Uh oh. Your competitor in Maroochydore is the first thing that pops up when you type your company’s name into Google. You remember that customer enquiries have been suspiciously low this month. Are they connected? Possibly. Can you do SEO for your Sunshine Coast business to fix this? Absolutely.
To get those customer enquiries rolling back in, you’ll want your website to appear at the top of Google search results. SEO puts your website at the top of these results, making it easy for customers to find you.
If you’re not ready to hire a Sunshine Coast agency to do SEO work for you, the 7 tips below are beginner-friendly and the best way to start doing SEO yourself.
Wait, What exactly is SEO?
SEO or Search Engine Optimisation helps your website appear in search results for terms related to your products, services, or expertise. This makes it easier for users to find and engage with your site.
For example, if you’re a dentist in Noosa, you’d want your website to show up when someone in Noosa searches for “Dentist Near Me.” Depending on your offerings, you may also want to appear in searches for…
- Noosa Dentist
- Noosa Family Dentist
- Noosa Cosmetic Dentist
- Noosa Teeth Whitening
SEO is a method of improving elements of your website to increase the likelihood of a customer landing on your website when they search for a service or product that you offer.
There’s no exact formula for great SEO but I see websites rank highly when they’ve nailed their content, backlinks, page load speeds, and make it easy for customers to find what they’re looking for.
Now, let’s look at ways you can improve your website’s SEO and start generating leads for your Sunny Coast small business.
7 SEO Tips to Boost your Sunny Coast business’s Rankings
If you want new customers hitting that enquire button on your business website, here’s seven actionable steps you can take to start appearing in Google search results.
Tip #1 – Create a Google Business Profile
A Google Business Profile (formerly known as Google My Business) is a free online listing tool that can help your Sunny Coast business stand out on Google Search and Google Maps.
Google Business Profile provides key details such as your address, phone number, business hours, and website URL. Once it’s set up, you can post updates, collect client reviews, and track how your customers engage with your business information.
Think of it as a digital version of the Yellow Pages, but instead of flipping through paper pages, locals can simply search online to find your business information instantly.
Steps to Set Up a Google Business Profile
To set up and verify your Google Business Profile,
- Visit the Google Business Profile website and select “Manage now” to sign in.
- Enter your business name and choose your business type.
- Choose a primary category for your products or services. For example, if you’re a plumber in Caloundra, your category will be “Plumber”. To find more info about choosing the best category for your Sunny Coast business, check out Google’s category info page.
- Add your business address, phone number and website URL. (Don’t have a website? No problem! We can help you create a new business website). As a rule of thumb, it’s best to include an address and hours for your business. If you’re running a home based Sunshine Coast business, you may be hesitant to include this information. However, it will make you look more reputable overall.
- It’s time to verify your business! You can choose to verify with a phone code, email, or business video.
Tip #2 – Update your business profile with news and events
You’ve done the hard part of setting up your Business Profile, now it’s time to optimise!
To keep your profile fresh, add posts about upcoming events or new products you may want to highlight. Want to offer new customers 10% off their first super yacht cleaning? Add it to your profile to grab your customers’ attention before they look away.
Posting on your GBP is a great way to:
- Connect with Sunshine Coast Locals: Engage with your community by providing real-time updates and responses.
- Highlight Promotions and Events: Share your latest sales, special offers, and upcoming events to attract more attention.
- Build Customer Interest: Use videos and photos to engage your audience and showcase your what makes you unique
Tip #3 – Ask for reviews
Seeing a 5-star review is deeply comforting, like Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. Positive reviews on your Business Profile signal that you’re a reputable Sunshine Coast business people trust.
If you’re a new small business on the Sunshine Coast, ask your friends or family if they’d like to sample your product or service. Once they’ve received it, you can ask them to leave you a review.
Starting your own brand of reef-safe sunscreen for surfers? Ask your mate to slather some on next time he’s heading to Tea Tree Bay.
Pro tip: Never offer to pay people for a review. Customers are smart and they can quickly spot fake business reviews. Plus, it’s technically against the law.
Help, I got a bad customer review!
If Gary H. posted a 1-star review saying you burned his flat white, it’s not the end of your business and it’s not worth obsessing over. Especially if you don’t ever recall serving him a coffee.
Respond to all of your customer reviews, even the negative ones. Why? Customers may actually be more empathetic towards your business if they see you were unfairly reviewed and you made an attempt to interact with the unhappy customer.
