Why do competitors come up higher in local search results while you struggle to get your business to even appear in the listings? How can you get back in the game? Check to see if you're making one — or more — of the seven common mistakes.

Mistake #1: Local words are missing from your website. Include your city — even your neighborhood — in text on every page, especially your home page.

Mistake #2: Only using a toll-free number. Also include a local number.

Mistake #3: Misspellings. If you're using keywords or typing in tags or business profiles for search directories...be accurate! Example: If "attorney" becomes "attroney" or "Chicago" becomes "Chigago" search engines will have a hard time finding you.

Mistake #4: Leaving words out. If you are a plumber for example, make sure you include a variety of keywords that people could use to find you. So in addition to using the word plumber, it would be good to mention leaky pipes, clogged drains, and other terms that people may use when they are in need of plumbing services. Think about your own business, and what others might search for if they are looking for your type of business.

Mistake #5: Not using your company name. Check your web copy — many sites use "we" so much that the actual name of the company doesn't appear in the text at all.

Mistake #6: Not describing specifically what you do. You'll want to use all the types of words and/or phrases that describe your business throughout your website. But also consider what your customers call you and how they might classify your business.

Mistake #7: Not getting the most from your page tags. To create more searchable tags, include your company name or the problem you solve, your location and specific words about the content on each page.

Local Success Take-Away: It will cost you little — if anything — to fix these seven common mistakes, yet taking care of these seemingly small details can have a big impact on search visibility — and profitability! And remember, if you need a fresh start with your website, Local.com is here to help.

Resource:  Local.com