A Powerful Tool for a Present-Day Law Firm

Founding partners Troy Froderman and Scott Ryan acknowledged that besides marketing, a good website could streamline the processes involved in legal services, as well as boost their traffic and conversions. Their previous website’s performance, however, was not up to par.

PrimeView recommended a website redesign, along with SEO optimization and digital marketing services, to bring FR Law the results they want.

• Making the site more user-friendly.

Approaching web design and functionality from the end-user’s standpoint is always the right way to design a website. PrimeView rearranged the various page elements, making their site easier to navigate and user-friendly. Visitors can now find and understand the legal services they need with ease.

• Branding.

The former look and feel of the inner pages failed to match the homepage design, so the whole site was refined to reflect the branding and style they wished to convey. Individual pages for each team member, including Attorney Froderman and Ryan, were also created.

• Mobile-friendly redesign.

52.2 percent of all website traffic comes from cell phones. Since the former FR Law Group website did not display well on handheld devices, the redesign was optimized for better conversion on mobile.

• Making frlawgroup.com ADA compliant.

PrimeView optimized the website to pass ADA grading. While there is currently no legal definition of an ADA-compliant law firm website, FR Law wanted to accommodate persons with disabilities who may be seeking legal help online. Making a website more accessible is not only the right thing to do, but it is also good for business.

• Static content conversion.

Much of the website had static content, which was converted into actual posts or pages that could be optimized for SEO. Extensive SEO services were implemented to increase the quality and quantity of web traffic.

Stay tuned for a report on how FR Law Group’s new website improved their client acquisition.

If you need legal representation or consulting from highly experienced attorneys to litigate a minor or difficult legal action, they are located at 4745 N 7th St. Suite 310 Phoenix, AZ. Call (602) 566-7425 to talk to Attorneys Troy Froderman or Scott Ryan for a consultation.

About PrimeView

“In today’s fast-paced and technology-run world, a clean, responsive, and optimized website is important to get your business noticed in a sea of online competitors,” says Peter Liefer II, Founder and President of PrimeView — a leading web design and internet marketing company in Scottsdale, AZ and Honolulu, HI.

If your website isn’t delivering the results you desire, call PrimeView at 480-970-4688 for a site overhaul.

The Top Local Directory

Google My Business (GMB) is a simple-to-use business directory. With it, you can do many things that will support local SEO and get you noticed on the 1st page of the SERPS. When users are searching for your business or a comparable one using local keywords, GMB shows your business profile on Google Search or Maps.

Google My Business profiles stand above other directories as your listing can be very detailed, and the information Google outputs go to a variety of places with high visibility.

With GMB you can:

• Manage, index, and display important business information
• Use reviews to connect with potential customers and manage your reputation
• Capture user-generated content like photos and videos
• See how your customers are landing on your website
• Use Google My Business for your local SEO strategy
• Add a custom website URL about your business

If you haven’t set yours up yet, you should. The first step in implementing a local search engine optimization plan using GMB is to claim and verify your local business. To do so, visit https://www.google.com/business.

Make sure all of your basic business listing information (NAP, business description, map location, hours, etc.) is correct and exactly the same as in any other business listings. Inconsistencies in your information will negatively impact search ranking. Also, make sure your info is updated when changes are made.

If you need help Contact PrimeView and we can help you with your Google My Business setup.

Increase your ranking above competitors

Local search engine optimization is about providing Google with the information needed to determine that your business is the most nearby and relevant product or service. Many business owners have not taken advantage of GMB and this will give you an edge on your local competition that has failed to do so.

Just having a Google My Business listing doesn’t necessarily guarantee you will rank in Google search results. But GMB listings have been shown to be a local search ranking factor.

