How to Get Your Business Found Online in Eau Claire, Wisconsin
If you run a business in Eau Claire, you already know this town is growing. The population has climbed past 70,000, and with UW-Eau Claire, Mayo Clinic Health System, and a thriving craft brewery scene, there’s real money moving through the local economy. But here’s the problem: if someone searches for “pizza near me” or “plumber Eau Claire” on Google, your business might not show up at all.
Most small businesses in Eau Claire struggle to appear in local search results for one simple reason: Google doesn’t know they exist. You might have a great shop on Water Street or a solid service business serving the Chippewa Valley, but if Google can’t find clear, consistent information about you, it won’t show your name to customers.
The good news? You don’t need to be a tech expert to fix this. Here are four things you can do yourself.
1. Claim and fill out your Google Business Profile
This is the single most important step. Go to google.com/business and claim your listing. Make sure your business name, address, phone number, and hours are exactly the same everywhere online. Add photos of your storefront, your team, and your work. Google trusts businesses that look real and active.
2. Ask for reviews and respond to them
Reviews are like gold for local rankings. After you finish a job or serve a customer, politely ask if they’d leave a Google review. When you get one, always reply—even if it’s just “Thanks, Mary!” This tells Google you’re engaged with your customers.
3. Make sure your website works on phones
More than half of local searches happen on a phone. If your site takes more than three seconds to load or looks tiny on a mobile screen, people will leave—and Google will notice. Test your site on your own phone. If it’s hard to read or click, call a web designer.
4. Use local words on your website
Don’t just say “we sell roofing.” Say “roofing contractor serving Eau Claire and Altoona.” Mention nearby neighborhoods, local landmarks, and phrases like “Eau Claire plumber” or “Chippewa Valley bakery.” Google uses these local keywords to match you with nearby searchers.
What about backlinks?
Backlinks are simply links from other websites to yours. Think of them as word-of-mouth recommendations for the internet. When a trusted local site—like the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce or a local news site—links to your business, Google sees that as a sign you’re legitimate. The more quality backlinks you have, the higher you can rank.
That’s where BacklinkUSA.com comes in. We publish articles about local businesses on high-authority websites, helping you earn those valuable backlinks so more customers in Eau Claire can find you.