How to Get Your Business Found Online in Brookings, South Dakota
Brookings is a town that knows how to work. Home to South Dakota State University, Daktronics, and a growing mix of manufacturing, healthcare, and agribusiness, this city of about 24,000 people has a strong local economy. But here’s the thing: when someone in Brookings searches for "pizza delivery near me" or "plumber in Brookings," most small businesses in town don't show up on Google. They get buried under national chains or companies from Sioux Falls.
Why? Because Google doesn't know they exist.
Here’s how to fix that — without hiring an expensive agency or learning a bunch of confusing terms.
Why Most Brookings Businesses Don't Show Up
Google ranks businesses based on signals. If your website is old, your address is inconsistent across the web, or you have no online reviews, Google assumes you’re not a serious option. Most small business owners in Brookings are too busy running their business to worry about this stuff. But the result is the same: customers can’t find you.
4 Things You Can Do Yourself
1. Claim your Google Business Profile This is free and takes 20 minutes. Go to google.com/business, add your business name, address, phone number, and hours. Pick the right category (like "Pizza restaurant" or "HVAC contractor"). Add a few photos of your shop or your work. This is the single fastest way to show up in local searches.
2. Ask for reviews — and reply to them When a customer is happy, ask them to leave a review on Google. Even 5-10 reviews will put you ahead of most local competitors. And when someone leaves a review, reply to it — even if it’s just "Thanks, Mary!" Google notices you’re active.
3. Make sure your website works on a phone Most people in Brookings search on their phone while driving or sitting at home. If your site is slow, hard to read, or buttons don’t work on a small screen, people leave. You can test this yourself on your own phone.
4. Use local words on your website Don’t just say "We sell roofing." Say "We offer roofing services in Brookings, South Dakota." Use the names of neighborhoods, streets, and nearby towns like Volga or Aurora. This helps Google connect you to local searches.
What Are Backlinks? (Simple Explanation)
A backlink is when another website links to yours. Think of it like a referral. If the Brookings Chamber of Commerce links to your site, Google sees that as a sign you’re trustworthy. The more quality referrals you get from local or industry websites, the higher you can rank.
How We Help
At BacklinkUSA.com, we publish articles about local businesses on high-authority websites. This creates those helpful backlinks that tell Google your business is worth showing to customers in Brookings. If you’d like to learn more, check out our website.