• 82% of consumers conduct searches on a smartphone add the words “near me.” (Search Engine Land, 2018)
• 72% conducting a local search visit a store within 5 miles of their location. (WordStream, 2016)
• 50% who conduct local searches using mobile phones visit the store within one day. (Google, 2018)

According to Moz, the top-ranking factors for organic local SEO are:

• Link signals: 27.94%
• On-page signals: 26.03%
• Behavioral signals: 11.5%
• GMB signals: 8.85%
• Citation signals: 8.41%
• Personalization: 7.32%
• Review signals: 6.47%
• Social signals: 3.47%

OPTIMIZING YOUR GOOGLE BUSINESS LISTING

Add Relevant Categories

When you set up your new Google My Business listing, you’ll choose how to categorize the business. This is important for improving your rankings. The more relevant categories you choose, the better your chances of getting your business information in front of prospects.

Just make sure the categories you choose are truly relevant to your business as it is against Google terms to use irrelevant ones. It will also have a negative impact on your ability to rank in Google’s local results.

Keep in mind these Google recommendations:

• Choose a primary category that describes your business as a whole
• Don’t add multiple categories to list all of your products and services
• Choose the least number of categories it takes to describe your core business

Making sure all of your basic business listing information is accurate and consistent across the internet may be enough to get some leads. However, to get the maximum value from Google My Business, you need to take advantage of the extra features GMB offers.

Here are the extra key things you can and should do to optimize your Google business listing:

GMB Profile Picture

Every listing should have a profile photo. A Synup study found, “Listings with photos are 2x as likely to be considered reputable and get 35% more clicks.”

Google My Business recommends you upload a profile photo, cover photo, and even a video to showcase your business. You can also add to this content by crowdsourcing information about your business. Ask people to share photos, videos, and answer questions about your business.

GMB Posts

You can share educational content that appears directly in Google Search inside your business’s Knowledge Graph. Include an image, copy, a Call To Action (CTA) and a URL that links to a landing page or your website.

• Post has a limit of 1500 words
• First 100 characters (or fewer) of the Post appear in the business’ Knowledge Panel
• Google Posts last for only about 6 days and then they’ll expire
• Google provides insights into how well your Google Posts perform

GMB Messages

The Google My Business messaging app lets you respond to messages from customers who find your business listing on Google. You can engage in real-time conversations with people searching for you online directly in search, without them having to go to your website.

Responding to customers can help you answer their questions, tell your business’s story, and attract more people to your location.

• Send and receive text messages
• Customize the welcome message and automated messages sent to people who message you
• Customize an automated welcome message that customers will see when they message you

GMB Appointment URLs

One feature of GMB that is very useful in getting new leads is to add a Google My Business appointment URL, a.k.a. local business URLs. People can book appointments directly from their search. This can increase conversions by making it easier for potential clients to contact you and schedule appointments.

• Add a specific link such as a Contact Us page to your Knowledge Graph that allows people to sign up for appointments without ever having to click to your website.
• Make sure the appointment process happens immediately after clicking the link

Google My Business Reviews

Most consumers read online reviews before purchasing a product or service so it is important to ask for and respond to customer reviews. Encouraging customers to rate you online is a powerful source of referrals and social proof. GMB reviews improve your business’s visibility on local search, show that you care what customers think and improves keyword rankings.

Respond to all customer reviews – even to just thank them for the review

• Every review is a chance to stay connected with the customer
• Demonstrate top-notch service with tactful responses to negative reviews
• Work some of your keywords into the response

Google My Business Website

Google My Business has a feature that allows you to create a simple website that’s free and is easy to create and edit from your computer or phone. Google automatically generates your GMB site with information from your Business Profile. You can then customize your site with a design theme and with text and photos.

• Mobile responsive – your website automatically adjusts to every screen size
• Custom Domain Name – Make the name for your website that reflects your business
• Always up-to-date – Your website automatically updates with info on your Business Profile

To learn more about business directories and their importance, please read – How Incorrect Online Business Listings Can Hurt Your Business

What does Google want from you?

