Local SEO is very similar to global SEO in that it too is an ad-centric method affecting the rankings of a site or a page in the paid results of a search engine called the “organic” or “unpaid” results, more often referred to as the “Google Places” listing. Global SEO is often thought of as being the method of choice for business owners seeking high-paying placements in Google’s organic listing. However, local SEO gives webmasters a distinct advantage. This is because a local search is focused on a particular geographical area or certain areas within a city or town. Consequently, there are usually more local businesses listed in Google Places than global businesses.
Because the listings are local and targeted, they are also more likely to show up in the first two pages of a Google search. This is why optimizing a local business for Google Places is important. For example, if a user types in “Wine and Dine at X,” a search for a location in X, California, would return results for a variety of local businesses in X only. However, if the searcher were looking for a restaurant in X, the resulting search would include not just a place to eat but also other information about the place such as hours of operation, pictures, reviews, etc.
If a webmaster is able to incorporate local search engine techniques into his overall internet marketing plan, he will be able to draw in more visitors and have them stay longer. These visitors will have a higher chance of converting into new customers and sales. A good local SEO plan should include optimizing websites for specific cities and keywords. Additionally, online advertising services can be utilized to help get local businesses listed high in the paid results of a search engine like Google.
The success of a local SEO campaign depends on the targeted audience that is being targeted. This can be achieved by conducting market research and focusing on the interests of the local audience. For instance, a pizza shop in an urban environment will have a different set of customers than a pizza shop in the suburbs. In addition, the online presence of brick-and-mortar businesses can increase when the social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook are employed.
While there are some basic requirements for a successful Local SEO campaign, there are a few features that are unique to this type of marketing. One such feature is the use of a phone number rather than a listed street address. Local SEO efforts often require contact information for at least one individual that is responsible for answering customer inquiries. In addition, many campaigns offer a way for users to find information about the company online. The most common forms of these online resources are a phone number or a link to a website where additional information regarding the company can be found.
Another feature of Local SEO involves the use of local search engine optimization techniques. A business name is entered into a search box in order to locate specific products or services that a user might be looking for. The business name is entered into the search field rather than the actual street address since search boxes usually limit the amount of available results to those streets that are within a certain distance of the business name. The business name is entered in place of the business name in the search engine so that when the user clicks on the search box, the name of the business is sent to the search algorithm instead of the street address. In order for a Local SEO campaign to work, the number of incoming links from other websites must be high enough to make it onto the first page of the search result pages.
Additionally, many of the online searchers who use Local SEO campaigns are not searching for a particular product or service but searching for information within one specific geographic area. As an example, if a searcher was searching for local services such as an auto mechanic, he or she would likely type in the city or area in which he or she wanted the person that will be working on his or her vehicle. If that searcher were to include the city in the location field, the results would more likely be targeted towards vehicles within the city he or she lives in.
Google maps is another tool that can be used with Local SEO. Google Maps allows users to enter their location and then brings up various map and street view options depending on whether the searcher is searching for Google Maps outside of their own area or one within the area. With these maps, a business can display its services close to where the consumer is in order to attract more attention and generate more business. As more people turn to the internet for their various needs, the importance of targeting local keywords will only grow in importance.