How to Get Your Business Found Online in Covington, Washington
Covington, Washington, is one of those towns that feels like it’s growing up fast. With a population pushing 20,000 and a mix of new housing developments, small retail centers, and industrial parks along SE 272nd Street, there’s a solid base of local customers looking for everything from plumbers to pizza. But here’s the problem: most small businesses in Covington don’t show up when people search for them on Google.
Why? Because Google doesn’t automatically know your business exists. It finds you through signals—like your website, your reviews, and who links to you. Most Covington business owners skip those signals, so their customers end up finding a competitor in Kent or Maple Valley instead.
Here are four practical things you can do yourself to fix that.
1. Claim and Fill Out Your Google Business Profile
This is the single most important step. Go to Google.com, search for “Google Business Profile,” and claim your listing. Make sure your business name, address, phone number, and hours are correct. Add photos of your storefront, your team, and your work. If you’re a restaurant, add your menu. If you’re a contractor, add photos of recent jobs. Google uses this info to decide whether to show your business for local searches like “plumber Covington” or “coffee shop near me.”
2. Ask for Reviews (and Respond to Them)
Reviews are like word-of-mouth for Google. The more positive reviews you have, the more Google trusts you. Ask every happy customer to leave a review on your Google profile. Don’t offer discounts or gifts—that’s against the rules. Just ask. Then reply to every review, even the negative ones. A simple “Thanks, Mary—glad you liked the service” goes a long way.
3. Make Your Website Mobile-Friendly
Most people search for local businesses on their phones. If your website takes more than three seconds to load or looks squished on a small screen, people leave. Google notices that and ranks you lower. You can test your site for free using Google’s “Mobile-Friendly Test” tool. If it fails, ask your web developer to make it responsive.
4. Use Local Keywords on Your Site
Think about what your customers actually type into Google. Instead of “quality roofing services,” use “roof repair Covington WA.” Sprinkle that phrase naturally into your page titles, headings, and a few times in your content. Don’t stuff it in—just write normally but mention your location.
What Are Backlinks and Why Do They Matter?
Backlinks are links from other websites to yours. Think of them like referrals. When a trusted website—like the Covington Chamber of Commerce or a local news site—links to you, Google sees that as a vote of confidence. The more high-quality backlinks you have, the higher you can rank. It’s one of the strongest signals Google uses.
If you want to speed things up, BacklinkUSA.com publishes articles about local businesses on high-authority websites. That helps you earn those quality backlinks without having to chase them yourself.