These are some of the many ways to Search Engine Optimize your business for local search. But it is important to understand that your website needs to provide a good user experience to Google and visitors. Google will penalize you in rankings for many things but in particular;

To offer people the best experience while searching online Google would like your business to match these 3 factors:

1. Mobile – Is your website mobile friendly?
2. Speed – How fast does your website load?
3. Quality – Does your website and online presence provide quality information about your business?

If your website does not have these 3 factors then GMB will not be as effective as is could be or even work at all. If your website is not properly and thoroughly optimized for SEO, traffic to your website can really suffer. Moreover, if it hasn’t been “Conversion Optimized” you may get traffic but not sufficient sales.

PrimeView can do a website refresh to get your site tuned up and fully SEO and conversion-optimized.

Schedule a 15-minute introductory call to see how PrimeView can help you manage your “Google My Business” listing in addition to all of your digital marketing activities. Contact us here and let us know if you are interested in getting more traffic, leads and conversions!

User-generated content caught people by surprise. This is why some call it a phenomenon of the digital age. By definition, it’s when the users are the ones who provide the content of a page. It consists of reviews, comments and chat forums among others. It has become a category in SEO because user-generated content has been, believe or not, more trusted by other people than regular content.

Setting up and maintaining the online presence of a brick-and-mortar business has become incredibly simple thanks to modern technology. Still, it might come off as a challenge especially if you are running to stay on top of every interaction on your social media, blog, pay per click advertising, and even an online store. With numerous things to monitor, one of the most basic and critical aspects of Internet marketing is often neglected: your company’s online local listings.

You Risk Losing Potential Customers

According to a recent survey, inaccurate local business information can harm the trust of customers. Around 73 percent of the respondents stated that they expect less from a brand with incorrect online information. Meanwhile, 67 percent say that they completely lose trust in the business if they get lost walking or driving to their location just because of a wrong given address.

Businesses that fail to ensure the accuracy of search engine location data will not only miss out on potential customers but can jeopardize their relationship with existing clients as well. Even when directories like Yellow Pages and Yelp provide the incorrect information, nearly a third of consumers say they would still blame the brand.

How To Clean Up Your Bad Internet Listings

It is not enough to Google your business occasionally. When you poke around at various mapping websites, social media platforms, search engines, and online business directories, you’ll be surprised to uncover that not all of them reflect your correct business info. You may find missing details, old phone numbers, and addresses, or bad links. What’s worse is that they can even get your business name mistaken.

Once you start to correct these, you will learn how much work it requires and how long it should take. Almost every site will require you to verify your ownership of the business. You can do this via snail mail or a quick phone call. Meanwhile, you have to be mindful of sites that allow just anyone to edit listings as they can put erroneous content that may hurt your business. Consider these tips to clean up those bad listings once and for all:

Select The Proper Categories

One way to secure your spot is to select the right category. The categories might differ from one website to another, but try to be consistent with your choice. A golden rule is to not overreach to categories you don’t specialize in because this will only confuse your viewers and it can even lead to more incorrect entries.

Be Consistent

After establishing the right name, phone numbers, and address of your business, you have to stick with them. Make sure they are formatted and spelled exactly the same for all pages on the web.

Be meticulous when it comes to every entry and make corrections even on the tiniest details, such as word spacing and capitalization. It’s important to note that most of the time, it won’t be a human reading that listing, but rather a search engine bot. Any inconsistency can be seen as completely two different businesses.

Document Your Listings

Your business could end up on literally thousands of places online. While it’s virtually impossible to repair every single one of them, having a record of listings you fixed can help you from making any unnecessary work.

Have a spreadsheet for all the updated entries and include a link to the site. If your business happens to add a new service or move to a new location, you’ll know which sites to edit with a simple click of a mouse. Also, do not forget to take note of directories that feature reviews and ratings so you can go back and check them often.

Add Relevant Content Where Needed

Take advantage of sites that let you add a description for your business. This is your chance to make your brand shine. Use keywords and words that accurately reflect the nature of your business.

