Owning a franchise is one of the most exciting investments a business owner can make. It can be profitable, too — but only if your target audience knows you are there, open for business and ready to offer the products or service they are looking for. One of the best ways to get the word out about your franchise is through search engine optimization (SEO).

Consistent, deliberate SEO and website optimization techniques help your franchise appear in Internet searches when your target audience uses certain keywords. Here are some impactful SEO strategies for your franchise’s website:

Create A Google Business Page

Claiming and setting up your Google Business page is one of the most powerful things you can do to improve your SEO, so be sure to take this important step first. Complete each field thoroughly and keep the page current. If you own more than one franchise location, list all of them on this page.

List Your Franchise On Google Maps

If you have a brick and mortar store, be sure your franchise location is accessible through Google maps. Many people utilize Google for its on-point directions, so make it as easy as possible for your customers to find you.

Utilize Yelp

Yelp is another powerful website that many people rely on for reviews and recommendations. Having a presence there can improve your Google search results.

Ask For Reviews

Most customers put more weight on what others say about your business than anything you could ever tell them yourself. Reach out to your satisfied customers and ask them for a Google or Yelp review. Not only will this help your franchise with search, it will give your franchise credibility as well.

Test Local Keywords

Do your due diligence and conduct keyword research to learn what words your target audience is using in search. Then you can decide which words or phrases to use in your website’s headlines, meta titles, meta descriptions and title tags.

Use Local Points Of Interest

Take advantage of popular local points of interest by mentioning they are near your franchise location. Think tourist attractions, famous restaurants, athletic teams, etc.

Include Schema Markup

This is website code that helps search engines return more information results for users. It tells them what your data means. This can be very impactful for your franchise’s SEO.

Keep Your Franchise Website Secure

Having a HTTPS website that is equipped with SSL certification can help your franchise’s SEO, as well as keep it functional, dependable and safe from hackers. Without an SSL, visitors will receive a warning that your website is not safe, which means you will lose many potential sales.

Maintain Consistent Branding

Throughout all your SEO efforts, it’s important for your branding to remain consistent. This includes your colors and logos, as well as things like photos you use, words you choose and overall “feel” of your brand. Good branding means your customers recognize your company before they ever see your name.

Improve Your Site Speed

Aim for your website to load in less than 3 seconds. If your franchise website loads too slowly, your visitors won’t stick around and wait.

User-Friendly Franchise Website

Once your customer finds your site, your job is just starting. Now you need to keep them on their site until they convert. This can be accomplished with clear, enticing copy, a design that is easy to navigate and many opportunities to take a next step with your business, whether that is a purchase, an appointment or downloading a lead generation tool.

If you are ready for your franchise to be found online but don’t have the time or skill to make it happen, Web Strategy Plus can help. We are a full-service digital marketing agency with years of experience in franchise SEO. Give us a call today at 877-224-0478 to schedule a free consultation and let’s work together to get your franchise found online! For more tips to grow your business, check us out on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram.