How to Get Your Business Found Online in Des Moines, Washington
If you run a business in Des Moines, Washington, you already know the area is growing. The city sits right on Puget Sound, with a population that’s climbed past 32,000 people. You’ve got the marina, the farmers market, and a mix of small shops and service businesses that make this place work. But here’s the problem: even if you have the best coffee shop, plumbing service, or dental practice in town, your customers might never find you online.
Most small businesses in Des Moines struggle to show up on Google for a simple reason: they’re not doing the basic things Google looks for. Google wants to send people to businesses that are local, active, and trustworthy. If you don’t check those boxes, you’re invisible. The good news? You can fix this yourself with a few straightforward steps.
1. Claim and fill out your Google Business Profile
This is the single most important thing you can do. Go to Google Business Profile (it’s free) 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, post your menu. If you’re a contractor, show before-and-after shots. Google uses this info to decide if your business is real and relevant.
2. Ask for reviews—and respond to them
Reviews are like word-of-mouth for the internet. When a customer has a good experience, ask them to leave a review on your Google profile. Don’t be shy. Then, reply to every review—good or bad. A quick “Thanks, Sarah, glad we could help” shows Google you’re engaged. More reviews and responses mean higher rankings.
3. Make sure your website works on a phone
Most people search for businesses on their phones. If your site takes forever to load or looks weird on a small screen, people leave. Google notices that and drops your ranking. Test your site on your own phone. If it’s clunky, talk to your web designer about making it mobile-friendly.
4. Use local keywords naturally
Think about what someone in Des Moines would type into Google. “Best fish and chips in Des Moines” or “plumber near Des Moines marina.” Use those exact phrases in your website copy, your service pages, and your blog posts. Don’t stuff them in—just use them where they make sense.
Now, a word about backlinks. A backlink is simply a link from another website to yours. Google sees backlinks as votes of confidence. If a local news site or a chamber of commerce links to your business, Google thinks, “This business must be worth knowing about.” That helps you rank higher. But not all links are equal. Links from trusted, local websites matter most.
At BacklinkUSA.com, we help Des Moines businesses get those kinds of links. We publish articles about local businesses on high-authority websites, which tells Google your business is worth finding. If you’d like to learn more, check out our site.