Local Search Optimization

As we all know, more competition means more challenging and so does broader coverage. Therefore local search optimization is not as challenging as broader categories – but it still has its own challenges. Many of the same SEO rules still apply to local search engine optimization, but because of the improvements done on the search engines for the past 3 years with the interaction of social, it has become far simpler than we thought.

Basics of Local Search Optimization

Be Everywhere That Matters: From Google Places to local directories, local links and user citations are the primary influencers of high rankings for geo-specific terms. Local users go deep for information, so even small, low-volume destinations can result in quality links. They may not deliver that much traffic individually, but a few links from relevant blogs can get your business name and website address a long way on the search result pages including local community pages.

Ask for Reviews: If you’re a local business and are not collecting reviews, you should start considering to ask your customers to write reviews for your business since a lot of locals count on reviews and so do search engines especially for local search listings. After all, search engines rely on content, and in the eyes of search engines today there is no more reliable signal than the presence of reviews. You don’t just need to ask for reviews here and there, you should consider making it part of either your business processes or put a marketing campaign. If you run a video game rental place, offer 20 percent off your patron’s next visit for a review? You don’t need hundreds of reviews, but in order to remain fresh and relevant, your review assets do need to be constantly appended.

Set Up a Schedule: It sounds simple, but ask any local business owner when was the last time they checked their position on the search results pages for keywords and phrases relevant to their business. The answer will likely be “it’s been a while”. Setting up a schedule to monitor position and the impact of individual promotions, just like spending time delivering paychecks to your employees, is a necessary function of business.

Original article by Peter A. Prestipino at Website Magazine