Tweet

Optimizing Your Website For Local Searchers

Written by: Frank

Article Overview: Most website owners optimize their website for targeted keyword phrases but many miss out on one of the most effective methods of website optimization - local search optimization. Basically, this involves adding keywords targeted to your local region, city, town or area to your website optimization plan.

Optimizing Your Website For Local Searchers

Most website owners optimize their website for targeted keyword phrases but many miss out on one of the most effective methods of website optimization - local search optimization. Basically, this involves adding keywords targeted to your local region, city, town or area to your website optimization plan. You'll have the added benefit of less competition for localized keywords and phrases since you will only be competing against local competitors, as opposed to worldwide competitors when you optimize your website for general keyword phrases.

Local search optimization can be especially effective for local businesses with a website who also have a brick and mortar store or office. Many searchers, when looking to buy services, will type in their town, city name, county or state name or abbreviation before or after a keyword. For instance, Alice Green from Long Beach, California, is looking for contractors in her area to give her estimates on remodeling her bathroom. Alice goes to Google and types in "long beach contractors" or "contractors long beach california". She may also use her region, for example, "southern california contractors" or "contractors los angeles county". As you can see, there are many possible opportunities for local search optimization.

Here are some tips to help you optimize your site for local searchers:

- Research your keyword phrases carefully and don't forget to consider the city, state, town, region, county, neighborhood, zip code, area code and even local larger cities and towns in the area.
- Once you have your local keywords, put them in front of or after your general keywords, like this:
long beach contractors
los angeles contractors
southern california contractors
los angeles county contractors
contractors orange county
contractors 90745
- Consider including singulars and plurals as well as common misspellings.
- Use free online keyword research tools to build and refine your keyword list and to make sure you are targeting phrases that actually get searched on a regular basis. It's a waste of time to target phrases that no one uses.
- Add the local search phrases to your site by adding them to your page title, file names, links, alternate image text and, most importantly, integrating them into your text content on the page.
- For online businesses that don't have a brick and mortar counterpart, create a special area on your site just for local searchers and optimize those pages for those customers.
- For online businesses with a brick and mortar store or office, don't forget to place your phone number and address prominently on your website, so local searchers can contact you easily.
- Be sure you are listed on all local search engines, directories and yellow pages for your area. Almost every state has one or more state search engines. Many local areas have their own directories as well.
- When submitting to the Yahoo Directory or DMOZ.org, be sure to submit to their regional categories.
- Lastly, try to obtain links from other local businesses, visit your local Chamber Of Commerce or their website for help.

Optimizing your website for local searchers is an excellent way to promote your website and it should be a part of most webmaster's promotion campaigns.

About The Author

Frank Stoczko writes for goSEOpro (www.goSEOpro.com),an Internet Marketing and Website Promotion company offering Search Engine Optimization (SEO), Search Engine Marketing (SEM) and Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaign management solutions designed especially for professionals and small business owners who require high impact, quick results and value-based pricing.

Related Articles
  Local Search Continuing To Gain Steam
  11 Ways a Local Website Can be a Help for Local Businesses
  First Page Of Google; And How It Can Be The Best Help For Local Business
  Significance of Local SEO
  Significance of Local SEO

Article Tags:



Related Forum Posts
Re: what position to request? - Hi Michael, Great suggestion from David, or you could try something around a design consultancy, How about Website Design Consultant, Design and Development Manager, Website Support and Development Manager or maybe Internet Business Development Consultant. Ultimately whatever you are comfortable with and good luck for the future, Mal.
Chain store hurdles - [quote:3v8nzz4s]Everyone I'm targeting are independent stores which helps me overcome one hurdle. [/quote:3v8nzz4s] What hurdle is that? I know the major stores like B&N, etc. like to deal with buyers and distributors, but I think they all cut some slack to "Local" authors, don't they? Every store I go into has its "Local Section," featuring local authors, as well as books about the locality. I wouldn't bypass them altogether. If you drive past one, why not go in and visit, talk to the manager, see what they say? [quote:3v8nzz4s]Bookstores want to order through Bowkers and I have their info and the ISBN (identification) numbers for my books. [/quote:3v8nzz4s] You mean the major chain ones do, right? Independent stores I think have no problem dealing directly with the publisher/author. But you want to get your money up front if possible in case they go out of business....as too many independents do these days.
Re: Google Local Tutorial - Free Online Advertising - You have done a good job on the tutorial and thanks a million for the information, I have never known about Google Local before. I will implement it immedaitely
Re: Search Engine Optimization - As an Internet marketing strategy, SEO considers how search engines work, what people search for, the actual search terms typed into search engines and which search engines are preferred by their targeted audience. Optimizing a website may involve editing its content and HTML and associated coding to both increase its relevance to specific keywords and to remove barriers to the indexing activities of search engines.
Re: How can I promote my site? - I recently added my details to Google Places. Is that the same as a Google Local Business Listing?


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Tweet

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Let's Skip the Offshore Horror Stories

Listen to Your Inner Melody

Are You My Mentor

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.