What About Home Business?

One serious challenge in the world of Internet marketing is being seen as a reputable business in the world of Google algorithms. 

Small business owners who provide their products or services and work from home, generally do not like to use their home address or home phone number for their business. Furthermore, many work-from-home business owners will use virtual phone numbers as a way to keep costs down and track leads.

The challenge in doing this is that Google and other search engines have become very sophisticated in being able to determine if an address or phone number is “virtual” and will penalize you and in many cases disallow you to use these valuable tools.

Here is an example. There are phone number sources such as Hushed and others that provide low-cost virtual phone numbers that can simply redirect to your cellphone number. Furthermore, they offer custom voicemail and other features not found on free sources such as Google. If one tries to use a virtual number for various levels of authentication on Google it will recognize the number as virtual and will not allow you to use it.

With virtual business addresses, it seems to be easy enough to verify your Google business listing, but if it is read as a P.O. box good luck. 

So, how does a business owner who operates out of their home be viewed by search engines as a legitimate business?

So, I submitted this question to Chat GPT4, and here is the response:

To be viewed as a legitimate business by search engines while operating out of a home, there are several steps you can take to establish credibility and enhance your online presence. Here are some recommendations:

1. Create a Professional Website: Develop a well-designed and informative website that clearly represents your business. Include essential details like contact information, products or services offered, and any relevant credentials or certifications.

2. Optimize Your Website: Implement search engine optimization (SEO) techniques to improve your website’s visibility on search engines. Research and incorporate relevant keywords into your website content, meta tags, headings, and URLs to increase the chances of appearing in search results.

3. Register a Domain: Obtain a custom domain name (e.g., www.yourbusiness.com) instead of relying solely on free subdomains. This helps establish a professional image and adds credibility to your online presence.

4. Claim Your Google My Business Listing: Create and verify your business listing on Google My Business. Provide accurate information about your business, such as address, contact details, business hours, and a description. Encourage customers to leave reviews to build trust and enhance your online reputation.

5. Utilize Social Media: Establish a presence on popular social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn. Regularly update your profiles with relevant content, engage with your audience, and respond to inquiries or comments promptly.

6. Consistent NAP Information: Ensure that your business’s name, address, and phone number (NAP) are consistent across all online directories, including your website, social media profiles, and local listings. This consistency helps search engines verify your legitimacy.

7. Generate Online Reviews: Encourage your satisfied customers to leave reviews on platforms like Google, Yelp, or industry-specific directories. Positive reviews act as social proof and enhance your credibility.

8. Obtain Backlinks: Seek opportunities to obtain backlinks from reputable websites, such as local business directories, industry blogs, or news publications. Backlinks from trusted sources can boost your website’s authority in search engine rankings.

9. Develop Quality Content: Regularly publish high-quality, informative content related to your business. This could be in the form of blog posts, articles, videos, or infographics. Valuable content helps attract visitors, increases engagement, and establishes you as an expert in your field.

10. Monitor and Improve: Regularly monitor your online presence, including search engine rankings, reviews, and social media mentions. Address any negative feedback or issues promptly and continue to refine your online strategy to maintain a positive reputation.

Remember, establishing credibility and legitimacy takes time. Consistently implementing these strategies will gradually improve your online visibility and help search engines recognize your home-based business as a legitimate entity.

The above is great advice but still does not address many of the concerns that home business owners need to be answered when it comes to rank and status on search engines.

More to follow…