Local businesses require different SEO tactics then businesses that are trying to attract traffic from a larger regional or national audience. Here are some tips to help you make the most of search engines and attract local traffic:
- Keywords: Include keywords on your website that your customers would use to find your business. This sometimes will not be the same words that you would use. Put your self in the shoes of your customer. Generally, if users are searching for a local business, they will typically use a geographic indicator in their search. For example, if they are looking for a local pizza restaurant, they might search for “pizza restaurant in Brentwood, TN”.
- If your business services a certain geographic area, make sure to fully describe and list out your service area throughout your website, and on your locations or contact page. List city names, regions, etc. that your users will recognize and also use in their searches.
- Get Links from local websites. We all know that the more GOOD links you have the better. When you are trying to increase your local SEO, local links will do the trick. Start with your chamber of commerce’s business directory online, then look at your local industry associations, local suppliers, local schools, etc. Remember, .edu, .gov and .org website links are typically better then .com or .net (but don’t discount these either!).
- Create Listings on Local Websites. So you know to claim your business on Google Local, but do you know that you should do the same at as many local directories as you can? Include all the major search engines, yellow page websites, niche directory sites, etc. At the bottom of this post is a list of 18 local sites to create a directory listing at.
- Encourage customers to review your business on local websites. Embrace online reviews, don’t be scared of them. The more reviews and the more good reviews you get the better your local SEO will be. Encourage and ask your customers to go to local websites and major search engines to review your business. Even provide them with the links to do so to make it easy for them.
Local Search Engine Directories
Google Business Directory – http://www.google.com/local/add
Yahoo Local Directory – http://listings.local.yahoo.com
FindItNow.com – http://www.finditnownashville.com
Yellowbook – http://corporate.yellowbook.com/products/internet-free-listing/
Yellowpages – http://listings.yellowpages.com/
Switchboard – http://advertising.superpages.com/spportal/landingpages.do?splash=50&campaignId=swbd_addedit&SRC=switchboard&tsrc=SWBD
Superpages – Same as switchboard above.
Local.com – http://advertise.local.com/
Judy’s book – http://www.judysbook.com/merchant
Insiderpages – http://insiderpages.com/advertiser
Citysearch – http://myaccount.citysearch.com
Yelp.com – http://www.yelp.com/business
Best Of The Web – http://local.botw.org/helpcenter/jumpstartproduct.aspx
ZoomInfo – http://www.zoominfo.com/Search/AddNewCompany.aspx
Infousa411.com – http://list.infousa.com/dbupdate.htm?Vendor=099842
Ask.com City – Same and InfoUSA411.com above.
msn411 – http://www.discoverbing.com/mobile/411/faq/
#1 by seo on June 27, 2010 - 4:26 pm
When creating your site copy, just write naturally, explaining whatever information you’re discussing. The key is to make it relevant, and to have it make sense to the reader. Even if you trick the search engines into thinking your page is great — when a potential customer arrives at the site and can’t make heads or tails of your information and it just feels spammy to them — you can bet they’ll be clicking on the next web site within a matter of seconds.
#2 by Dr. Jeff Hill, Artisan Dental on June 28, 2010 - 11:12 am
Hey thanks for the tips. Directories seem like a great idea for local listings. I have recently been learning about Local Listings, but I have run into a lot of difficulties with these Local Directories. Have you?
#3 by Chris Fehrmann on June 28, 2010 - 9:47 pm
Dr. Jeff – what type of difficulties have you ran into? Maybe I can help or point you in the right directions.
#4 by Dentistincherryhill.com on July 6, 2010 - 11:09 am
Thanks for sharing the info. I think that keyword selection is one of the most important factors in marketing online.
#5 by Green Guru Landscaping on July 8, 2010 - 4:23 pm
Great tips here. Thanks for going these tips about local traffic it in a step-by-step way. And thanks for making your explanations understandable instead of lofty and full of technical, SEO jargon.
#6 by Utah Spine and Disc on September 8, 2010 - 5:40 pm
Getting listed in Local search services is essential for any business nowadays I think. Thanks so much for the list. There are some directories that I hadn’t heard of yet.