One of the essential things in running a business is making sure that people know about it. Marketing your product is so much easier nowadays because of the internet. With the help of search engines, your business can be visible to the market everywhere.
There are a lot of active search engines, but Google is still leading the market today. According to statistics, Google has 3.5 billion searches per day — or 1.2 trillion searches per year!
Last year, Google released a local algorithm update called Vicinity. As a result, many business owners are worrying about its effect on their search ranking.
Do you want to know how the Google Vicinity update can affect your business? Check out this guide and learn all about the newest Google update!
What Is Google Vicinity and Its Effects?
As mentioned before, Vicinity is the most significant Google update since 2017. Now, Google changed how distance affects search rankings on local search.
The latest update focuses on businesses closer to the local map. It helps small businesses to appear on local search more than well-established businesses.
The first thing you’ll notice is the change in the local map layout. Previously a rectangle, it is now square and zoomed-in on the most relevant businesses nearby.
Using keywords is not as effective as before, although it did have a vital role in a previous update. Because of this, business owners need to re-strategize to maintain their visibility.
How to Make Out the Most of Google Vicinity?
Search rankings will decline if you rely on keywords. But don’t worry, there are things that you can change to maintain a good search position.
First, make sure that your business information is up-to-date. List your business on Google and ensure that you have accurate and complete details. It will ensure that your business appears on local searches and stay relevant.
Next, include business hours during holidays and other events. Including when you open and close also helps in this new update. You can also include photos of your products, location, and service. It will help customers know more about your business and may improve your ranking.
Finally, do not forget to respond to inquiries by customers or reply to feedback.
Do You Need Help in Optimizing Your Search Rankings?
The Vicinity update may have changed your search rankings, but it’s not too late to come back to the top. Ensure that you follow Google’s guidelines for businesses to maintain your online presence and keep your search ranking high.
This update may still have a few changes in the future, or Google may continue to update its algorithm. But, to adapt to these changing times, remember to update your Google listing.
Keeping your online presence and updating your profile can be hard in this digital era. If you need help creating strategies for improving your online presence, contact us! We will help you plan to engage people and make them click that buy button.