consumer need for goods or services, Google can figure out the intent of that search and serve your website to meet that need.

Repair shop near me…

Today people are using mobile devices and tools like Google Maps to find services near their location.

DId you know…

• 30% of all mobile searches are related to location. (Google Search Data, global, April 2016.)
• 76% of people who search on their smartphones for something nearby visit a business within a day. (Google/Purchased Digital Diary: How Consumers Solve Their Needs in the Moment, May 2016. Smartphone users = 1000, local searchers = 6634, purchases = 1,140.)

It is important to focus on local SEO to make sure your business is visible to web users around you who are looking for a local service. Having a website that is mobile-friendly and optimized for local search is necessary to reach these users that are looking for services that are offered at your shop.

Do You Want to Obtain a Higher Website Ranking?

Below are three strategies to jumpstart your local SEO success:

• Target keywords for popular searches in your area

SEO keywords are the relevant words and phrases in web content that make it possible for people to find your website via search engines. It is important to research what keywords your potential customers will be searching for in order to get the traffic to your website.

• Add high-quality content to your website

Add website content, such as blogs, that your target audience will find beneficial. A great way to start this process is to think about the questions that customers ask you the most. If you post content regularly, you will drive readers to your site more frequently. 

• Optimize your website’s content

Optimize your website’s content, images, title tags and alt tags for search engines. This will allow search engines to better understand your website. While this may sound complicated, once you learn how to optimize your content, it is easy to add to your website. If you can use email, you can update your website.

While these three strategies are crucial to SEO success, keep in mind that there are many more processes that you should follow to ensure search engine success. SEO is a long-term strategy that takes time and planning but it will continually pay out as customers find your shop online.

This blog post is part two in our “Local Online Marketing Planning” blog series. If you missed “Use Your Website to Make a Lasting Impression” (Part 1), click here to read it now!

Do you want to grow your shop?

Scan your website today for a full report that will provide insight into how you can find more customers!