How to Get Your Business Found Online in Des Moines, Iowa
Des Moines isn’t just the capital of Iowa—it’s a growing hub for insurance, finance, and tech. With over 200,000 residents and a metro area pushing 700,000, the city is home to everything from family-owned restaurants in the East Village to boutique shops in the Historic Valley Junction. But here’s the problem: if you own a small business in Des Moines, you’re competing with big companies that have big marketing budgets. And most small businesses simply aren’t showing up on Google when locals search for their services.
Why? Because Google ranks businesses based on trust and relevance. If your website isn’t optimized, Google doesn’t know you exist. And if you don’t have enough online proof that you’re a real, trustworthy business, you’ll get buried under bigger competitors.
The good news: you don’t need a marketing degree to fix this. Here are four practical things you can do today.
1. Claim and optimize your Google Business Profile This is the single most important step. Go to Google and search for your business name. If a box appears on the right side of the search results, claim it. Fill out every field—hours, address, phone number, website, and photos. Add your services and a short description that includes what part of Des Moines you serve (e.g., “West Des Moines lawn care” or “Downtown Des Moines coffee shop”). Google loves consistency, so make sure your name, address, and phone number are exactly the same everywhere online.
2. Get more reviews—and respond to them Reviews are like votes of confidence. When a potential customer in Des Moines searches for “best plumber near me,” Google looks at how many reviews you have and how recent they are. Ask happy customers to leave a review. And always respond—thank them for good reviews, and politely address any complaints. It shows Google (and your customers) that you’re active and care.
3. Make your website fast and mobile-friendly More than half of all local searches happen on a phone. If your site takes more than three seconds to load or looks squished on a small screen, people will leave. Use a tool like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check. If your site is outdated, consider a simple, clean redesign. A slow, clunky site hurts your rankings.
4. Use local keywords on your website Think about what your customers actually type into Google. Instead of just saying “we sell furniture,” say “we sell custom furniture in Des Moines, Iowa.” Use phrases like “Des Moines HVAC repair” or “Indianola bakery” on your homepage, in your page titles, and in your blog posts. This helps Google connect your business to local searches.
One more thing: backlinks You might have heard the term “backlinks.” Here’s what they are in plain English: a backlink is when another website links to your site. Think of it like a referral. If a trusted local blog or news site links to your business, Google sees that as a sign that you’re worth showing to searchers. The more high-quality, relevant backlinks you have, the higher you can rank.
That’s where BacklinkUSA.com comes in. We help Des Moines businesses get mentioned on trusted, high-authority websites. These are real, relevant sites that Google respects—not spammy link farms. When your business is mentioned there, it sends a clear signal that you’re a legitimate local business worth finding.
If you want to show up when your neighbors search for what you offer, start with the steps above. And if you’d like a hand with the backlinks part, we’re here to help.