Writing by Nick Stamoulis on Thursday, 10 of April , 2008 at 8:58 am
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.
Category: Local Search Marketing
Writing by Nick Stamoulis on Monday, 17 of March , 2008 at 1:21 pm
It never dawned me until I read this, but Microsoft’s interest in Yahoo! could be local. As far as local yellow page providers go, Yellowpages.com doesn’t provide any more advantage to Microsoft than Superpages does. Greg Sterling is right about that. But take a look at his update:
Update: Now that Ingenio is part of YellowPages.com, which I wasn’t thinking about in writing the above, there may be another angle here.
Ingenio actually could benefit MSN, but based on Sterling’s second update, it may be that MSN isn’t the one pulling the strings in this deal. Nevertheless, an acquisition of Yahoo! would give MSN much greater leverage in the local advertising market. There is no one doing local business advertising better than Yahoo! Not even Google, who seems to be beating Yahoo! at everything else. Yahoo! is top dog in local Search Engine Optimization directories and has been for a very long time. I think MSN executives know that.
Category: Local Search Marketing, Search Engines
Writing by Nick Stamoulis on Saturday, 23 of February , 2008 at 5:14 pm
This is interesting. Companies are now advertising for specialists to help them get listed in local search listings. You know that means? Local is here to stay.
What I like about this, and what I think anyone should like about it, is that you can run a free Craigslist listing in any nation in this country and get a job. Bar none. Internet marketing is here. Local search marketing is here. And don’t listen to anyone who tells you it isn’t.
If I were interested in this position, here’s what I’d do. I’d e-mail this advertiser and tell them the following:
- I’ll list their business in each major search engine’s local listings. There are four of them: Google, Yahoo!, MSN Live, and Ask.com.
- I’d also list their business in several niche directories related to their business.
- I’d list them in other yellow page type website services such as IYP, Yelp, Citysearch, and Superpages. If they wanted to perform certain paid search advertising through those websites then I’d manage that as well.
- I could also sign them up to run PPC advertising through Google AdWords and Yahoo! Search Marketing.
- Finally, I’d start a daily blog for their business and use it to drive traffic to their website and build links. They could start an onsite blog or an offsite blog, maybe both, depending on an analysis of their current situation to see what would benefit them the most.
Local search is about more than just listing your business with Google and Yahoo! Maps. That’s a good start, of course. But it doesn’t end there when it comes to local Search Engine Optimization.
Category: Local Search Marketing
Writing by Nick Stamoulis on Thursday, 14 of February , 2008 at 12:36 pm
Citysearch has been a leader in local online advertising since it was started. Now, a new deal between AOL and Citysearch looks promising in terms of local business benefit. As a part of the agreement, Citysearch will be running local video and AOL will distribute Citysearch ads across its network. This combination will serve to increase the benefits of local advertisers using Citysearch. Right now, that mostly means major metro areas but I believe that rural businesses can benefit from this as well.
Since AOL is an aggregator and not a real search engine, the scope of this agreement is limited for local search, but it’s better than what local businesses had. I expect to see Citysearch’s competition do one better. I can imagine Yelp or an online yellow pages website partner with Ask, Yahoo, or Google for similar arrangements. If that happens then local search will thrive and grow at a faster rate than anticipated. The only thing that could make these kinds of deals better is if a local advertising company partners with a social media site. Can you see a Citysearch/Facebook partnership? That would be totally awesome.
Category: Local Search Marketing
Writing by Nick Stamoulis on Wednesday, 9 of January , 2008 at 10:07 am
(Source) Compared to a couple of years ago, people use the Internet more, and the venerable telephone directories much less. The trend on Internet usage for local businesses, according to the survey, comes at the all-important purchasing point.
Forget everything you know about local business marketing. When schmucks like Gene Marks tell you that you don’t need to know about RSS, blogs, or SEO, they don’t know what they’re telling you. They might as well be saying, “Just close your doors and go to work for Large Corporation America.”
But local businesses that survive and do well will have a marketing plan. They will not rely on customers tripping over them. They will go out and find the customers they want to do business with. The question is how.
In the old days, the yellow pages were instrumental in helping a lot of small businesses get off the ground. But people aren’t using the yellow pages any more. About all their good for now is to boost your three year old at the dinner table. Today’s small business customer is going online to make searches (at Google, Yahoo!, and MSN) and finding those businesses they want to do business with by using keywords. It just makes sense to put your name where the customers are. Local search is big, and getting bigger. Don’t discount it.
Category: Local Search Marketing, SEO, Search Marketing
Writing by Nick Stamoulis on Friday, 21 of December , 2007 at 2:57 pm
Don’t miss out on the benefits that localized content can offer you. It is often an untapped market, especially if you are providing specialized services. The fact is that those of us that have been online almost as long as the Internet, have gotten very good at searching. Late adopters have not done too badly either. Now most people enter at least one geographic keyword when they search.
When I am producing content, I tend to start big and work my way down. I might start with something like: “Pool filters USA,” “Pool filters America,” and “Pool Filters United States.” That is three articles there, it is not really localized, but it is including some geo-targeting. Next, I would drop down to something a little smaller, “Pool Filters California.” To further reduce the area, “Pool Filters Los Angeles.” To go local, “Pool Filters Orange County.”
Don’t skimp, cover all the areas and then cover them again with specific product names, or alternative keywords to “Pool Filters.” Localized targeting makes a tremendous amount of extra work, but it makes perfect sense, drives plenty of traffic and generates leads as local clients can expect to see their goods in a more timely fashion if they live closer to your place of business.
