Search Engine Optimization And New Yahoo! Maps

Writing by Nick Stamoulis Tweet

Search engine optimization goes further than just getting to the front page of Google. Yahoo! and MSN are popular search engines as well and with Yahoo! announcing the update to Yahoo! Maps, it may become just as important to optimize for them as well.

More importantly, particularly for bricks and mortar businesses that also have a web presence, getting a high listing in local search results is a must. Search engine optimization will only go so far, you also need to take the steps to submit your business to the big three’s versions of local listings.

Local listing has often been an ‘I will get around to it sometime’ type of activity. Those guys are now starting to pay the penalty. With the detail that both Google and Yahoo! maps are displaying, including relatively close up shots of businesses, those that have submitted to local listings are starting to reap the benefits. Those that have undertaken effective search engine optimization programs to match are now way out in front.

If you have a bricks and mortar business then I suggest you jump online and submit your business details to local search as soon as possible – not just Google local, Yahoo! local as well. You then need to get busy with some effective search engine optimization strategies to reflect your presence in the local area.

Local search with highly detailed maps will get stronger into the future particularly as people are increasingly taking advantage of internet mobile search functions. The only way to stay at least half a step in front of your competition is by grabbing opportunities when they come along and using them to your advantage.

Search engine optimization is not only about getting to the top of simple searches – it is about getting to the top of all searches – standard, local and mobile across all three major search engines.