Here’s what our network of marketing gurus had to say when we asked them to provide their best SEO advice for small businesses in 2023.

In 2023, are you ready for small business SEO?

You’re not alone if you’re still trying to come up with a plan. The continuing uncertainty of pandemic-related business interruptions and changes in consumer behavior keeps marketers and SEO professionals on their toes.

“What’s your top SEO suggestion for SMBs as we begin into 2023?” we asked our network of experts to aid SMBs and marketing professionals.

Here are the top ideas for small businesses looking to enhance their search rankings, from business networking to sharing client tales.

1. Select Emerging Search Trends from the drop-down menu.

As Google continues to refine its algorithm and ability to determine what content searchers are really looking for, Jeff Riddall, Senior Product Manager at OneLocal, advises all businesses to focus on optimization around topical groups of intent-based keywords at each stage of their customer’s journey.

“Small businesses should seek for keyword possibilities and content gaps where they can provide value to their clients by answering particular concerns,” he says.

Riddall also encourages small businesses launching ecommerce via Shopify, Amazon, or other platforms to understand what is required to optimize product pages in these contexts, as well as the content needed to complement and promote their items.

“Modern SEO is all about optimized content marketing,” he continues, “and those that can give timely, relevant information and answers to their customers’ product-related concerns are more likely to boost their visibility in search.”

2. Carefully plan your content

Local businesses should start providing content on their websites on a regular basis, according to Clarentino Aduk, Managing Director of Clarini Online Marketing.

“They need to stop thinking like a local business and start thinking like a media organization,” she says.

“SEO is a long game,” explains SEO specialist Anatolii Ulitovskyi, “but it’s feasible to improve the speed with the correct strategy and implementation.”

“In your content strategy, go deep rather than wide. Create content that is trustworthy. According to Sigharth Iyer, Head of SEO at resulta, “localization is critical for discoverability.”
“Be the thought leader in your niche and demonstrate your competence,” he adds. For dominance, trust signals will be crucial. Obtain those testimonies, reviews, and industry recognition. In your messaging, sales process, and customer journey, priorities accessibility, inclusion, and user experience.”

Small businesses should take a comprehensive strategy, according to Rebekah Conway, Content Executive at Sweet Digital.

“Connect your email, social, PPC, and content initiatives to boost reach and engagement, as well as the likelihood of meeting campaign goals,” she advises.

3. Select the Correct Keywords

Small businesses should focus on long-tail keywords while developing content, according to Shiva Kumar Vogalaboyina, Sr. Digital Marketing Analyst (PPC Expert) of Visaka Industries Limited. This method will assist you in obtaining more highlighted snippets, which will result in more traffic to your website.

“Content and links are still the major ranking elements,” Ulitovskyi says. As a result, covering these keywords aids in obtaining higher ranking positions. Paid tools are effective in locating such keywords. Then manually check out and filter out irrelevant topics.”

“The final step is to decide on priorities.” “Less is better, but quality is still important,” he says.

When providing Google review links to your consumers, Rod Loop recommends that you use the background search query to correlate your brand with your core keyword and watch your listing take off.

Furthermore, “If you have the correct keyword domain URL, you’ll get a perfect score of 100.” “It’s easier to improve your SEO if you make less than eight changes to any page,” explains Anna Evans.

4. Make Contact With Local Businesses

Svetlana Stankovic urges small firms not to imitate large corporations.

“Find your expertise and make contacts with other local small businesses.” Participate in a community service project with others. “There are always unique topics to be handled in a meaningful way, no matter how small a firm is,” she argues.

5. Tell your customers’ stories

Suhrud Potdar, a digital organic growth consultant, advises businesses to start writing short stories about their everyday contacts with clients at any level of their business, from product comparison and enquiry to actual sales and after-sales.

“Incorporate these articles into your website and disseminate them on social media using simple SEO.” “However tiny and insignificant a step it may appear to be at first, it can drive more people to your brand and get you a long way,” he adds.

“Make it easy for customers by incorporating reminders and links to your Google Business Profile, Facebook, or other relevant review pages,” says Riddall.

In fact, according to Amanda Leeman, SEO Manager at Adept Marketing, your Google Business Profile may be more significant than your website for generating leads.

“Make sure it’s entirely filled out. Make sure your business descriptions contain keywords. She advises, “Ask for feedback, and don’t forget to add and fill out all of your services.”

6. Use your imagination

“When you do some targeted Google searches, you’ll find everything you need to rank on Google. LocalAdz owner Brandy Harworth says, “The formula is right there.”

Small companies and SEO professionals should use solutions that automate online review requests and management, according to Riddall, because reviews have a major impact on local search or map pack presence but can take time to maintain.

“Review requests can be readily initiated in response to certain client actions, such as purchases or appointments that have been completed.

Similar tools can be used to help with responding to reviews, which is similarly vital for demonstrating a company’s responsiveness.

“Obtaining and responding to online reviews is an increasingly crucial driver of business success, in addition to growing organic authority and visibility,” he argues.

The only thing that is definite about 2022 is that it will be another year of uncertainty. Small firms who are tuned in to consumer and searcher demands and ready to respond, on the other hand, stand to gain the most this year.