You’re probably used to optimizing your web site with keywords and phrases that are centered on what you do. For example: You’re a web site designer and you use the keywords website design, website designer, web designer, etc. throughout your site.
But there’s another type of optimization you should consider using and that’s local search optimization. Basically a local search is when someone is looking for a business or service in a certain geographic region.
Many people, when they search online, look for businesses that are close to where they live. In these cases they enter specific locations, along with the general keywords, to their searches.
For example: Mary Smith lives in Toronto, Ontario and wants a web designer. She goes to Google and types in – web designer Toronto Ontario or Toronto Ontario web designer.
So how do you optimize for local searches?
Optimizing for local searches is easy and only requires a few extra steps added to regular keyword optimization.
• When doing keyword research remember to include city, state, town, region, country, zip code, county and even area codes.
• Put your address at the bottom of your web pages because it contains the above information, which can be picked up by the search engines.
• Take your local keywords and add them to either the front or the back of your general keywords. Example: web designer Toronto Ontario or Toronto Ontario web designer.
• Put the local search words and phrases into your page titles, file names, links, and especially throughout the content on your web pages.
• If your business is solely on the web try creating an area on the site that’s just for local searchers and then optimize them.
• Get listed on local search engines and in places like yellowbook.com. Most areas offer directory listings that are area specific.
• If you’re submitting your listing to the Yahoo Directory or DMOZ.org, remember to also include a submission for their regional categories too.
• Network with other local businesses who have web sites and see if you can exchange links. Also, check out your local Chamber of Commerce and see if they have any special online directories for local searches.
With just a little more effort on your part you can reel in those people who are looking for something specific to their location.
- Nina Menezes
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The Use of search engines is the number one way to drive traffic to your site because it allows users to narrow their search through specific keywords. However, if your taget market is your geographical area, you will need to target local visitors to your website. Read about how you can use local search engine optimization to maximize your web pages to attract prospects in your neighbourhood who are looking for your product or service.