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In today’s world, even the best products can go unnoticed without the right strategy. As a full-service marketing agency, we help businesses turn attention into action.

For small businesses, standing out on Google means mastering the basics of SEO — or, as Stephen Nations here at Drive Social Media puts it, “making Google like your website.”

Here are the key takeaways from Stephen’s expert advice in the video above.

Google Is a Referral Engine — Not a Taste Tester

When someone searches for “best cheeseburger in town,” they’re not being served a list of taste-tested, award-winning burgers. They’re seeing results from the best-known cheeseburger joints — the businesses whose websites Google trusts and ranks highly.

“Our goal at Drive is to make sure your cheeseburger is the best known cheeseburger in your industry,” Nations says.

That’s the essence of SEO: making sure your business shows up when and where it matters.

The Three SEO Metrics That Matter Most

To get your website to the top of the search results, you need to track and optimize for three key metrics with SEO services that target ranking improvements:

1. Position – Where your site currently ranks in Google search results compared to your competitors.
2. Volume – How many people are searching for a specific keyword or phrase each month.
3. Difficulty – How hard it is to rank for a given search term based on existing competition.

Look for the “sweet spot”: high-volume, low-difficulty keywords where you’re currently ranking between pages two and five. These represent untapped opportunities to break into page one — the spot where most clicks happen.

The SEO Tools You Already Have

SEO can sound intimidating, but many of the tools and tactics are already within your reach:

• Website Optimization: Improve load speed, structure, and user experience.
• Content Strategy: Rewrite existing content with target keywords, optimize headlines, and publish relevant blog posts.
• Local SEO: Keep your Google Business Profile updated, ensure your local listings are consistent, and encourage reviews. If you’re a franchise owner or operate in multiple locations, explore our franchise marketing solutions to scale your local SEO impact.
• On-Page SEO: Fine-tune your page titles, meta descriptions, image alt tags, and internal linking.

When these efforts are combined, they create a powerful engine that pushes your business higher in search rankings — and closer to the customers already searching for you.

It’s Time to Make Your Business Known

If you’re ready to stop being the best-kept secret in your market, Drive Social Media is here to help. With offices in St. Louis, Nashville, Atlanta, Tampa, Miami, and Dallas, we specialize in turning great local businesses into Google powerhouses.

Want to get your business on page one of Google?

📞 Contact your nearest Drive Social Media office today.