10 SEO Tips Every Small Business Owner in Orange County, NY Should Know

If you’re a small business owner in Orange County, NY, you probably know how important it is to get found online. But with all the talk about SEO, where do you even begin? As a local SEO agency, we’ve worked with plenty of small businesses just like yours, and we’ve pulled together some simple, straightforward tips that can help you get noticed by more local customers.

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1. Claim Your Google My Business Profile

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• Why it Matters: Ever noticed those businesses that pop up with maps and photos right at the top of your search results? That’s thanks to Google My Business.
• What to Do: Take a minute to claim your profile (if you haven’t already), fill in the details, and add some photos. Make sure your hours and contact info are accurate—Google loves details.
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2. Add Local Keywords to Your Content

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• Why it Matters: Using the right words helps local folks find you when they’re searching for what you offer.
• What to Do: Find keywords by researching your competitors on Google search or utilize keyword search tools like Moz or Semrush. Sprinkle these keywords naturally into your website content, blog posts, and even image descriptions. Just keep it natural—think like your customer.

3. Make Sure Your Site Works on Mobile

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• Why it Matters: A ton of people look things up on their phones, and Google prefers sites that are mobile-friendly.
• What to Do: Pull up your site on a phone. Is it easy to navigate? Does it load quickly? If not, it’s time to make some adjustments. You can also check this on desktop by right clicking in your browser and selecting "inspect". On the left screen, choose responsive from the dropdown menu and slide the right side of the window left and right to see how your site displays on different devices.
  
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4. Create Local-Focused Content

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• Why it Matters: People love content that’s relevant to their community, and so does Google.
• What to Do: Think about blog topics like “Top places to eat in Orange County NY ” or “How to find parking in downtown Warwick, NY.” Local content like this brings in readers from right in your area.
  
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5. List Your Business on Local Directories

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• Why it Matters: Having your business on local sites like Bing, Yelp, or your chamber of commerce page builds credibility and helps with search rankings.
• What to Do: Check that your information is consistent across all directories—same name, address, phone number. It seems minor, but it really does make a difference.
  
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6. Encourage Customer Reviews

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• Why it Matters: Good reviews make you more trustworthy, and they actually help you rank higher in local searches.
• What to Do: After a customer has a good experience, ask them to leave a review. If you’re on Google and Facebook, respond to reviews regularly—it shows you care.
  
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7. Focus on On-Page SEO Basics

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• Why it Matters: Good on-page SEO helps Google understand what each page is about so it can rank your site higher.
• What to Do: Make sure your including enough relevant content on your website and ensure that you're following heading heirarchy. This means having 1 h1 heading tag per page, and having successive headings descend in order. Also be sure you're adding relevant alt-text to your images.
  
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8. Speed Up Your Website

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• Why it Matters: People will leave a slow website, and Google knows it.
• What to Do: Use tools like Google’s PageSpeed Insights to see how fast (or slow) your site is. Reducing image sizes, getting rid of unnecessary plugins, and using caching can all help. Check out our post on optimizing images on your website, for a deep dive into how to manage your image files properly on your website.
  
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9. Get Local Backlinks

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• Why it Matters: When other sites link to yours, it shows Google that your site is worth visiting.
• What to Do: Connect with local businesses, write for community blogs, or get a local news outlet to feature your story. These backlinks are golden for local SEO.
  
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10. Track Your Results and Adjust

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• Why it Matters: SEO is a marathon, not a sprint. Tracking lets you know if you’re headed in the right direction.
• What to Do: Use tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console to see what’s working. If one approach isn’t giving you results, try tweaking it. If you need more detailed results and comparisons to competitors in the area, a local seo agency can provide an audit to provide you with more strategic planning to reach your digital marketing goals.

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Getting started with SEO doesn’t have to be complicated! With these tips, you can begin building your online presence, reach more local customers, and grow your business in Orange County, NY. If you need a little extra help, don’t hesitate to reach out to us at our local SEO agency—we’re here to support small businesses like yours!