Category: Keyword Research, Local Search Marketing
Writing by Nick Stamoulis on Friday, 19 of October , 2007 at 1:18 pm
Looking for search engine optimization tips that guarantee results? Well, there aren’t any. But there are principles that will help local businesses rank better for local search. Here are a few for you to keep in mind:
1. Put your physical address on every page of your website.
2. If your mailing address is different than your physical address, put it on every page of your website as well.
3. Include your phone number and zip code on every page of your website.
4. Mention specific neighborhoods that you service on at least one page of your website.
5. Name drop local landmarks and historical places of significance.
6. Somewhere in your content, use your city or county and state as keywords.
7. In your link building strategy, use local place names as keyword anchor text.
These are just a few of the ways you can ensure that your local business website ranks well for your keywords in your local area. Now put them into practice.
Category: Local Search Marketing, SEO
Writing by Nick Stamoulis on Sunday, 30 of September , 2007 at 7:52 am
Do you own a local small business? Then you need to read the Local Advertising Journal, the latest blog in the Brick Marketing family. Every day, the Local Advertising Journal will bring you the latest news and insights from the local advertising part of the Web. We will share our insights on how to rank better for your local search terms, how to make the most of local advertising opportunities such as the online Yellow Pages, CitySearch, Superpages, Google and Yahoo! Local, and how to maximize you pay-per-click campaigns with local optimization techniques.
The Local Advertising Journal received its first daily post on September 21, 2007. So far, titles of posts at the LAJ include:
Stop by Local Advertising Journal today and see what we have to say about advertising your local small business online.
Category: Local Search Marketing
Writing by Nick Stamoulis on Friday, 21 of September , 2007 at 8:19 am
If you are a local business then you will need to geo-target your search engine optimization efforts. Do you know how to do that?
It’s not hard to build a geo-targeted website. All you really need to do is make sure that your search engine listing ranks highly for your important keywords plus your local area. It may be easier for you to do that if you live in a large metropolitan area, but it isn’t impossible if your business is in a rural area either.
Here are a few tips to help you geo-target your website:
- Make sure your physical address is on every page of your website - the footer is a good place, but you can also put it near the top of your page; that way, you have it on each page twice
- If your mailing address is different than your physical address, include your mailing address on every page of your website
- Somewhere on your website, have a page that talks about the different areas you serve; if you are in a metro area then that might be individual neighborhoods, or it could be small towns, counties, and townships if you live in a rural area
- Write your website copy to target specific niches within your geo-targeted area; for instance, if there is a unique need for people living in one neighborhood versus another then write a separate web page that addresses each neighborhood and its need
- Include some history, interesting news, and features of local people and businesses in your local area - that will get you geo-targeted content on your website
- Subscribe to RSS feeds of other geo-targeted websites in your area
- Join the local chamber and other local organizations then place a membership notice on your website to notify your site visitors that you are a member of those organizations
There are more ways to geo-target a website. You’ll have to get creative. Your type of business might have some unique ways of presenting content that is specific to your industry. If so, try to think of ways that you can present that content in a geo-targeted way. Finally, when you start your link building campaign, be sure to list your local business in directories that allow you to geo-target your links. For instance, if you can include your URL and an anchor text phrase in your directory listing then make your anchor text say something like, “The Only Miami Beach Swordfishing Association On The Planet.” Work in your keyword and your geo-targeted phrase to get the benefit of relevance with each phrase for every link you can.
Affordable Internet Marketing Services, including SEO, Pay Per Click, Blog Marketing & More! For More Info Call Expert Nick Stamoulis at: 877-295-0620.
Category: Local Search Marketing, SEO
Writing by Nick Stamoulis on Monday, 17 of September , 2007 at 1:35 pm
(Source) The development of multi-channel marketing is one of the most impactful things happening in internet retail these days. As I have written about before, the idea that customers want to order online but pick up their merchandise in a physical store seems counter intuitive. However, there is growing evidence that they want to do exactly that. This gives a tremendous advantage to multi-channel merchants because not only do they see an increase of online sales but they also see significant upsell revenue once they get their online customers into their stores.
Multi-channel marketing is in its infancy, but I believe it’s here to stay. The verdict is out on Internet shopping. People don’t want to buy online. They want to shop online and pick up products in the store. Why? They still don’t trust the medium. Not completely.
Consumers Respect Their Money
Let’s face it. People are picky about their money. They have credit cards, but they don’t want to risk identity theft even though all assurances are in place to protect their private data. That’s why companies doing business online will have to consider how they will take customer orders and process them in the store for pick up. I think retailers will end up borrowing a page from the restaurant play book. Future online retail transactions could look like this:
- Consumers will go online to shop for a product
- They will compare two or three merchants for prices and service options
- Once they make a choice, the consumer will order the item they want online but won’t pay for it
- They will get in their automobile and drive over to the store to pick up their item (at their convenience, of course)
- They will head straight to a special counter designed specifically to process Internet orders; their item will already be waiting for them
- The clerk at the Internet window will ring up the customer’s order and attempt to up sell a few related items while they have the customers’ attention
- After the up sell is closed (or not), the item will be paid for and the customer will take their product and go
The Electronic Version Of Online Retail
Another version of this method is less human and more electronic. Retailers could have a check out window where Internet customers can walk up to and pay for their item (just like at your local supermarket). Once the item is paid for, a store employee will bring the pre-ordered item to the customer and the customer will walk out of the store with a smile.
I hope that doesn’t sound far-fetched. It seems to me to be quite likely that local retailers will move in that direction. To get there, they will have to optimize their websites for local search and to close the sale for every specific item in their online catalog.
Affordable Internet Marketing Services, including SEO, Pay Per Click, Blog Marketing & More! For More Info Call Expert Nick Stamoulis at: 877-295-0620.
Category: Local Search Marketing
The Search Engine Optimization Journal Blog is Owned By Brick Marketing. For more info call 877-295-0620.
This blog was designed by Hostseeq Designer.
