How to make it onto a google search result

[Dumpyandabdabs]

I've been running my own small cake business for over a year now and have recently set up a website. I'm very keen to increase business so I can give up the 'day job' and concentrate solely on it.

However when I google my business name or search for cake businesses in my area I don't come up anywhere. Would love it if a mumsnetter could explain to me how to appear on the search results (preferably somewhere near the top!!) in simple terms.

Thanks

I'm a novice too and only recently took over my own website. From what I understand, the coding needs to include META data, which is to say, the terms that people are going to use to look for a cake business in your area. I know how to do it on my own site but only because I built it and have step by step instructions on how to insert the code when uploading any changes.

Best bet is to find a techy friend who can do it for you (I'm lucky my brother is a computer geek!) as its one of those things that if its done right, it can make all the difference. There are people employed in some companies solely to make sure that their site comes up in the top 5 listings and is constantly in the public eye, so for someone who'd rather concentrate on making and selling the cakes its a lot to take on.

You'll also get a lot of business by word of mouth and facebook, so make the most of those opportunities too. With a local based business, your connections will be much more useful than the internet anyway. My friend sells cakes and whenever she does a birthday cake she gives a bunch of business cards to go into the party bags - I thought this was pure genius!

1. get the domain names "myareacakes.co.uk", "nameofmybusiness.co.uk" and the same .com. Choose which is going to be your main site, set up the other one with a simple page with relevant content and a number of links to content on your main site.

1. make sure your home page has the title "nameofmybusiness - the best cakes in mytown, another town, nearestcity and mycounty" or something similar

1. use Google Analytics

1. Post a link to your site here and there are a few people who will comment :)

Thanks for the advice, much appreciated. I have a facebook page which does get quite a bit of business but I was keen to get more from my website. Its all foreign to me but my OH is ok so I'll show him these messages.

Cheers