You don’t have to overdo it – just try to be concise and clear. If there’s a spot for a video or photo, by all means, upload your best one. The added content will help attract customers to check out your business.

Go Big, Then Go Local

Before correcting local listings, check for the biggest sites first where most of the traffic comes. Start with Google Maps, Google+, and Facebook. Next, hit major search engines like Google, Yahoo!, and Bing. Fix inconsistencies as they come up.

Your next visit has to do with online magazines, local newspapers, and events in which your business sponsored or participated. Look up news that could possibly mention your brand and leave no stone unturned. Remember that one bad address spread onto many other websites.

Don’t Shell Out Cash

So you want to correct your listing, but the site admin wants you to pay for access to your information – don’t believe it. You should never have to shell out money for this matter. People will not trust websites with inaccurate information, so it’s in everyone’s best interest to let the business correct their listing. Be patient in looking for the link to verify your ownership and don’t fall victim to the gimmick that they would only let you update your info for a price.

Check Reviews and Ratings

As you sift through your several online listings, you may stumble upon sites with reviews and ratings of your business. If you see a dissatisfied customer, follow up in a courteous and professional manner.

One bad review can impair your brand and prevent people from further checking your products and services. Actually trying to address the issue and showing concern for your customer’s feelings and experience, on the other hand, can do wonders for your business’s name.

Appreciate what potential clients have to go through to look for your business. From their initiative to search you online to driving to your location, it will be a huge disappointment for them to be directed to the wrong place.

If you need help with spotting incorrect listings and connecting with your customers online, PrimeView can provide you with a very effective strategy and solution. We can manage your brand’s reputation and tailor the best experience for your clients. Talk to us at 480-970-4688 and we will be delighted to assist you!

One of the more challenging facets of digital marketing is converting your intuitive digital ideas to promotions that would work on the ground—that is there would be an actual influx of business in your physical store. However, things you thought of in the digital sphere seldom work in the physical world or if it does, then the mechanics would be convoluted.

Despite this, it would be wonderful to have a tool that tracks return on investment for digital initiatives that actually translated to traffic in the physical store.

Yext + Uber

This is precisely what tech company Yext did with its partnership with Uber. The two companies teamed up to revolutionize business as we know it today. Yext, as a location data and presence management services provider, puts its clients into pertinent listings that would come up when there is an inbound marketing query for a business. On the other hand, Uber, as a transportation option, would literally drive the customers to the business.

When browsing the company’s listing, the “Get a Ride with Uber” button would be accessible to clients, which would enable them to get a ride to the business right then and there. This means that potential customers browsing a company’s listing can immediately have the option to book an Uber that would drive them to the store’s physical destination. It also has a useful function wherein customers are driven at a specific drop-off location (i.e., the entrance), and they wouldn’t have to bother with wrong pins or arriving at a nearby location.

Also, the business can send customers messages and promotions while the client is en route to the store such as discount coupons or unique offerings that are only available through the Uber partnership. There are also in-app purchases which make the experience more individualized.

Through this service, Yext and Uber show it would be possible to monitor actual ROI that stemmed from digital efforts to the physical store. Not only would the business be able to monitor how much foot traffic came from the partnership (i.e., how many customers rode Uber vehicles to the store’s entrance), they would also be able to closely monitor which products and services this customer would purchase. In the end, it is a win-win scenario, one that literally drove the customer to the store, and for the business to get a reliable client database.

This, therefore, raises the efficacy of investing in local SEO to organically track ROI. By partnering with a local listing platform such as Yext, businesses could gauge the performance of a campaign, and if we would have more credible data to bank on for further optimizing a local listing.

Still, digital to in-store-visit acquisition is still in the early stages, as we need more time to gauge how customers would react to being offered a ride to a store when they are merely browsing and considering their options. We can agree that it is a unique proposition that can just make a difference in the world of local SEO.

