Why your location decides who finds you
When someone searches for “dentist” or “car repair”, Google does not show the best business in the world. It shows the best one near them. Here is how that works, and what you can change.
The three things Google looks at
Google says its local results are based mainly on three things:
- Relevance. Does your business match what the person searched for? This comes from your Google Business Profile, your categories and the words on your website.
- Distance. How far you are from the person searching, or from the place they typed. You cannot move your shop, but you can make sure Google knows exactly where it is and which areas you serve.
- Prominence. How well known you are. Reviews, other websites that mention you, and how active your profile is all count.
What this means for a small business
A small bakery can show up above a big chain, if it is closer to the person and its information is clear. Location is not a disadvantage. It is the one thing big competitors from other cities cannot copy.
Five things you can do this week
- Claim your Google Business Profile and fill in everything: hours, phone, photos, categories.
- Write your address the same way everywhere: website, Google, Facebook, directories. Small differences confuse search engines.
- Name your town on your website. “Hair salon in Botanica, Chisinau” tells Google and people where you are.
- Ask happy customers for a review. A short, honest review helps more than you think.
- Check yourself from a phone. Search for what you sell plus your area, and see who shows up.
Next article: From your street to the whole country