Are Geographic Keywords For Local Businesses Still Necessary?

Writing by Nick Stamoulis Tweet

Since Google has started returning a Maps result for many local search queries even if the searcher doesn’t specifically search for a local business, it is necessary to include geographic keywords in your content? Absolutely. For more than one reason.

Keep in mind that the Maps search results only appears for certain types of searches. For instance, you’ll get the Maps query for a search on “dentist” no matter where you search. The Maps will show the dentist’s closer to your location. Other search queries like “plumber” will also show local results if Google knows where you are searching from. It won’t work, however, if you are traveling. For instance, you live in St. Paul Minnesota, which is where you typically make your search queries from, but you are spending a week in New York City and you want to find a dentist to take care of your emergency tooth and gum pain, your cookies show you are from Minnesota so your local search results, if not specified, will be in that location.

But let’s say you are in your home town and you want to eat. Search for “restaurant” and you’ll get local listings through Google Maps. If you are a restaurant owner you could be among those results even if the searcher doesn’t specify a geographic location. But you should still use geographic keywords in your content because 1) travelers will have to type in the location for a local restaurant and 2) not all business types get the automatic Google Maps returned for search queries related to their business.

If you own a business that sells cloth dolls from China, for instance, that is not a search for which most people are concerned about doing business locally. Therefore, if you want to do business with local people you’ll need to optimize your website to get attention of local visitors.