There’s one thing Amazon really gets right: customer reviews. They help customers decide whether they want to buy a product or not. In short, they help Amazon close sales. Whether you’re selling a product or a service, there really is no debate that online customer reviews are important.

A 2015 survey  found that 97% of consumers aged 18-34 read online reviews to judge a local business. People want to know what others have had to say about your brand and company. So how do you get your customers to give you a review?

1. Set up your profiles

Consider all the sites that are relevant to your business, whether that’s TripAdvisor, Yelp, Angie’s List, Google+, LinkedIn, or an industry specific site. Set up profiles on multiple review sites. And have a place on your website for reviews, too. Aside from the SEO benefits, customer reviews form valuable content on a website.

2. Ask for it

Seems simple, right? But you’d be amazed at how few businesses actually ask customers for a review. Ask for a review via your website, email or calling them on the telephone. Add a note to invoices or receipts asking customers to leave a review, or include a review link in your standard email signature. And, of course, there’s Facebook. Don’t be scared of possible negative reviews (see point 4 below).

Here are some tips when asking for a review:

• Personalize your request by mentioning the customer by name

• Tell them how much you value their input (“…your review is important to us”)…

• Explain how it will help other people (“help others make informed decisions”)

Make review requests part of your company’s procedures and methodology.

3. Make it easy

Unless your customer has a complaint to share, the average person won’t be searching for ways to leave a review. That’s why you need to make it as easy as possible for them to do so. Provide customers with links and step-by-step instructions on how to post reviews. Also put direct links to your review profiles (see point 1) in multiple places – a follow-up email, a newsletter and your website, of course.

Be sure to not bog the customer down with multiple steps and details, or else you could lose them. A simple review process leads to more customer reviews.

4. Respond to reviews

When you get a negative review, respond promptly in public and solve the problem. This shows that you are listening and engaged which will often encourage more feedback. Depending on the issue, it may be wise take your conversation offline via email or phone. Then, if you resolve the matter, leave a brief comment in the public timeline.
Got a positive review? Be sure to say thank you.

5. Incentivize (but don’t buy) reviews

Offering a small incentive is a good way to prompt someone to leave a review. But make sure your offer is for writing a review, not for writing a good review! Monthly giveaways, where one reviewer is chosen randomly, are effective in encouraging reviews without any semblance of a transaction taking place.

Struggling to get customers to leave reviews? You’re not alone because most businesses never ask! Let PrimeView’s experienced Arizona marketing team set up your review generation system and watch your online reputation soar. Call us now at 480-970-4688 or contact us online for your free strategy session.

The new local ad inclusion is paid real estate on top of the SERP, and appears before the local pack. It has the green Ad tag that indicates it’s a paid search result and not a local listing. However, its layout is similar with organic results and it may cause confusion among users.

When clicked on, local ads will direct users on the business’ website. As for organic search results in the three-pack, the user will only be redirected to the designated Google My Business Page of the brand or shop. More so, ads have the directions option while regular local pack results do not.

What does this mean?

Including paid ads in the local pack is a major change that Google rolled out, especially for mobile users. While, the top search engine is always making adjustments to improve user experience and quality of search results, it can still be noted that this recent development is also geared towards growing their business and increasing their revenue.

This also makes the playing field more challenging and competitive for local SEO and businesses. Those who have the money to spend on paid listings is at an advantage, but those who have limited budgets may need to level up their strategies in order to take the top spot in the local pack or in organic search results.

Meanwhile, some internet marketing experts noted that such changes may also mean poor user experience on Google. Because paid ads are given to advertisers with the highest bid, they are most likely to snag the top spot on Google even if they’re not the option that most people can benefit from.

What you can do

The top spot for local search results is crucial, because the higher your placement is, the higher your chances of increasing conversions. However, with the ever-changing environment in Google, getting to the top becomes increasingly challenging.

So, what can you do in order to boost your local internet marketing strategy?

• First off, the most obvious option would be to bid high for the top spot, but that may mean more expenses for your business. However, if you’re willing to spend, this may be a viable move for you.

