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Top 5 Local Search Optimization Tips

Posted on 20. Aug, 2009 by Pete Hollier in Local Search Optimization, Search Optimization

Local Search Engine Optimization

Search Optimization for Local Search offers business owners an effective method to increase awareness of your business to local customers. Increasingly local businesses are obtaining reasonable rankings for more generic keywords in the local search results of the major Search Engines. These results of course do not happen by themselves, implementing a Local Search Engine Optimization program is necessary. The investment into your Local Search Optimization program will have a positive long term result for your business by increasing web site traffic, walk in traffic and phone calls, in other words more business.

I generally prefer Organic Search Optimization as opposed to Pay Per Click Campaigns. Lets face it, when considering the power of local search for business an initial investment into an Organic Search program can offer long term results as apposed the ongoing budget requirements of a Pay Per Click campaign.

That’s not to say I would not use PPC in a local search campaigns, I am saying Pay Per Click will not be the only web promotion component but part of an overall program. Ideally a local program should be no different than any other web promotion program and utilize all tools available to promote and improve your business’s visibility and therefore use Organic Optimization, PPC and the powerful local opportunities of Social Media Marketing.

Why Local Search is Improving

The major Search Engines are taking more interest in local listings. Local consumers are using a range of online web sites and tools to find the services and products they require. Search Engines are aware of this and are further refining their Algorithms to account for local Search.

Search Engines are beginning to consider generic keywords such as: doctors, lawyers and restaurants as being important to local search results and relevancy. Search Engines consider when localized terms are included in a search request the person looking is attempting to find local service providers. Therefore, local searches for generic high search volume keywords are now becoming useful to smaller businesses in local markets.

The second part of the equation is through IP identification. Search Engines are able to determine the IP address the search request has been placed from and determines within reason the actual location of of the searcher’s computer and delivers results which are in a similar geographic location.

Local Search Techniques

In principle the techniques used to optimize a web site for local search are similar to those used in Organic Search Engine Optimization however, there are some important steps which are specific to Local Search

Top 5 Local Search Optimization Tasks

1.	Register your business with Google , Yahoo and Bing local business registry. Registering and verifying your business details with the major Search Engines indicates the authenticity of your Local Business Listing and location to the Search Engines.
2.	Develop links from numerous Local Directories, Newspapers and Web Sites: Search Engines evaluate the inbound links to your web site. Creating a network of local sites which include your keyword and location in Anchor text sends the right signals to the Search Engine ensuring they consider your web site an important element of the region in which your business operates. Contact Details are Important: The business contact details should be included with Business Name Street Address City, Province / State, Country Postal and Zip Codes Local Phone and Fax numbers These details should be included on pages such as Contact, About and Home. Although in some cases Search Engines ignore links in Footers due their heavy use for SEO purposes it is recommended you include a footer with the contact details above on all web pages within the site.
3.	Landing Pages: Develop location specific Landing Pages for multiple locations if your business operated in many different markets. Ensure the landing pages offer contact information relevant to the location and embedding a Google Map into the web page is often effective to getting your business listed in Google 10 Pack which are the pins on the Google Map in local Search Results Pages
4.	Be sure to integrate your geographic and product/services keywords into the Landing page’s content, H1, H2 tags, and of course the META tags title and description.
5.	Information Consistency: A part of the Local Optimization program you will be registering with many sites like Yelp and Super Pages to name a couple. The information primarily contact and location information and the products and services provided must be consistent through out your online Network.

The Last Word

Local Search is a powerful tool and offers many advantages for companies targeting local markets. The Search Engine Algorithms are evolving towards providing users with the most relevant Search results possible. To do this Search Engines have determined many keywords indicate a local interest. Understanding the importance and benefits of local search is the first step to improving the visibility of your business. Completing a local Search Optimization Campaign is the second.

Of course there is more to developing an effective local search campaign than these 5 Local Search Engine Optimization Tips but these tips do provide you with the foundation to get your program started.

Need Local SEO Help?

Seo Wizardry is excited about the benefits and accessibility of local search for business’s. In the past Search Engine Optimization has been an expensive proposition which was out of reach of many small local business’s. Local Search changes this, effective Local Organic Search Optimization program is much more affordable than the competitive national or global markets. Beat your competition in the local search arena Initiate Your Local Optimization Program by contacting Seo Wizardry now. You will be surprised at how affordable Local SEO can be.

Written by: pete@seowizardry.ca a Search Engine Optimization Consultant

Want to use this content on your web site? If you would like to use this article on your web site please contact pete@seowizardry.ca for an html version. All I request is you provide Pete Hollier and Seo Wizardry with a reference to this article and provide a link back to www.seowizardry.ca

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