Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is an ongoing process in which you focus original content on keywords that represent the products and services you offer to your clients. Over time, Google will recognize this content and the algorithm will place your website higher in the rankings as people search those words. However, more general keywords make SEO a tougher hill to climb for a variety of reasons. Blue Fire Media helps Grand Rapids businesses fortify their SEO with strategies which accommodate for these competitive keywords. In today’s post, we will identify potential SEO issues and how to combat them.
Long-Tail Keywords for More Specific Results
You have worked hard to get your business off the ground, and you want to attract more customers on the internet. SEO is a great strategy to get your website noticed by more users, but you need to choose the right keywords in order to get results. Some basic keywords may be fine for local results. For example “pizza delivery” is a great phrase for a pizzeria that offers delivery, as the target region will be smaller. On the contrary, a keyword like “new furniture” might not be as successful in the short-term, for a variety of reasons. Let’s discuss a couple of those issues:
Don’t Be Too Generic with the Keywords
Yes, “pizza delivery” is also a generic keyword, but for the most part, pizza means pizza. Unless people are searching for a specific style of pizza, this simple keyword will suffice for a pizzeria. However, “new furniture” can mean any number of things. Elaborate bedroom sets, a dining room table, a new bookshelf, a patio set…this is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the types of furniture people are looking for. You need to specify the types of furniture you sell to help Google direct users to your store. By focusing on more specific, long-tail keywords – patio furniture, sectional sofas, queen bedroom sets – you are giving search engines more detailed information about the furniture you offer, which helps customers looking for those products find you.
How to Compete with Larger Companies
Smaller, independent businesses just don’t have the marketing budgets that national chains and big box stores do, which helps those bigger companies dominate certain searches. By simply typing “new furniture” into a search bar, you are going to see a list of these national chains and big box stores, along with ratings sites like Yelp and Angi muddying the waters with paid ads. Even if we type “new furniture near me,” these bigger stores are usually much higher on the list, especially if they have a chain in your area. This is why consistently adding fresh content and including geographic locations with your keywords is so important. By implementing a consistent focus on specific keywords like “new bedroom sets in Grand Rapids” in your content, you’re giving Google information about the specific type of furniture you’re selling and the specific location where you’re selling it. This continued effort will help potential customers in Grand Rapids find your website if they are looking for bedroom furniture while helping your site climb in search rankings.
This is where Blue Fire Media can help your Grand Rapids business with Search Engine Optimization. We can create content for the website that focuses on the specific products and services you offer, reinforcing those keywords with monthly blogs, like this one, that discuss your products and services in detail while also giving search engines fresh content to scan. If you would like to discuss how Search Engine Optimization can help your Grand Rapids business, contact Blue Fire Media today.
