You can be the best at what you do (the go-to salon, the most trusted insurance agent, the restaurant everyone raves about) but if people can’t find you when they’re ready to book, none of that matters as much as it should.
Warm referrals and word-of-mouth are amazing, but heading into 2026, people are searching first and deciding fast. I talk with business owners across Bloomington-Normal every week, and the same frustration keeps popping up: “We know we provide a great service. We just need more people to know we exist.”
The truth? Most local businesses are doing some marketing… but few are doing the kind that actually increases
visibility — the kind that gets you discovered by new customers who don’t already know your name. That’s exactly why I created
The Local Visibility Scorecard — a simple way to see where you’re strong, where you’re hidden, and how many customers you might be leaving on the table.
Below are the
8 pillars that influence whether your business is truly findable around town. Score yourself 1–5 in each section (5 = strong, 1 = needs attention). By the end, you’ll have a clear picture of your visibility — and your highest-impact next step.
Pillar 1: Google Business Profile (GBP)
If Bloomington-Normal residents search for what you do, does your business show up… or do they find someone else first? A complete, optimized Google Business Profile is one of the fastest, most effective ways to increase local visibility. Yet many local businesses still treat it like a “set it and forget it” listing, or they rely on outdated DIY tips that no longer work with Google’s algorithm.
Score yourself:
- 5 – Fully optimized with posts, services, photos, reviews weekly
- 3 – Updated occasionally; info mostly accurate
- 1 – Incomplete, outdated, or barely touched
Pillar 2: Your Website
Your website doesn’t need to be fancy — but it must be clear, current, mobile-friendly, and built to convert. If someone lands on your site from Google or social, can they quickly understand what you do, who you serve, and why choose you? Think of a homeowner in Normal looking for a roofer — if your website makes them dig for pricing, photos, and proof… they’re already gone.
Score yourself:
- 5 – Modern, mobile-friendly, loads fast, clear services + proof
- 3 – Decent but dated or missing key conversion pieces
- 1 – Outdated, cluttered, unclear, or slow
Pillar 3: Your Visuals (Brand Photography & Video)
People buy with their eyes first. If your photos look generic, inconsistent, or outdated… your audience feels it instantly. Whether you’re a salon in Bloomington, a local accountant, or a restaurant, your images should reflect who you are and why someone should want to choose you. Stock photos can’t do that.
Score yourself:
- 5 – Current brand photos, lifestyle shots, team images across platforms
- 3 – Mix of real + stock, needs updating
- 1 – Mostly stock, dark, outdated, or not aligned with brand
Pillar 4: Social Media Presence
Showing up consistently builds trust — but consistency doesn’t mean constant selling. Local audiences connect with real people, real stories, behind-the-scenes, and community involvement. If your last post was “Happy 4th of July!”… and it’s December… your audience notices.
Score yourself:
- 5 – Consistent, engaging, story-driven with community value
- 3 – Posting sometimes but not strategic
- 1 – Rare or no posting, or only promotional
Pillar 5: Online Reviews & Reputation
Reviews are often the deciding factor between
you
and the business down the street. People trust other people — especially locals. Imagine a family searching “best insurance agent Bloomington” — the agent with current, thoughtful reviews will win the call.
Score yourself:
- 5 – Strong review count + steady new reviews monthly
- 3 – Some reviews but inconsistent or outdated
- 1 – Low reviews, old reviews, or none
Pillar 6: Local Listings & Citations
This is the less glamorous part of visibility — but it matters. Your business info (name, address, phone, website) should match across the web. Inconsistent listings confuse search engines and reduce trust.
If you’ve moved locations, changed numbers, or DIY-added profiles over the years, this score may be lower than you think.
Score yourself:
- 5 – Accurate and consistent across 20+ listings
- 3 – Mostly consistent with a few gaps
- 1 – Outdated, mismatched, or incomplete
Pillar 7: Community Presence (Online + Offline)
Bloomington-Normal thrives on connection. People love supporting businesses that show up — at events, in partnerships, and through community engagement.
But here’s the shift: It’s not just about being involved … it’s about
being visible being involved.
Posting after events, tagging partners, and sharing community wins amplifies your brand.
Score yourself:
- 5 – Active locally + publicly showing it
- 3 – Involved but not leveraging visibility
- 1 – Not active or not visible
Pillar 8: Content & Searchability
Are you creating content that answers the questions people are Googling? Or are you relying on “hope marketing” — hoping people just find you? A local mortgage broker writing blogs about “How to Buy a Home in Normal, IL” will outperform someone posting generic national content every time.
Score yourself:
- 5 – Strategic, searchable content that attracts locals
- 3 – Posting content, but not optimized for search
- 1 – No searchable content or only sales posts
Your Score:
Add your numbers for all 8 pillars. Your total will fall into one of these:
35–40: You’re highly visible — keep going!
26–34: You’re findable, but missing growth opportunities
18–25: People are likely choosing competitors because they can’t find you
Under 18: Visibility overhaul needed — the good news is, small steps make a big impact fast
If your score surprised you… that’s normal.
Most business owners I meet score themselves lower than expected — not because they’re “doing it wrong,” but because visibility today requires more than old-school marketing advice or scattered DIY efforts.
The good news? You don’t need to fix everything at once. One small improvement in the right pillar can create a ripple effect that increases traffic, leads, and customers.
Ready to See Where Your Biggest Visibility Wins Are?
I offer a limited number of
free Local Visibility Check sessions each month — just enough to support the businesses I can genuinely serve well.
During this meeting, we’ll:
• Score your visibility together
• Identify your top 2–3 opportunities
• Share simple fixes you can apply right away
This is not a sales call — it’s a clarity call. You’ll leave with value whether we work together or not.
Reserve your spot Today!
