How to Get Your Business Found Online in Redlands, California
Redlands is a city that runs on community. With a population of around 70,000, it’s big enough to have a thriving downtown, a strong healthcare sector (thanks to places like Redlands Community Hospital), and a growing mix of small shops, restaurants, and service businesses. But it’s also small enough that word-of-mouth still matters. The problem? More and more customers are skipping the word-of-mouth step and going straight to Google.
That’s where many local business owners get stuck.
Why most small businesses in Redlands don’t show up on Google
It’s not because your business isn’t good. It’s because Google doesn’t know you exist—or it doesn’t trust you yet. Google ranks businesses based on signals like location, reviews, website quality, and links from other sites. Most small business owners in Redlands set up a website once, maybe claim their Google Business Profile, and then forget about it. Meanwhile, competitors who take a few extra steps end up in the top spots.
The good news? You don’t need to be a tech expert to fix this. Here are four things you can do yourself.
1. Set up and finish your Google Business Profile
This is the single most important thing you can do. Go to google.com/business and claim your profile. Fill out every field—address, phone number, hours, services, and photos. If you’re a plumber in Redlands, say “Plumber in Redlands.” If you run a coffee shop on State Street, say that. Google rewards businesses that give clear, complete information.
2. Ask for reviews (the right way)
Reviews are like votes of confidence. When someone searches for “best pizza in Redlands,” Google looks at how many reviews you have and how recent they are. Ask happy customers to leave a review on your Google profile. Don’t offer discounts or freebies in exchange—that’s against the rules. Just ask. A simple “If you enjoyed your visit, we’d love a Google review” works.
3. Make your website work on phones
Most people in Redlands search for businesses on their phones. If your website takes more than three seconds to load or looks squished on a small screen, people leave. And Google notices. You can check your site’s mobile-friendliness for free using Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test tool. If it fails, ask your web developer to fix it or switch to a modern, responsive template.
4. Use local keywords on your website
When you write about your business, include the town. Instead of “We offer landscaping services,” write “We offer landscaping services in Redlands, California.” Put “Redlands” in your page titles, headers, and descriptions. This helps Google connect your business to local searches.
What about backlinks?
Backlinks are simply links from other websites to yours. Think of them as recommendations. If the Redlands Chamber of Commerce links to your site, Google sees that as a sign that your business is legitimate and useful. The more quality backlinks you have, the higher you can rank. But getting them takes time and effort—especially for small businesses.
That’s where BacklinkUSA.com comes in. We publish articles about local businesses on high-authority websites, which creates those valuable backlinks for you. It’s a straightforward way to help your business get found online in Redlands—without needing to learn SEO yourself.