Archive for the ‘Local SEO’ Category
Articles about Local Search Engine Optimization – Local SEO involves methods and elements for ranking in local search results such as within Google Maps, Yahoo! Local, Bing Maps, as well as within some Internet Yellow Pages (IYP) sites.
Monday, July 19th, 2010
In my article on Search Engine Land today, I outline how the recent local SERP testing being conducted by Google has the potential to not only reduce organic traffic to Internet Yellow Pages (IYPs) and online directories, but could also freeze out many well-marketed small-to-medium businesses.
So, is it “game over” for IYPs? Should they throw in the towel and move their promotional dollars to other, greener pastures?
My answer to that is a confident “no!”, and not merely because I do SEO consulting. (more…)
Tags: google local SERPs, internet yellow pages, IYP, Local SEO, local SERPs, online yellow pages, SEOs, SERPs
Posted in Google, Local SEO, Yellow Pages | 2 Comments »
Thursday, June 17th, 2010
David Mihm’s once again posted his fantastic yearly survey of local search ranking factors for 2010, scored by surveying a lot of us who do online local marketing professionally. What’s particularly cool about the survey is that he also posts a calculation indicating how much we’re in agreement along with how positive/negative we consider any given factor.
It may be mildly confusing for newbies who want to know what they should do in order to improve local business listing rankings within Google, and I’d say that small differences the weighting of the various scores are nearly immaterial. (more…)
Tags: Bing Maps ranking, Google Maps ranking, local ranking factors, local ranking signals, local search engine optimization, Local Search Ranking Factors, ranking signals, Yahoo Local ranking, Yahoo Maps ranking
Posted in Bing, Google, Local SEO, Search Engines, Yahoo | No Comments »
Thursday, May 6th, 2010
I’m looking forward to speaking at the upcoming DFW SEM Association meeting on May 19th, dubbed “Location, Location, Location, all about Local Search” along with David Mihm of GetListed.org and Brian Combs of ionadas.
I’ve met both Brian and David on the search marketing convention circuit, and consider them to be colleagues and great experts on local search engine marketing subjects. I had a chance to look over the topics all three of us will be covering in our panel presentation, (more…)
Tags: dallas search marketing, dfw search marketing association, fort worth search marketing, Local SEO, search engine marketing associations
Posted in Appearances, Local SEO | No Comments »
Wednesday, May 5th, 2010
You’ve likely seen Plus-Boxes in Google search results. They are little boxes which sometimes appear below a search result listing, and when clicked they expand the listing, allowing more info to be displayed, such as a small map or a stock chart.
For many webmasters, the question of whether a Map Plus-Box appears for a page about a location, such as for local businesses, appears to be decided very arbitrarily. Some pages with local addresses on them have the Plus-Box treatment occur, while others do not.
There are a few ways to increase the chances that Google will be able to successfully interpret the location information appearing on a webpage, so that they can pinpoint it on a map. (more…)
Tags: Google Maps, Google SERPs, Local SEO, Plus-Box, Universal Search
Posted in Bing, Google, Local SEO, Search Engines | 2 Comments »
Wednesday, April 7th, 2010
I posted an ultra-basic Local SEO tip over at SEM Clubhouse today, “How To Rank Well In Google Maps – One Easy Tip“. This one is so basic that it nearly goes without saying!
However, I think many people may not have realized that CLAIMING your business actually is a major ranking signal for Google Maps, and automatically gives a listing a leg up over many unclaimed listings in the same category/area combination. Google employees have actually publicly verified that this is a ranking factor! There are very few instances where they’ll say that some factor is influential on rankings, so this is not to be ignored.
Stay tuned for more “Local SEO 101″ tutorials.
Tags: Google Maps, Google Maps Rankings, Local Search Ranking Factors, Local SEO, Local SEO 101
Posted in Local SEO | 6 Comments »
Wednesday, March 31st, 2010
I’m contemplating doing a series of posts on here of “Local SEO 101” tips. Each post would outline a specific tactic for ranking in local search results, including local searches under blended/Universal Search as well as with Google Maps and other local search engines.
Local Search Ranking Factors include a lot of pieces including citations from internet yellow pages, newspapers, vertical directories, community guides, business review sites, and more.
(more…)
Tags: local marketing, local search, local search engine optimization, local search optimization, Local SEO, ranking in Google Maps
Posted in Local SEO | 2 Comments »
Friday, March 26th, 2010
Be sure to check out my new post over at SEM Clubhouse on how Google Maps Labs’ new “What’s Around Here?” feature may reveal PlaceRank secrets.
“What’s Around Here?” is a wildcard feature that allows people to view the most-popular businesses and places for a particular mapped area.
Listing out the most-popular places for any given area, without having a keyword relevance or business category factoring in as well, may allow one further insight into the relative weighting of the ranking factors that influence priority within Google Maps listings.
Tags: Google Maps, Google Maps Labs, Local SEO
Posted in Local SEO | 1 Comment »