• Another option would be to boost the quality of your business and website, so that you will have higher chances to appear on the local pack or the top spots of the organic search results.

• You should always be prepared for change. Every now and then, Google makes adjustments on their platform, may it be algorithm changes, ranking factors, and other features—all of which will affect your internet marketing strategy. That being said, you should always have room for these developments in your plan.

Ask help from professionals. Staying on top of a local SEO campaign is not just a walk in the park. It requires analysis of the current market, finding reputable directories, targeting keywords that will help boost your reach and conversion within your business area, and making sure that you’re in-line with recent developments. This is where PrimeView can help you. We can help enhance your visibility not just within your locale, but in search results as well, making you more accessible to your target market especially at a pivotal point of their purchasing process.

Source: Google

Google has just tweaked its Maps feature, bringing new improvements that highlight local search ads. This is a great advantage for businesses, since it means that another avenue for internet-inspired marketing and advertising has opened up. In addition, having a search presence in Google Maps will also help in your overall online rankings. “With location-related mobile searches growing 50% faster than all mobile searches, it’s clear that consumers are moving seamlessly between online and offline experiences. So it’s important to help marketers think this way too,” Google mentions.

How can you take advantage of this new opportunity to make internet marketing work for you?

1. Be familiar with promoted pins.

The new local searches on Google Maps rely heavily on local businesses, and the changes reflect this. In the new search criteria, Maps will display promoted pins on a client search. These pins will display not just the whereabouts of the business and how to get there, but any current deal or promotion too. This works in your advantage, since it will make your business stand out from others in the area. For example, customers who are asking where to get medicines are more likely to go to your pharmacy if you have a current deal or promo, since your ad will be on top of the search list.

2. Check out the revamped local business pages.

If you already have a business page linked to Google Maps, you will have to check and update it. Google has integrated new customization options with the business pages. Now, promoted pins will be linked to your business page, and on-going deals and promotions will be displayed along with business information. Apparently, Google also wants customers to check out product inventories even before they decide to go to a business place, and will add this feature soon.

3. Keep data feeds up-to-date.

This is one of the key information that doesn’t change in every search apps or business pages. You will need to regularly check and update contact details for your business, since much like Google Maps, internet search features are always in flux and are getting upgrades regularly. These improvements may have added (or deleted) a line or two from your contact information. Data feeds are not limited to contact details though; with the new update, you should also regularly check your product or service inventory, as well as shopping and promotion feeds. Much of the system involved in customer matches has to do with updated information. The more useful and current data you add to your business page, the better your online presence.

4. Improve page rankings.

Soon, Google will roll out a full version of a filter feature for Google Ads, including those pop-ups in Maps. This means that users will be able to whittle down their search results based on a number of options like popularity, most rated, nearest place, and such. A constant top ranking for your online presence through competent and skillful internet campaigns will go a long way towards being a top search result in Google Maps.

Local searches has become a major factor to consider when marketing a business on the web. In 2015, 43% of consumers searched for local businesses at least once per month (38% in 2014) and 60% searched at least 6 times per year (56% in 2014), according to a survey conducted by BrightLocal.

The Shift from 7-pack to 3-pack

In August 2015, local SEO experienced a major shake-up when Google reduced the 7-pack, the list of seven local businesses that appear on the top of SERP for local queries, to 3-pack. Other changes that took place were the reduced visibility of phone numbers, shortened addresses, placement of websites, and less focus on Google+. Meanwhile, there are no changes with how reviews and review stars were displayed as well as with the significance of Google Maps.

While review stars appear as they used to, Google added a filter that gives searchers an option to search only for businesses that fall under a particular rating. 43% of consumers say that a business should have at least 3/5 stars before they work with them, while 38% say that a brand should have at least 4/5 stars, according to the same study from Bright Local.

Businesses who were penalized by Panda and Penguin may experience a graver implication.

