Get Your Business Seen on Google

How to get to the top of search results

About 70% of people searching online click on websites that are in the top three spots.

Not page two.

Not page three.

The top three.

Picture this.

Someone sits in their car, phone in hand, typing exactly what you offer into Google.

They don't scroll.

They tap the first result.

They never even see your name.

That customer is ready to buy, and they just bought from someone else.

Every day, people search for exactly what you sell, and they never even know your business exists. If you're on page two or three, your chances of getting seen drop like a rock. Sink any lower and no one will ever find you on Google.

I shouldn't have to tell you the importance of ranking high on the worlds largest search engine, so I won't.

Potential customers need to be able to find your business online. Follow this guide and watch your website climb through the rankings. 

Ranking Below Page One Is Costing You Customers Every Day

People who should have been your customers, but instead they picked a different website. All because that business came up higher than you on Google maps.

You're losing customers to competitors whose website and products aren't even as good as yours. The only thing they did better than you was knowing how to write for computers.

SEO is what you tell search engines about your company. It stands for Search Engine Optimization. 

It’s how you tell search engines what your business does so they can connect you with the right people.

Most Businesses owners don’t know that SEO Is Written for Bots, Not Humans

The first thing you have to know is this side of website development is mostly for bots to read, not humans.

This is where some people go wrong. They fill out every part of their SEO with a sales pitch or catchy headline. That's great for standing out on a home page written for people to read, but not so great for your search rankings. 

When to Speak Like a Human and When to Write for the Bots

For keywords it's usually best to do what everyone else is doing. Because those are the words getting searched for the most.

For your SEO keyword don't say that you are,

“A Master of the Custodial Arts”

Just say “janitor + location”

Simple. Effective. Computer speak.

For the contact us page don't say

“Contact us to get the best prices guaranteed on xyz in your city”

Put “contact us” and maybe add “company name” or “for xyz products.” That's it. You don't need to stuff every page tag full of nonsense. 

You don't have to use complete sentences. 

They just have to make sense. 

Just because a spot on the SEO form will let you type 500 characters, should you?

On some pages you can write more keywords. There are different rules for different page tags. How you fill out the home page is not the same as how you fill out the terms of service page.

Pepper in different keywords like “best” or “most popular” plus your different services and city. Every now and then. 

Use those extra key words a person might add to their search.

Just don't over do it, or just like soup, it will be ruined by too much pepper. 

Knowing where you should and shouldn't use these tricks is very important. 

Before you go messing around with your SEO page, you need to know the dos and don'ts of each section. Know where you can and can't be more creative, and where you should give ‘the elevator pitch’, if you would, of your offer.

Know when to use just the facts.

No selling.

No fluff.

Save that stuff for your web pages.

Where to Optimize SEO on Your Website (And Where Not to)

On-page SEO is when you add keywords directly to the website itself. The same keywords you used in your SEO settings.

Make sure you consistently use the SAME keywords.

Repeating those keywords naturally throughout your website reinforces signals to the search engine bots.

Overdoing it and adding keywords to the wrong spots, or worse, forcing them in unnecessary, can hurt your rankings and make your website copy look like amateur AI nonsense. 

This is where you trust your gut, not AI. You can ask it for suggestions but YOU, a real life human being, makes the final decision. 

Especially when it comes to copy. 

Always read it out loud to hear how it sounds. If it doesn't sound like something you would say, change it. Don't sacrifice good writing for a small SEO boost. 

There are other ways to increase your ranking. If you nail all the rest, adding a few extra keywords to your webpages won't make much of a difference. 

You need to get each part of your SEO right to give your business a shot at getting ranked higher in local search results for your services.

SEO Alone Will Not Get You to the Top of Google

To get there you're going to need a few more things. A GBP and some Citations. 

What's that you say?

I'm glad you asked. 

GBP stands for Google Business Profile. 

It's similar to SEO but it's specifically for business listings. Not every website needs a GBP.

Follow many of the same rules as SEO, but remember your GBP can be seen by humans too, so the way you write matters more. It's still all about making it easier for Google to put your business website in a relevant search, so more customers can find you.

You're not writing a blog post, you're writing for AI and search engines. When in doubt, write less, not more.

Why Citations Tell Google Your Business Is Legit

Whenever a different website points to your site that's a citation. You want to be mentioned on as many different trustworthy websites as possible. 

YouTube, Facebook and Instagram are just a few, and will need a blog post of their own to really dive into the importance of each one and how they are different. 

Depending on the search, Google sometimes favors newer content when deciding where to rank you. Tagging your business in relevant posts is a great way to keep feeding the bots and signals trust to Google.

Think of it like leaving a trail of breadcrumbs for the AI fairies to help them decide who gets seen and who gets ignored.

Different GPS map programs are awesome sources for citations. 

Turns out Google Maps isn't the only navigational software. 

Who knew? 

Well Google knows, and it looks at those other maps to know how much it can trust that your business does what it says it does and is located where you say it is.

FYI, most major car manufacturers have their own navigation maps. 

The Yellow pages, Chamber of Commerce, Yelp, and so many more can all give your website citations. Some are free, some you have to pay for.

Do your research. If the other site is not as trusted by Google or not popular in your country it won't help your rankings as much as stronger citations. But generally speaking you want to have as many legitimate ones as possible.

Having consistency across everything is key. Your website, SEO, GBP and citations must all say the same thing.

Adding in a steady stream of good reviews and regularly updated content like blog posts will help secure your position on a Google search for years to come.

There's a bit more to it than that but those are some of the basics that Google looks at when deciding what to show and to whom. 

Frequently Asked Questions About SEO

How long does SEO take to work?

SEO can take a few months to show meaningful results. In competitive markets, it can take longer. The payoff is long-term traffic that doesn’t stop when ads stop.

Is SEO still worth it for small local businesses?

Yes. SEO is one of the best ways for small businesses to compete with larger companies, especially for local searches and high-intent keywords.

Do I need SEO if I have a Google Business Profile?

Yes. Your website and your Google Business Profile work together. A strong website helps your GBP rank higher, and a strong GBP sends trust signals back to your site.

Can I do SEO myself, or should I hire someone?

You can do the basics yourself, but advanced SEO requires experience. Mistakes can slow results or hurt rankings, which is why many businesses choose professional help.

What matters more: SEO or paid ads?

Paid ads bring short-term traffic. SEO builds long-term visibility. The strongest businesses usually use both.

You Want Your Business to Actually Show Up on Google

If you want this done right without guessing, and without wasting months figuring it out the hard way, fill out our contact form and let's get in touch. 

Dane Fraser owns and operates Top Dog Marketing, focusing on SEO and Google visibility for local businesses.