Localize SEO for Your Harlem Small Business

Finding the right SEO for your small business in a neighborhood like Harlem can be a crucial way to get your company noticed online.

When it comes to SEO, localization is crucial. If you have a business you want people to find, you’ll likely want to build your web presence around where your company is located. If you small business is in Harlem, for example, then you’ll want to make the most of what SEO can offer.

SEO for a Small Business in Harlem

Building an SEO profile for any small business involves knowing how Google works. We’ve discussed localizations and small business SEO already, but for New York City and Harlem in particular, there are a few other details to keep in mind.

Like everything else, NYC is competitive. There a simply a lot more businesses competing for attention. For example, SEO agency NYC is much harder to rank for than SEO agency for Dallas, even though they have roughly equivalent search volumes. This is why a mix of on-page and off-page SEO can help.

On page SEO, as the name implies, is content and keyword driven. Off-page focuses on building the credibility of the page through links, referrals, etc. For more on both, please download our free e-Book.

Therefore, to have an impact in a place like NYC, you will need a stronger off-page strategy that what we share below. Here are a few ideas to consider:

1. NYC is full of lists, best restaurants, bars, gyms, and the like. Inquire how you might get a link from them.
2. Local news – Internet news sources are great way for local businesses to be seen, for example, in NYC, there is the Gothamist or the City both have a large following of local readers
3. Awards – NYC is full of them. Research the ones that pertain to your industry and inquire about entry requirements
4. Local business development groups. NYC is more of patchwork of neighborhood, each with their own group. While this might not be as effective for the city as a whole, it would be more relevant for each neighborhood or borough.

Optimizing Your Small Business Local SEO in General

Optimizing your business's content and site for a localized SEO campaign in Harlem can be time-consuming. But, it is worth the effort for a small business if your customer base is predominately local. Brainchild Studios shares their thoughts, but I wanted to highlight some of the most important tips:

1. Make sure you've claimed your Google My Business page.
2. Check that your metadata reflects your location in Harlem on localized web pages
3. Get to know your Harlem community over social media
4. Appear on directories that are local to Harlem.

In other words, build your SEO around the places where your local community is active. It seems like common sense, but you would be surprised at how many businesses fail to capitalize on this opportunity.

An Example of the SEO for a Harlem Small Business

Remember to think of your small business in Harlem as part of the landscape of Uptown Manhattan. A patchwork of different cultures and types of people, Uptown Manhattan is the true melting pot of Manhattan. So when you're thinking about building the SEO for your small business, reach out to your neighbors. Along with that, consider discovering groups that promote businesses owned by people like you. Women and minority owned businesses often can work together to have a greater impact, especially in New York.

Look into groups in Harlem that could help you here, as you might find it becomes a great way to start on a path to greater success in your business. If you can get connected to these groups online, it will help your group appear in searches for businesses in these areas as well.