1. Create a Google My Business page
The first step in showing up in local searches is creating your Google My Business Page. This, of course, will improve your chances of showing up as a top Google My Business search result. (You must have a verified Google My Business page to show in these results.) It will also help you build your online presence and increase your chances of showing in organic search results, Many businesses in Dubai tend to neglict this simple task which leads to a lot of lost potenial business.
2. Get Your Title and Description in Order
When it comes to the search results, you have just a brief bit of space to get your marketing message across. Use that space wisely.
Make sure your title and description promote your brand. Avoid generic terms in the page title that don’t tell people about you business.
For example, you might see that the title for your home page is “Home.” If so, that’s what will show up in the SERPs.
Is that what you want people to see?
Remember: the title and description is often the first impression that people will get about your business. Make it a good impression.
3. Add your business to local business directories
Google My Business isn’t the only local business listing you should create for your brand.
There are loads of websites that list your business for free in your local area, most of these websites will have a list for free option which helps in linking back to your website to increase the SEO ranking.
If done properly those listings will indicate that your business is credible and therefore, worth showing as a top search result.
Some expamles are
https://aiwa.ae/freelisting
http://dubai-businessdirectory.com/home.php
http://www.localsearch.ae/en
4. Get Online Reviews
It’s this simple: you need social proof to convince people to become your customers.
What’s social proof? Online positive reviews and testimonies from people who’ve done business with you in the past.
Be sure to ask people who are satisfied customers to leave positive reviews on your GMB page so that others can see them. That will help you attract new business.
5. Use Schema Markup
Schema.org markup is a way to give the search engines a little more information about your business.
It’s possible that you can get the jump on some of your competitors by using markup because many websites, even this late in the game, aren’t using it.
However, it will take some professional assistance if you’re not a web developer. Adding markup to a site is a complicated process.
6. Get Backlinks From Non-Competing Local Businesses
Speaking of backlinks, you should get some from other local business websites.
There are plenty of businesses in your area that you might work with on a regular basis. Those businesses probably have websites of their own.
Approach the business owner with a quid pro quo offer: you’ll provide a backlink to his or her site in exchange for a backlink to your site.
Everybody wins.
7. Link to Inner Pages
In the “about” section of your GMB listing, you have the opportunity to add links to your website.
Be sure to add links to your site’s inner pages. That’s an especially good idea if you offer a portfolio of products or services.
For example, if you’re running a law firm, you can link to a page that describes the different specializations your attorneys offer (family law, patent law, business law, etc.).
8. Practice Content Marketing
Although content marketing is usually considered good practice for sites that are appealing to a much broader audience, it’s still a great way to get some Local traffic.
Remember, people in your area are searching for answers related to your niche. Be sure that you offer them the right answers with quality articles that rank well in the search results.
9. Blog About Local Events
If you want to get the attention of people in your community, write about things that are happening in the community and post them online.
Aggregate a few local news sources in your favorite RSS reader. Then, browse them and blog about items of interest that you think will attract the attention of local folks.
For example, if the local high school football team wins the state championship, write a blog post congratulating them.
Keep in touch with your community and your community will keep in touch with you.
10. Make Sure Your Site Loads Quickly
In a previous post we talked about how important it is to make sure your website loads quickly.
Google also cares about speed. Your site needs to load fast.
Keep in mind, though, that a lot of people use mobile devices to perform local search. That’s because they’re looking for a place of
