Local SEO

Written on August 3, 2009 – 3:10 pm | by Nick |

There is a reason I list Local SEO right after Website Analytics and Consultation on this site.  More and more I am finding that companies are looking for the traffic that is in their backyard to visit their site and take action.  That action could be making a purchase, calling about store hours and then visiting the store or making reservations at a restaurant.  While it is important to implement the Basics of SEO on a global scale, it is critical to pin down the traffic that is just around the corner!

Are you optimizing for local traffic?  Web searchers are incorporating city, state and even zip code into the terms they are looking for.  If your site is not actively pursuing those visits you are probably losing out to the competition.  Companies need to be engaging with the customers that are in their local community.  That is how you inspire positive reviews on your own site as well as sites that are directly related to your field.

You should care about getting ranked for a search that applies to your business by someone across the country or even the globe for that matter.  Particularly if you provide a good or service that can be shipped.  But I feel it is of greater importance right now to get to know your “neighbors”.  To dominate in local search is to gain a compeitive advantage.