Going Local: 4 Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most out of Local Search

Marketers cannot ignore the rising
importance of local search. If you can work to strengthen your organic and local search rankings,
you'll be in a fantastic place relative to your competitors in 2012. To drive this point home, try writing these stats down and posting them in your workspace. 

• Local search is growing rapidly, expected to increase as much as 10% per year through to 2015.
• 80% of all searches on smartphones are for local services and products.

If you're unsure of where to begin, check out these 5 tips and tricks for making your way into the local search game:

1. Review Your SEO

Ensure that your website incorporates long-tail and location-specific keywords that unite your business type and location, with a special location page assigned to each location (if you have more than one).

2. Build Your Local Profiles...and Update Them

This includes Google Places, review sites, Yellow Pages, or any directory or search engines. By ensuring accurate, up-to-date and consistent information in all of your local profiles, you're setting yourself up for increased exposure in local search results. As time goes on, continue to update your profiles (even with information like running promotions, for example).

3. Don't Forget Your Customers

Have lots of satisfied customers? Get them to speak out for you by providing reviews online. User-generated content like reviews affirm your business credibility to search engines, and will help your rank in local search results.

4. Include Visuals

Visuals, including videos, are enticing to visitors and search engines alike, and they help to boost conversion rates. Try including a image of your store, if applicable, or members of your customer service team (if they're willing!).

If you're looking for additional tips on improving your local search rankings, check out Kevin Gibbons' post in Search Engine Watch.

Posted by Nicole Capelo at February 17, 2012 4:30 PM

Comments