“Sites that are looking to replace that pack listing with a regular organic listing will not be able to do so if they are penalized. Previously, even if they didn’t make the top three, but were somewhere in that top seven, they were assured that their business was still visible on that all-important first page of Google search results. But this new 3-pack change can really hurt a penalized local business if they aren’t appearing in that pack,” according to Jennifer Slegg, founder of The SEM Post.

How to Stay on Top

It’s normal to be concerned about the changes, especially if you’re in a business arena with two or more competitors. However, the key is to adapt and to innovate systems and techniques that can help improve, if not maintain, your visibility and reach within local queries and organic search results.

“We basically designed a new program to become more effective at what we’re doing. We’ve also targeted more local search keyword terms that weren’t necessarily in the seven pack. It’s all adjusting the program, so it’s up and out basically. It’s about getting more keywords out there that aren’t necessarily in the keyword phrase but identify with local or a specific geographical area,” said Peter Liefer, CEO of PrimeView.

Businesses can also get exposure through reputable and high ranking websites, which is a practice that can be referred to as Barnacle SEO. Getting listed on trusted directories such as Yelp, Angie’s List, and Google My Business can work to your advantage, especially if you have a strong profile and link to your website.

Increasing brand awareness is also imperative. Because competition for the 3-pack became more steep, businesses should increase focus on other strategies such as content and social media marketing in creating buzz about who they are and what they can offer. More so, all important information (name, address, phone number, and operating hours) should be published and must be uniform in all listings—may it be on the website, directory listings, and social media accounts.

At the end of the day, quality service, products, or information is the core of any business. When you provide what people are looking for, clients will be naturally drawn to you. As a result, good citations and reviews will just trickle in and your marketing efforts can easily adapt with any changes in Local SEO algorithm.

1) List yourself in all local listing services. List your business in all local listing services like Yelp, YP.com and Google My Business. List yourself in as many of these as you can find, because the more listings you have, the higher your search engine rankings will be when users search for local businesses of your type. If you prefer not to do this and focus on other things in your business, this is where PrimeView’s LOCAL SEARCH campaign can help.

2) Make sure your business information is accurate across all sites. Make sure that your business information like your address and phone numbers are accurate and consistent across all of the sites that list you. Different information on different sites will drop you search engine result rankings.

3) List more than your address and phone number whenever possible. When polled, customers want to find a map of your location in relation to common landmarks, hours of operation, and methods of payment you accept.

4) If website design isn’t your business, hire a website designer. Have an expert design your site. They have the latest information about customer usability and mobile display. Make sure you hire someone who knows how to optimize your site for web searches. Budget to have this person tune up your site at a minimum of 3 times per year.

5) If your business offers more than one service, do a page for each service within your website. For example, if you are a freelance writer and you do image editing, your home page should link to both pages that display your writing samples and image editing work.

6) When thinking about keywords for your site, think about the words the customers use when they inquire about your product or services. For example, if you own a florist shop, use keywords like “bouquet” “dozen roses” and “boutonniere”. Resist the urge to use terms that customers rarely use, like latin botanical terms for your flowers.

7) If you have more than one location, do a page for each location. Remember earlier we established that you should have a page per service as well. That means that if you offer 9 services and you have 2 locations, your website should be made up of a minimum 18 pages, with a page for each service at both locations.

8) Put your contact information on every page of your site, not just the “Contact Us” page.

9) Be sure to use photos on every page of your site. Do not use generic photos. Use photos of your shop and you and/or your staff interacting with clients and products. If you’re a baker, for example, make sure you have photos of everything you sell throughout your site, with captions labeling what each picture shows.

10) Don’t be afraid to add a blog if you will use it. Blogs are a great way to engage customers in a non-threatening way. Your posts don’t have to be long -in fact, short is good in the blogging world. A good example would be “Making extra almond scones for the Lions Club brunch today -hope to see you there!” along with a picture of the yummy item being mentioned.