Top 5 Factors for Local Search Engine Optimisation
Over the past Month I’ve been really enjoying doing some Local Search Engine Optimisation for my local Perth clients. If you wonder that this is, well, the techniques used to improve the search engine rankings for the website of a local business in a specific city or the local area is called local Search Engine Optimisation (Local SEO in short). This post will show you how you can get your website to rank very well with the search engines when people search for businesses like yours in your city, suburb or town.
As a whole, search engine optimisation is traditionally used for a broader reach within search engine results but this approach can be use to help business rank well within their local area. This post will reveal the five most important factors for local search engine optimisation and getting ranked within your immediate area.
Factor #1: Local Long-Tail Keywords on your Website
Discover the long-tail keywords you will be using for your business through the Google Keyword Tool. Search for relevant terms for your business and then make sure you add your “city”, “state”, “postal code” and nearby locations to improve your long-tail phrases. Use your keywords on your web pages, body copy, links and more. Diversify your keyword usage but always aim to rank well for the main term that will bring you the greatest traffic based on the results shared by the Google Keyword Tool. An example of such a keyword would be Perth Local Search Engine Optimisation consultant.
Factor #2: Contact Information on your Website
Seize every opportunity to put your contact information on your business website. Use the website sidebar to include contact information such as your phone number, business address and other forms of communication. Utilize your footer to list your business address as well. Include a contact page with integrated Google Maps for people to easily find and contact your business. See my contact page as an example for this.
Factor #3: Listing your Business on Local Web Directories
List your business on local directory websites and services. Get started by listing your business in Google Places and then make your way through other services such as Yahoo Local, True Local and Bing. Entry into these local directories takes no more than a few minutes each; it can be done in about an hour. Having a listing in the major directories will greatly help your overall search engine standings in Google, Yahoo and Bing. Again see my contact page to view my Ben Wan Web Solution Google Places business listing.
Bonus tip: Encourage your customers to write a review about your business in the local web directories; this improves your placement in search results.
Factor #4: Inbound Links to your Website
Build backlinks to your website using local keywords such as “city” + “business industry” as anchor text. Build links from relevant sources such as local forums, relevant industry blogs, high Page Rank websites, news sources and more. Diversify your link building strategy by using different keywords for your links; this helps your website rank well for many terms instead of over optimising for just one.
Factor #5: Geo Tagging within Local Area
The categorisation of your website is a smaller but vital factor of local search engine optimisation. List your business within its correct industry to ensure your website is well represented by what people would generally find you under. Open your business website up to allow people to check-in and geo tag you using online services such as Gowalla or Foursquare.
Conclusion for Local Search Engine Optimisation
Compared to the broader approach to search engine optimisation, getting ranked in the local listings is much easier to achieve because of the long-tail keywords, an exact location of your business and the lack of overall competition in your city or town. Consider each of the following factors for your website so it does the best it can in local search results; don’t skip out on the factors that matter especially when there are only a few that you need to do to get the maximum results.
If you need help with Local Search Engine Optimisation to get your website to rank well for local searches in your city just contact me and from Perth, Australia, I would love to be able to help you.
Incoming search terms:
- use the articles in our directory on your website to provide your visitors
- this site uses keywordluv listings
Filed under: Better website • SEO • Tips
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Welcome, my name is Ben Wan. I help people get started online by building their website. I also train them to run their own website.
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It’s a shame that a lot of the local businesses I see around me don’t use the power of local search to help potential customers find them.
I think that many of them see themselves competing with giant corporations, which may be the case but they don’t need to go “head to head” in order to gain customers.
Great post man, this is definitely bookmark-able!
John@Comics Art and Web Stuff recently posted..How to Deal With Stupid Clowns – PT 2
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Ben Wan from Local-SEO Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 8:05 pm
Hi John,
Oh well, there is still a lot of people who don’t know what consist of SEO, it’s quite a specialised knowledge. It’s far easier to compete for within a city than to compete internationally.
I was just checking the competition for a client today, and he has only one competitor, and so I said he will have to trouble to get his website to page one.
Ben Wan
Ben Wan@Local-SEO recently posted..How to Beat the Lack of Action Taking and Writer’s block
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I find that True Local is a very helpful Website when searching for local businesses but you must keep your information up to date with sites like this. If people are confused about your contact information they may give up on you altogether.
Frugal Bastard recently posted..Babysitting
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Ben Wan from Local-SEO Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 8:00 pm
Hi Mark,
Of course the business owner has to keep their listing up to date, it’s not a set and forget thing.
Ben Wan
Ben Wan@Local-SEO recently posted..How to Beat the Lack of Action Taking and Writer’s block
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Great tips! Many of the local keywords are wide open because they do not have SEOs fighting over them. I am still amazed at how changing some basic on-page factors can make a website rank.
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Hi Ben, great topic over the past few months I started focusing more on getting local traffic.
It is amazing how much more easier it is to go after local long tail keywords than it is for global words.
I think a lot of folks leave money on the table by not specifically going after their local market.
Thanks for sharing!
Larry Rivera recently posted..Internet Marketing Epic Fail
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Ben Wan from Local-SEO Reply:
August 8th, 2011 at 7:59 pm
Hi Larry,
You are exactly right, it’s much easier to rank for local keywords than to try to rank for generic keywords without a city name in the keyword. The local market (also called offline marketing) I think is a very profitable one, that we must not neglect.
Ben wan
Ben Wan@Local-SEO recently posted..How to Beat the Lack of Action Taking and Writer’s block
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I am not aware of what the local search engine is capable of doing. It is because I usually use the usual search engine that I could find. If only the local search engine will be as powerful compared to US and international search engines. Then it is worth to try this too. Thanks for the interesting article and tips, which I could later apply.
Stephan Hilson recently posted..Forfaits mobiles
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Here are some more ideas when optimizing for Local Search
1. Set your geographic location in Google’s Webmaster Tools.
2. Submit to Data Providers.
3. Submit to Internet Yellow Pages.
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I received more than 60% traffic from Google for my website about my city but I can not ignore remaining 40% traffic which I get from local directories and listing on other local websites.
Thanks Benwan
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