How to Drive traffic to Your Local Business Website

Link with Relevant Local Partners: Try to find local businesses that you don't compete with that you can send online and offline referrals to. For example a limousine company could send traffic to a tuxedo rental company. A realtor could send business to a landscaping company. Almost everyone needs a good lawyer, accountant, or printer. If these relationships make sense offline they make sense online. Try to exchange website links with that company.

Get Links from Local or Industry Groups: Are you a member of your local chamber of commerce, networking groups or other industry or trade organizations? Most of those places will have a website and membership entitles you to a link, don't hesitate to ask for them.

Get Links from Relevant Directories: Directories are a great way to get search engines to find your website. While they can be pricey the cost is quite often justified. The Yahoo directory is the most expensive ($299) but almost always worth the cost. BOTW.org is another one that should be on everyone's list. They have yearly or monthly payment options. Business.com ($199) is another directory not to miss. If you have the budget Joeant, Tygo and Skaffe also make great additions.

Sponsor Local Events: It doesn't matter if they are charity events, sport events or teams, fundraisers, or entertainment venues. Get your name and domain in any printed material and on the website if they have one.

This last two aren't about links but can really help the search engines learn more about your website and the areas and services you provide.

Put your Address and Telephone Number on Your Site: The best place is in the footer of every page. You can also create an individual contact or location page. Make sure you mention your business, provide directions and a map, mention any landmarks, or neighborhoods you serve, don't leave out zip codes and area codes. Make sure it's in a text format and not an image so search engines can read it and figure out what your pages are about.

Products and Services: Put up a page about the service or products you provide. Try use as many of the keywords your think people would use when searching for what you are offering. Write in natural language that people can understand, don't keyword stuff, or repeat yourself unnecessarily.

For more tips on how to promote your local business be sure to check out my complete series on local search or visit How to Promote Your Local Business Online for Free , How to Get Your Local Business Online or Promote your Local Business for Under $900