Search Engine Business Rating & Reviews Management
Smart Local SEO Practices Even If You Do Not Have A Website!
What is SEO
If you have a website, you should be aware of “SEO” or search engine optimization. “SEO” is a mix of persistence, science and luck, that helps, but does not guarantee your website can be found when keywords and keyword phrases are used in search engines like Google, Bing, Yahoo and DuckDuckGo.
What is “local SEO”
Local SEO is similar, but focused on optimizing your website when it comes to local searches. In the case of search engines, “general” SEO and “local” SEO depend on the same resources. My mission here is to show you how even if you don’t have a website, you need to be concerned about local SEO!
What you don’t know can hurt your business
One of the resources a diligent SEO consultant looks to manage are the results that are displayed when your business is highlighted in search results. If your business has a street address, searching on Google, Bing, and Yahoo by name will lead directly to list of results that may also display ratings and reviews.
Has your business been rated?
Unless you have claimed the listing, you will get no alerts of the review and ratings. These ratings and reviews can affect your business even if you do not have a website! That is because someone who happens upon your business via a direct search or by accident, will get to read reviews and ratings along with a business description and mapping information.
What can you do?
The first thing you should do is search your businesses name, then address and finally phone number on Google, Bing and Yahoo. If there is no listing by business name, there may be one tied to an address or phone number. If a link shows up that is related to your business, follow the instructions to claim the page. If no business related links appears, you can generally attach one to the street address where you business. Not every business enterprise has a ratings and review on search engines. If yours does, it is best to be aware of what is being shared about it online.
Claiming and Managing Your Search Engine Business Listing
Claiming your business listing on Google, Bing and Yahoo allows you to modify your business description, add a link to your website and list hours of operation. If you don’t run a retail farm stand, have website or do any business with the public, you still may want to claim (own) a search engine result based on your business name or address. That way you will be alerted if someone rates and reviews your business! It is also a way to protect your company name from unscrupulous competitors.
Managing Search Engine Ratings and Reviews
Once you claim a business listing or create one should none exist during a name or address search, you will be alerted to any ratings or reviews. These alerts allow you to monitor your business ratings and reviews which will allow you to respond and if necessary, take corrective action to protect your brand.
If you do have a website, managing these search engine business reviews and ratings are one step to helping you build a stronger search engine presence. Google and other engines tend to like websites that have quality inbound links like the ones found on search engine business review and rating pages!
