Let’s say you’re an entrepreneur: running your business from the corner table at your favourite café, taking client calls from your home office, or meeting with colleagues at the local park. Your workplace changes daily, and that’s perfectly fine, it’s the modern way of doing business. But here’s the thing, when potential customers search for services like yours on Google, they’re looking for a local business with a legitimate address. Without one, you’re practically invisible, and it will be hard to acquire new customers.
If you’re not quite ready to commit to the expense of renting office space on a contract or hiring a full team, there’s a smart middle ground option that can improve your credibility and search visibility: a virtual business address.
What is a virtual business address?
A virtual business address gives you a real, credible street address in a desirable location, without the stress of an actual office lease. This professional business address can then be displayed on your website, business cards, and Google My Business profile, giving you an address to share separately from your home address. Since virtual addresses are usually attached to a coworking space, there are amenities and support the space can offer to entrepreneurs, such as mail receiving and forwarding services or telephone answering services.
Why your virtual business address matters in SEO
When someone searches “social media specialist near me” or “web designer Canberra,” Google doesn’t just pull up random businesses. It shows companies with verified local addresses that match the searcher’s location or their search intent.
In fact, without a local address, you can’t properly set up your Google My Business listing. To appear on Google Maps and get found in the “business-near-me” results, Google needs to verify your business has a genuine local presence, which is exactly why a virtual business address makes a difference.
Here are some more reasons why your virtual business address matters in SEO:
- Builds trust: Google’s algorithm favours businesses that have a consistent name, address, and phone number across the web. The more consistent it is across all digital platforms, the more trust is built in Google’s algorithm.
- Targets your ideal geographic market: Want to attract new clients in Belconnen, Woden, or the CBD? A virtual address in these areas improves your chances of showing up in those local searches to the customers you’re looking for.
- Improves credibility: Rather than showing your home address, you have a professional address that presents you as a credible business to new customers and improves your click-through rates from the search results page.
Local SEO is important for professional services across all industries, whether you’re in retail, hospitality, home services, or finance. Anyone who relies on local customers should prioritise local SEO to make sure they are optimising their online presence and reaching their target audience.
How to improve SEO locally
So now you know why SEO matters, but now you might be wondering how to do it.
1. Make a local-specific content plan
When it comes to maximising local SEO, you need to do more than include relevant keywords or phrases. Instead, try implementing content that resonates with your local audience, such as creating blogs aligned with the topics you specialise in (like this one!) or sharing news or trends relating to the industry you’re focused on. Make sure it’s valuable to your audience, that’s what’s going to bring them in. You can also collaborate with local partners or create content at events nearby. Share what’s happening locally to attract more local customers.
2. Encourage customer reviews
Once your Google Business profile is set up, it’s important to encourage satisfied customers to leave a positive review, which can improve both your ranking and social proof to future customers who may need a little more convincing before coming to your business. It’s also important to pay attention to negative reviews and respond promptly and kindly to smooth over any issues.
3. Develop a strategy to locally link-build
Did you know that the links you have on your website can improve your rankings? You can improve your credibility through linking others or having others link you. Local backlink building is about getting other local businesses and organisations to link to your site, which signals to search engines that your business is trusted and recommended within your community.
You can consider partnering with complementary local businesses on promotions, events, or content. For example, if you’re a marketer, you could team up with a local business to help market their next event. Promote this partnership on both websites with links back to each other’s sites. It’s a win-win that builds credibility for both businesses.
Additionally, you can internally link to other pages of your own, or put an outbound link to another website in your industry. There are many options to choose from to help your business grow.
Make the change to a virtual business address today
Virtual business addresses are all about flexibility. You maintain the freedom to work from anywhere while also establishing the local presence that Google and your customers expect. It’s an affordable stepping stone that lets you compete with established businesses in your area, without the overheads that come with traditional office space.
In today’s digital-first marketplace, showing up in local search results can make or break a small business. A virtual business address isn’t just about looking professional, it’s about being found by the customers who are actively searching for what you offer.
Here at Haven Workspaces, we care about helping businesses improve their local visibility and establish a professional presence in Canberra. A virtual business address might be the smartest investment you make this year. Get in touch to learn more about what we offer.