![\"Consumer](\"https:\/\/www.advicelocal.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/04\/Micro-Moments.png\")
<\/a><\/div>\nI\u2019ve talked quite a bit about service area businesses<\/a>\u00a0(SABs) before, but since at Advice Local we\u2019re all about getting local businesses found online \u2013 service area businesses included! \u2013 I thought I\u2019d share more insights with you. Because service-based businesses function a bit differently from other companies, marketers often struggle with how to optimize them for search engines.<\/p>\n This time, I want to give you a comprehensive overview of our top beginner steps for service area businesses. These tips are vital to making businesses safe and profitable.<\/p>\n According to Google\u2019s most recent guidelines<\/a>, service area businesses can now remove their address from their listing or hide it. This is especially beneficial to SAB owners who operate from within their own homes.<\/p>\n Because SABs can still use Google Business Profile (formerly Google My Business) (GBP) listings, even without a public business location, it\u2019s essential that they focus on obtaining local organic results. Basic information like names, addresses and phone numbers (NAP) should be correctly listed in multiple directories.<\/p>\n One thing service area businesses need to consider is how local users will find them if they don\u2019t have a brick-and-mortar location. This is especially important to think about when the company has multiple service areas or branches. In many ways, SABs need local search engine optimization more than any other kind of business. People must be able to find the company naturally, even if they never visit an office or see the business in person.<\/p>\n To sum it up, the first basic step is to begin optimizing for search engines by creating accurate listings with directories like GBP. It\u2019s a simple first step, but one that has massive, long-lasting benefits. Here\u2019s a walk-through for optimizing a GBP listing for service area businesses<\/a>.<\/p>\n Now that the SAB is listed, it\u2019s time to think about the future and voice search optimization. According to a study by BrightLocal, roughly 58 percent of consumers have used voice search to find a local business\u2019 information in the last year, and about 46 percent of voice search users look for local businesses daily. Voice search isn\u2019t a passing trend \u2013 it\u2019s a tool that will change how local businesses reach customers for the foreseeable future.<\/p>\n A large chunk of voice search users rely on the phrase \u201cnear me\u201d when posing a query to their smart speaker or voice assistant. That\u2019s where the local aspect comes in; Google loves providing users with answers based on relevancy and proximity.<\/p>\n Because service area businesses often do not have brick-and-mortar locations, they should consider additional ways to establish this local presence to appear in voice search results. This can be done through locally relevant content, listings that indicate areas served and a strong presence on social media. I\u2019ve written post after post on voice search optimization strategies<\/a>, produced a voice search guide<\/a> and created the first-of-its kind voice search readiness algorithm and voice search readiness test<\/a>, so when I say voice search is important, it\u2019s no joke.<\/p>\n You\u2019ll never see Advice Local downplaying the significance of Google\u2019s coveted featured snippet<\/a>. It\u2019s like being dealt a winning card when it comes to SEO and voice search. Not only is it the first thing people see on a desktop search, but it\u2019s also where Google usually pulls answers for voice searches. Therefore, obtaining a featured snippet gets local businesses (including SABs) a substantial amount of attention from potential customers.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no \u201cright\u201d way to snag the featured snippet, but there are a few things that will increase a business\u2019 chances. Answering questions like \u201chow to\u2026\u201d and \u201cwhat is\u2026\u201d is a smart technique because it appeals to the phrases people typically use to search. Keep the answers short and concise, but also include the important answers in long-form content to establish authority.<\/p>\n Every local business needs reviews to survive, including \u2013 and especially \u2013\u00a0companies without a storefront that rely on recommendations to get more customers. That\u2019s where websites like Yelp come into play. These sites allow SABs to interact with customer reviews and establish a positive reputation with locals.<\/p>\n Don\u2019t have a profile on Yelp? Claim it ASAP by creating an account. You don\u2019t even have to be the business owner to do this, just a verified representative. Check out our guide for more\u00a0help creating a listing with Yelp<\/a>.<\/p>\n Remember to add photos to Yelp and other review sites, even if there aren\u2019t pictures of the business\u2019 storefront location. High-quality images of products, company members and services can go a long way toward establishing authority and trust with local consumers.<\/p>\n Respond to reviews in a polite, understanding tone. No matter how angry or unreasonable a reviewer might be, stay true to the business\u2019 brand and keep things professional. According to BrightLocal\u2019s study, a whopping 89 percent of prospective customers read the business owner\u2019s responses to online reviews before deciding whether to contact the company. Show locals that the business cares about its customers and is authentic.<\/p>\n People might not see SABs on the side of the road, but that doesn\u2019t mean they should miss them on sites like Facebook and Twitter. Social media platforms allow service area businesses to establish an online personality that engages with potential customers and creates a local presence, even without an in-person location.<\/p>\n Use social media to post engaging photos that earn consumers\u2019 trust. These photos are especially powerful if they highlight local relevancy. For instance, if the SAB provides landscaping services, post a picture of the work the company did on a local park or another location that viewers would recognize.<\/p>\n Social media also gives SABs the chance to connect with other local businesses. Online partnerships and interactions can bring many potential customers, especially if the interactions are only positive.<\/p>\nThe Basics for Service Area Businesses<\/h2>\n
SABs and Voice Search Optimization<\/h2>\n
Why the Featured Snippet Matters to Service Area Businesses<\/h2>\n
The Yelp Strategy<\/h2>\n
Social Media Platforms<\/h2>\n