No matter what business you run, you need a website. And that website won’t do you much good without search engine optimization (SEO).

SEO gets your website seen so your business can grow. And local SEO will even bring foot traffic to your brick-and-mortar location.

Here are the 4 most essential SEO tricks for local businesses. Use these tips to boost web traffic and foot traffic.

Set Up Your Google My Business Page

Even if you don’t have a website yet, you can still give your local business some web presence with Google My Business. Google My Business is the most important online business directory to be registered on.

The information you put on your Google My Business page shows up in Google Search, Google Maps and Google Plus. It will absolutely get your business seen by local searchers. And statistics show that local business searches lead to purchases.

Needless to say, it’s very important, then, that you put in the correct information. There are many optional information fields to fill in on Google My Business, all of which will help your cause. So make your page as detailed as you can.

A word of warning, though. Anyone can edit your page. So check it regularly to make sure it hasn’t been sabotaged.

Use Google AdWords and Bing Ads

Pay-Per-Click (PPC) advertising like Google AdWords and Bing Ads are another important way to get seen online. With these services, you create ads for your website that are seen when people make searches related to your business. For example, you can create ads for your local body shop that display in search results when local users type in “windshield chip repair.”

To get started, simply sign up for a free account and follow the instructions to create ads. Use the included tools, like keyword research, to customize and optimize ads to better reach your specific audience.

Local business searchers will click on your ads and arrive at your website. Best of all, these ads don’t cost you a thing unless someone clicks on them.

Optimize Your Images

Don’t overlook image optimization or anyone searching for images will overlook you. Always give image files on your site proper filenames so they appear in relevant image searches.

If the pic is a basket of kittens, call it, “basket-of-kittens.jpg,” and not, “IMG_037273874.jpg.” This way, people searching for kitten pictures might find your site.

Also, use image alt tags. An alt tag is replacement text that appears if, for any reason, the pic doesn’t load. Alt tags help your visitors and your SEO.

Finally, if you really want to optimize your images, use popular keywords for image titles and alt tags.

Allow User Reviews

Reviews are another way to help visitors, boost SEO and increase business all at the same time. First of all, user reviews boost your Google search ranking.

Second, this is such a helpful feature for your site visitors. It helps them to make their purchase decisions. And that’s why, thirdly, it will increase your sales.

Boost Your Local Business With These SEO Tricks

What are you waiting for? Use these SEO tricks to optimize your web presence and boost your local business.

Now check out 10 Ways to Build Your Online Reputation.