If most of your business comes from local shoppers along with other local businesses, or in case you are trying to increase your local market share, there is a few stuff you can certainly do that will enhance your chances of being found on local searche.
For instance, when someone Googles "Local Search", there are lots of ways search engines display results - how can you make your website can be found in those local results?
These easy tasks are the top five things I do when helping small businesses compete for traffic online.
1. Claim Local Listings
By just claiming your local listing in Google Places or Bing Local Listing Center, you may have more control over the way your company is displayed and what keyword search terms will trigger your site to show up in the results. Once you claim your listing, you are able to enter your business categories (hint: use your top keywords as categories).
In case your business has various locations, you can also upload the addresses to other business locations. And you can post coupons and specials through Google Places, as well as pay for sponsored ads.
2. Use Local Keywords on Your Webpage Title Tags
Within the HTML of your website are title tags for each of your pages. Inserting keywords such as "Local Search" in your title tags can really help search engines determine where you are located, and therefore, rank your site for searches in your location.
3. List Your Business (and address) on Directories & Review Websites
Setup your business profile in local directories like SuperPages.com, CitySearch.com, Local.com and review websites like Yelp and Angie's List.
Getting your address and business profile on websites such as these indicates to search engines that your business is in the city/state that you simply say it is in. It is good to have links back for your websites, if possible, but even if the directories don't link back to your site, the citations about your business still play a factor.
4. Utilize a Local Phone Number
Local Search Engines can tell where you are by your area code, and place a lot more importance on your phone number if it is consistent along the web.
5. Ask Clients/Customers to Rate Your Products/Services Online
When you have set up your profiles on business review sites, ask your customers if they could rate your products or services, or fill out the Google Places review with a excellent testimonial. Make it easy for them, by sending them the link or giving them clear instructions.
Search engines (especially Google!) don't trust what YOU say about your site - that's why client testimonials and reviews are extremely important, including the LINKS.
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