How to Get Your Business Found Online in Reading, Pennsylvania
Reading, Pennsylvania has a population of about 95,000 people, and its economy has long been tied to manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics. But if you own a small business here—whether it’s a bakery on Penn Street, a HVAC company near the Fairgrounds, or a law firm in the downtown area—you’ve probably noticed something frustrating: your customers are searching for what you offer on Google, but they’re not finding you.
Why? Because most small businesses in Reading don’t show up on the first page of Google. And if you’re not on that first page, you might as well be invisible.
The Problem: You’re Competing with Bigger Players
The main reason Reading businesses struggle on Google is simple: the search engine favors businesses that have set up their online presence correctly. Many local owners skip the basics. They don’t claim their Google Business Profile, they ignore customer reviews, or their website looks like it was built in 2005. Google notices these things and pushes them down the list. The result? Your potential customers end up calling a competitor who did the work.
4 Things You Can Do Yourself Today
1. Claim and Complete Your Google Business Profile This is free and it’s the single most important step. Go to Google Business Profile, claim your business, and fill out every field: address, phone number, hours, services, and photos. If you’re a restaurant in Reading, add pictures of your dishes. If you’re a plumber, show your truck and tools. Google rewards completeness.
2. Ask for Reviews (and Respond to Them) Reviews are like word-of-mouth on steroids. After you serve a customer, ask them to leave a review on Google. Even five or ten good reviews can make a big difference. And when you get a review—good or bad—reply to it. That tells Google you’re active and trustworthy.
3. Make Sure Your Website Works on Phones Most people in Reading search for businesses on their phones. If your site is slow, hard to read, or buttons are too small to tap, people will leave. Google knows this and won’t show your site to mobile users. Use a tool like Google’s Mobile-Friendly Test to check.
4. Use Local Keywords on Your Website If you run a roofing company, don’t just say “roofing services.” Say “roofing services in Reading, Pennsylvania” or “roof repair near West Reading.” Put these phrases in your page titles, headings, and descriptions. It helps Google connect your business to local searchers.
What Are Backlinks (and Why Do They Matter)?
Think of backlinks like recommendations from other websites. If a local news site, a chamber of commerce, or a community blog links to your website, Google sees that as a vote of confidence. The more quality recommendations you have, the more Google trusts your site and shows it higher in results. But not all links are equal—links from respected, relevant sites matter most.
How BacklinkUSA.com Can Help
If you want to rank higher in Reading, you need more than just the basics. You need other reputable websites talking about your business and linking to you. That’s what BacklinkUSA.com does—we publish articles about businesses on high-authority websites to help them earn those valuable backlinks. If you’re ready to get found by more local customers, check us out.