{"id":5487,"date":"2010-07-06T07:39:07","date_gmt":"2010-07-06T12:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/37d57f8fa2.nxcli.io\/blog\/?p=5487"},"modified":"2010-07-01T08:15:06","modified_gmt":"2010-07-01T13:15:06","slug":"search-engine-optimization-strategies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.marketingforsuccess.com\/blog\/web-marketing\/search-engines\/search-engine-optimization-strategies\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Optimize Your Website For Local Search"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chances are as a small business or an entrepreneur the products or services that you offer are targeted to a local area.\u00a0 When this is the case it is very important to develop your search engine optimization strategy<\/a> with a plan to attract localized searches.<\/p>\n

If you are a pizza shop in Philadelphia it makes logical sense to target searches of people looking for a pizza shop in Philadelphia or if you\u2019re a lawyer in New York it is logical to target searches looking for a lawyer in New York and not someone looking for a lawyer in California.<\/p>\n

There are three Search Engine Optimization Strategies<\/a> to maximize local search (using Google as an example).\u00a0 This blog entry will focus on the easier ways to maximize local search, part two will \"search<\/a>focus on a more complicated strategy to maximize local search<\/p>\n

Get your Website listed on Google local business results
\n<\/strong>This should be mandatory for any business with a physical location.\u00a0 By getting listed as a local business you will be included in Google\u2019s maps and also will be shown in results that target your location. For example if you are a restaurant in Philadelphia you will be included in Google maps so that a person getting directions to your location can simply just type in the name of your restaurant instead of your address to find directions. Also if a person is on Google maps close to your location you will show up. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Most importantly you will be queried in the result set under local business for restaurants in Philadelphia with a map of your location attached.\u00a0 These results typically are at the top or near the top of Google rankings.\u00a0 This does not apply to every type of business but will work for most small businesses that have a physical location.<\/p>\n

This is very simple to accomplish, here are the steps:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Visit www.google.com\/local<\/p>\n

2)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Click the link \u201cPut your business on Google Maps\u201d<\/p>\n

3)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Set up a Google Account and confirm via email<\/p>\n

4)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Click the link \u201cadd your business\u201d<\/p>\n

5)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Add your location information<\/p>\n

6)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 You will be sent a postcard from Google with a PIN number to confirm your business is actually in that location<\/p>\n

7)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Go back to your Local Google account and add your PIN number<\/p>\n

Pay per Click (Google Adwords) Advertising
\n<\/strong>For many businesses Pay per Click is a great way to drive traffic to your Website.\u00a0 Be aware, many businesses do not profit from their Pay per Click advertising campaigns.\u00a0 It is important to keep a close eye on your PPC analytics to be sure your ads are profitable.<\/p>\n

Google Adwords is a great strategy for localized businesses because you can control who sees your ad by location. Google generally knows the location of the person who does a search on Google; this is very beneficial to your business.<\/p>\n

AdWords allows you to set up your advertising campaign so only people within a specific geographic location (zip code radius, by city, by state, etc) sees your advertisement.\u00a0 This prevents people who are not in your physical location to click on your ad which will cost you money.<\/p>\n

For example, let\u2019s say you\u2019re a bankruptcy Lawyer \u00a0in Chicago; it is important that you target your Adwords so only people either in Chicago or within a specific zip code radius (possibly within 50 miles of your zip code)\u00a0 sees your ad when they search for a lawyer.\u00a0 Targeting your location using Adwords is an easy way to drive business to your Website when a searcher searches for bankruptcy lawyer.<\/p>\n

Part 2 of this installment will focus on a more complicated strategy in maximizing your results on search engines.\u00a0 The blog entry will focus on Natural Search Engine Optimization Strategies<\/a> and how to rank high on Google and other search engines when a searches is looking locally for your products or services.<\/p>\n

– Jason<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
About Jason Lomberg
\n<\/a><\/strong>Related Resources<\/strong><\/a>
\nMore Posts by Jason Lomberg<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

To discover the easy and inexpensive ways anyone can attract more clients and maximize their profits<\/span>, sign up for your <\/strong>FREE <\/a><\/strong>Profit Now <\/a><\/strong>Report<\/a>. <\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

\"Enhanced<\/a>