Archive for January, 2010

January 30th, 2010

Enhance Your Business with Search Engine Optimization for Local Business

Google Local Searches – Local Business SEO

Local SEO search results goals for both local business listings and general listings are accomplished through natural or un-paid (”organic”) methods. Optimizing a web site’s pages primarily involves creating or editing a web site’s page content, Markup language and associated coding to both increase its relevance to specific keywords that a targeted market may search for and to remove barriers (Critical coding errors) to the website indexing activities of search engines.

Small business owners are leaving good money on the table. It is because many of them are still unaware of the enormous growth that their local small businesses could get if they implement online local search marketing. Many small businesses are missing the benefits of local search marketing.

There’s a change going on in the consumer’s market today, so small businesses must catch up to take advantage of the search marketing paradigm shift. Still a lot of local small businesses don’t know how to take advantage of the power tools that local search engine marketing has to offer. Local search marketing online does not only deliver increased revenue to your business, but it is also cost effective compared to offline methods. Small business local search marketing is so easy to implement because of the technology now available on the Internet. Let’s take a look at some online local search marketing ideas to get started:

Local Search Engine Marketing. Every search engine is trying to develop algorithms that cater to searches locally. Many of the internet searches are mostly for local information. If you have a restaurant business, you can put your business name to a local Google map. You can also do an online business card. These search engine tactics will make your business name appear in the local search results online every time a person within your community will query for restaurants around your city. Google map will show your restaurant’s name, where it’s located, and how to get there. On the other hand, your online business card will show all your contact details.

Take advantage of the online Yellow Pages. Yellowpages.com.au and white pages.com.au is the two most popular websites in Australia to get your business listed in. There are also local directory websites that offer enlisting services, some are free and some are paid. To keep expenses low, you can easily take advantage of free listing but if you have some cash to spare, you can take advantage of paid listings to get prominent positions in the list. This will boost your visibility and help your local online marketing succeed.

Social media websites are growing fast. By connecting to people, they will likely to recognise your business better. Go where the crowd is. However when doing social media marketing, you must avoid spamming. It’s like being noisy in a room full of people and eventually they will get annoyed with you. You have to interact with would-be customers because people don’t like impersonal queries in general. Be personal in presenting your products and services.

These are just a few local search marketing techniques and ideas in the internet. If this is done properly and systematically, you will experience dramatic growth in your business.

January 29th, 2010

Online Research Makes Use of Local Searches

Google Local Searches – Online Research

Today a large number of searches fall into the category of local searches. If you’re targeting a local geographical area, you’ll want to get in on the local search action. As small business are becoming aware of the Geo targeted online advertising value and making use of Google Maps and PPC (Pay Per Click) where one can now Geo target selected ads.

Local searches are steadily making use of online research about products and services before going to purchase locally. As web searches seek information of products and services available locally means suppliers locally can gain an advantage. Access to the internet through iPhones and mobile phones combined with local online maps and GPS locations for local searches to find them.

When internet searches have completed their online research, they maybe compelled to have the product now. Giving competition to the cheaper online stores that may not be able to give instant gratification to those wanting the product or service right now.

Most of web 2.0 local listing is free to list with, including Google maps. Now would be a good time to plan and implement your local marketing online plan & what your services can offer local market.

January 29th, 2010

Sign Up Your Business to Google Local Listings

Google Local Business Listings are different than organic or pay-per-click listings and typically only show up when the user types a service oriented business followed by the city for their internet search. At this point a Google Maps appears alongside up to ten URLs with a phone number by each.

There are a number of simple steps that can be taken by the small business owner and entrepreneur to get additional traffic to their website and new prospects buying products. Submit your local business to Google Local Business Center. You can begin to see immediate results after doing this.

Here are a few:

  • Google will give your site more authority because they know it is a real business, giving you better search engine ranking for your keywords.
  • Add your website to Google Maps so potential customers can instantly find out more about you. One of the hottest new ways to find local businesses right now is through Google Maps.
  • Insert specific keywords into your business description. For example if you’re a financial planner, you can add retirement specialist, CFP®, CPA, wealth management, annuity specialist…etc to your title. This will give you a leg up on those who just have their name.
  • Better control the information including name, phone, number, address, and hours of operation.
  • Add any certifications you have next to your name. For example, you could be listed as John Smith CFP® or John Smith Ph.D.
  • Google allows you to see how customers are finding you via Google Dashboard. For example, you’re able to know if a customer came from Google Maps of Google search and the keywords that were typed in. This will allow you to optimize your marketing efforts.
  • Add a picture of your office, which will appear in Google Maps, so new customers can identify your building. This will make it easier for customers to find you.
  • Allows customers to review and rate your services.
  • It has an infinite ROI because it’s free.

Monitor how people are finding your website. The more information you know, the better you can optimize your marketing efforts. Just remember to always include your phone number whenever you write a description of your company on a third party website. Make sure your local business listing is complete. Use keywords in your local business listing description and make it as long as Google allows. If you have local competitors that are ranking well with the Google Local Business listings take the time to look at their local business listings.

Sign your local business up for an account today. All it will take is 15 minutes out of your day.