Posts Tagged ‘Local Search Engine Optimization’

Reach a Local Audience Through Online Marketing

Tuesday, December 27th, 2011

User interest changes at the same pace as web trends, as the two are relevant in terms of consistency. When online users tend to search for key phrases more frequently than others, websites and businesses change their online strategies to adapt. One thing that you can expect from web marketing trends is how to reach your specific audience during the holiday season. As consumers are turning toward products and services more during the holidays, there are a few ways you can reach a more localized
audience through online marketing.

Be specific with your products and what region they are readily available. Of course, the wonders of the internet allow you to connect to a global market, but sometimes that just isn’t possible for what you offer. Include local keywords to your region so that people close to you can easily find your products and services when searching. Likewise, you can use the Google Merchant feature to blend in with local competitors and offers web users an option for buying locally.

Use the names of holidays to relate to your customers on a more personal level. The generic term “holiday” may seem more politically correct from a broad standpoint, but your customers will probably use words like “Christmas,” “Hanukkah” or “Kwanza” when looking for specific deals on products. Include any terms that may be relevant to your region, making sure you reach a full potential of local consumers.

Offer special deals on in-store or localized products and services. Encourage people to visit your location during the holidays, because your store is one of your best marketing tools. Customers still enjoy shopping in a brick and mortar store because they can try out products before they buy. There’s no denying the power of Internet superstores, but face-to-face customer service wins in many areas. Advertise your deals on your website to engage customers, boosting your holiday reach.

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The Rise of Local SEO Means the Death of Yellow Pages and Newspapers

Friday, June 10th, 2011

Using the Internet has gotten easier. The “World Wide Web” can now be used as the “What’s Down the Street Web” to help promote even the smallest, local businesses.

What does this mean for business owners? Quite a bit, actually.

1. Develop a Website. Believe it, or not, there are still some companies without a Website. Companies need a Web presence to display their products and services.

2. Add local flair. Use important, relevant keywords and content that can be found by local searches. ie – Portland landscaper, New York City limo service, etc.

3. Promote! Promote! Promote! Use every social media tool available to get the info out.

4. Make sure the updates and info contains local info all over the place – hours of operation, address, phone numbers, contact names, etc.

5. Register locally with directories like Superpages, YellowPages.com, MSN Local, Google Local and CitySearch, which are far more popular than that hefty book you’ve got laying around somewhere.

Courtesy of Si1very Flickr.com

Courtesy of Si1very Flickr.com

It’s a fact that when people need information, they search for it quickly online. Search engines have become one of the primary ways that people find products and services right in their hometown. The yellow pages and newspaper listings are becoming a figment of our imagination. Consumers even use the Internet in search of restaurants and shopping districts. This growing trend increases the need for small local business owners to master this thing called “local search.”

Local SEO will help drive more customers and more revenue if used properly by incorporating it into the company Website and blog. An active online presence is a must in order to be known by customers who use the Internet.

Companies need to do everything to be found online in their city, community, neighborhood and state. Consumers always want what’s new and exciting. Because of this, companies must be willing to evolve by becoming more creative in following its customers. Local search engine optimization allows companies to connect with customers easier because it allows the Website to be recognized online.

The world’s going local. Companies need to adapt to the local search changes, or watch their competitor quickly rise.

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Do the Latest AdWords Changes Signal a Shift in Google’s Local Internet Advertising Strategy?

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

479037731_09bc20477f_mThere hasn’t been much information coming out of the usually-bustling Google AdWords department, but a recent announcement makes up for that lull in local Internet advertising news. The latest AdWords feature is something that could greatly impact the way many may want to approach local Internet advertising. The new feature is called “location extensions,” and it lets business owners attach their address to their local Internet advertising campaigns.

So why is tacking on addresses so important to local Internet advertising? This latest feature lets businesses set up ad campaigns that will link their individual ads to several local addresses. Say you’re a woodworker who makes furniture that’s sold in stores across the country. With location extensions, you’ll be able to match your brand or company name to every address that sells your product. Now, when a consumer sees your ad on their computer or mobile device, Google’s local search feature will match your closest business location to their location. So if you sell furniture in a Miami store, and a user is in Miami, they’ll be given the address to the Miami store that stocks your goods—even if your company headquarters is in Seattle.

This is all a part of Google’s attempt to merge their local and national AdWords. It looks like, overall, Google wants to make AdWords simpler and more streamlined. For now, AdWords claims that local ads aren’t going anywhere, but it will be interesting to see whether or not this is an early step in rearranging the AdWords delivery system.

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