How to Get Your Business Found Online in Ankeny, Iowa
Ankeny is one of the fastest-growing cities in Iowa. With over 75,000 people, a strong mix of manufacturing, retail, and tech jobs, and a downtown that keeps expanding, there’s no shortage of customers. But here’s the problem: if someone searches for “pizza in Ankeny” or “plumber near me” and your business doesn’t show up on the first page of Google, you’re invisible. And in a town where new competitors open up every year, that’s a big deal.
Most small businesses in Ankeny struggle to show up on Google for one simple reason: they assume that just having a website is enough. It’s not. Google ranks businesses based on dozens of signals, and most local owners don’t know what those signals are. They’re busy running their business, not learning SEO. That’s why the same three chains always appear at the top of search results, while local shops get buried on page three.
The good news? You don’t need a marketing degree to fix this. Here are four things you can do yourself.
1. Set up and complete your Google Business Profile
This is the single most important thing. Go to google.com/business and claim your profile. Fill out every field: address, phone number, hours, services, and photos. If you’re a restaurant, add your menu. If you’re a contractor, add photos of recent jobs. Google uses this info to decide if you’re a real, local business. Without it, you might as well not exist.
2. Ask for reviews (and respond to them)
Google pays attention to how many reviews you have and how you handle them. After a good job or sale, ask customers to leave a review. Don’t bribe them—just ask. And when you get a review, reply to it. A simple “Thanks, Sarah!” or “Sorry about the wait, we’re working on it” shows Google you’re active. More reviews = higher rankings.
3. Make your website mobile-friendly
Most people search on their phone. If your site takes more than three seconds to load or looks tiny on a smartphone, people leave. That tells Google your site isn’t useful, so it drops your ranking. Use Google’s free Mobile-Friendly Test tool to check. If it fails, ask your web host or a local developer to fix it.
4. Use local keywords on your site
When you write about your services, use phrases like “Ankeny dry cleaner” or “HVAC repair in Ankeny” instead of just “dry cleaner” or “HVAC repair.” Put these phrases in your page titles, headings, and text. It helps Google connect you to local searches.
What about backlinks?
Backlinks are links from other websites to yours. Think of them like votes. If a local news site or a business directory links to you, Google figures your site is trustworthy. The more quality votes you get, the higher you rank. But not all links are equal—a link from the *Ankeny Register* is worth way more than a link from a random blog.
That’s where BacklinkUSA.com comes in. We publish articles about local businesses on high-authority websites, helping you earn those valuable backlinks. It’s one of the most effective ways to get your business found online in Ankeny.