If you respond to the negative review in a helpful and polite way, potential customers will take notice. They may even be more likely to transact with you.
Tip #4 – Add your business to Sunshine Coast directories
An online directory is a website where you can list business details like your phone number, address, and what you offer. For small business owners, getting listed in these directories helps more people find you and learn about your services. It’s a great way to boost your search visibility and attract new customers.
For example, hotfrog.com.au is an online business directory for all Australian businesses. Some directories are more niche and will only list websites that fall into a certain category. If you’re searching for a tradie near you, you might see a directory like SearchATradie.com.au come up.
The best practice is to submit your business info to directories that are relevant to your services, products or local area. Here’s a few Sunshine Coast directories to help start generating leads for your business.
Sunshine Coast Directories
- https://www.buylocalsunshinecoast.com.au/local-directory
- https://www.sunshinecoast-australia.com/directory/
- https://www.localsearch.com.au/qld/sunshine-coast
Tip #5 – Clarify your business’s keywords
Keywords are specific words you want to appear for in search engine results.
Think about how you search on Google. If you plan to spend your Saturday in the Hinterland, you might start searching for a restaurant with keyword phrases like, “vegan resturants Maleny”, or “best pizza montville”. Google then tracks down all the restaurants that best fit the keywords you typed in.
Primary Keywords
Primary keywords are the main terms you want to appear in search results for. If your number #1 goal is to be found for the keyword phrase “sunshine coast pilates studio”, you’ll need to add these keywords to your home page and sprinkle them throughout your website.
Secondary Keywords
Secondary keywords function like descriptive adjectives for your services or products. They offer more specific details about what you offer and highlight what sets your business apart.
For example, a pilates studio on the Sunshine Coast would use secondary keywords to create targeted pages for their various class offerings. These might include:
- “Mat Pilates Sunshine Coast”
- “Reformer Pilates Sunshine Coast”
- “Prenatal Pilates Sunshine Coast”
- “Pilates for Beginners Sunshine Coast”
These keywords help potential clients find exactly what they’re looking for and showcase the unique aspects of your services.
Tip #6 – Build Local Backlinks by Partnering with other Sunshine Coast Businesses
Backlinks are links from one website to another. They act as endorsements or votes of confidence, signalling to search engines that the linked-to site is reputable and valuable. Backlinks help improve your site’s ranking and visibility in search results.
The tough part is finding websites to link back to yours. But with the power of your local Sunshine Coast network, you may be surprised by the amount of opportunities available to you.
Connect with industry partners
Start by connecting with Sunshine Coast businesses related to your industry. For instance, if your construction business uses concrete from a third-party supplier, see if you can arrange a link exchange with them.
Another option is to collaborate on content or exchange guest posts with local websites that are relevant to your industry. As a café owner, you could write a guest post for a local food blogger or invite a Sunshine Coast influencer to review your café in exchange for a backlink.
You can also get involved in local community events or sponsorships and ensure that these opportunities include a backlink to your site. Local backlinks improve your search rankings and give you the added bonus of increasing your brand recognition in the local Sunshine Coast community.
Tip #7 – Be social!
This is a spicy SEO tip because social media is rarely mentioned when SEO enters the conversation.
But it’s 2024 and not everyone uses Google to find what they’re looking for. There’s a new wave of search engines and they’re called TikTok, Instagram, YouTube. Even Google admits to 40% of young people going to TikTok or Instagram for a place to eat.
Yes, social media marketing is a whole other beast, but what you do on these platforms can really boost your overall online search presence.
Create an Instagram profile for your business and add a link in your profile to your website. Create a YouTube channel to upload videos about your offerings and why you’re the best business on the Sunny Coast to provide these services.
Marketing your business on socials can help you reach more people and connect with potential customers where they’re already hanging out. This gives your online presence a serious boost and strengthens your overall brand recognition.
How soon will SEO generate leads for my business?
SEO is a waiting game. Allow at least 1-3 months to see results for your business. During this time, you can check your website’s rankings with online tools like ahrefs or Semrush to see how you’re stacking up against your competitors.
If you’ve made it this far, excellent work! You now have 7 actionable SEO tips to get started with. Although all of these tips are fairly straightforward, they may take you a few days or a few months to complete.
Do you have more questions about doing SEO for your small business? Send us a message!
