Local SEM Has Changed, Have You Noticed?
Local SEM or search engine marketing got you confused lately? Things are certainly not the same as they were 2 or 3 years ago? The local search marketing game is changing folks and technology can be blamed on that. Chances are in the next three years it will change even more so don’t get too mad. Just hop on the horse and try to hold on.
Let’s take a look at how the local SEM game has changed over the years:
Local SEM Change#1 – Blogs
Blogs have been around for a number of years but I still see many website owners trying to market themselves locally that still do not understand the concept of a blog. A blog is nothing more than a journal entry of your choice that adds a whole new page to your website. You can structure that post as you wish and with a little savviness that blog post can rank for a variety of search terms in the industry.
Local SEM Change#2 – Social Media
Now wasn’t this a wrench in the gears for some? Who would have thought that communicating on a local level with your audience in front of your computer would make things so difficult for some businesses. It’s still cheaper than a newspaper ad but when you have been doing print advertising for a better part of your life it is tough to walk away from it for some. Can’t teach an old dog new tricks right?
Local SEM Change#3 – Check In Technology
Hold onto your hat folks because this one might make your head spin. You walk into a Starbucks and you click a button to tell everyone you have checked in and now you have a mayor badge? What badge? To make things even worse for some businesses Facebook has stepped into to join the fun with the location check in technology which is going to downright give some business owners a head ache.
Don’t be scared but rather embrace the new changes and find a way to get involved with the new technologies related to your local SEM campaign. Waiting and hoping things will change is never going to happen.
10 Responses to “Local SEM Has Changed, Have You Noticed?”
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Thanks for the post Nick, really search engine marketing has changed a lot in couple of years, let’s hope for the best.
Brief summery of some of the biggest changes to SEO for years, very interesting. I would like to ask if you could expand on all the subjects to make it clearer how small business can try to “go with the flow” instead of sinking further into the abyss.
Local Seo has definitely changed. Great Article.
I’d have to agree with @andrew fearnley – I’d like to hear more on each topic. Some of these are complex, some are simpler. But anyone relying on local business should gen in on these points and how to use them. Great that you brought these up!
A nice post indeed but I’ll comment about optimizing your blog for local search.
I think if you have a well optimized blog for it’s niche and the same blog you have the contact details as those you have in your google local search registration, you dont need to over localize your blog posts.
Today, i am seeing rankings of both the local listing and domain for the same local listing in search results as one entry. You’d have the usual site result and then under it, the local listing result. I think claiming or registering your business in the local listing helps your site rank but that ranking compounded by your original site rankings. The better your site ranks, the more the local listing will boost it.
Good Stuff Nick …. and this doesnt even address how much Google SERPs have changed to accomodate Local SEM in their rankings ,,, perhaps for another newsletter ?
I agree, there have been a ton of changes recently with Local SEO. I just noticed a new change in google search results: organic search result #1 shows up at the top, followed by the top 10 local results, then organic #2.
That is really nice to give placement to that organic search position #1, but you can REALLY dominate quicker by getting that top Local Search engine result.
It sure will take you less time to get on page #1 in some industries.
Thanks again for your info!
Bryan Knowlton
Great article. Things are always changing and we must master this tools to upgrade our rankings. For me, offering a local service is important to focus on local seo, im still a newbie on this but trying hard to get to the top.
Thanks for sharing!
Local SEM has absolutely changed. As a company who has both local and national clients, these new changes have required us to rethink our strategies….
Thanks eMax, that is another topic for a blog post/newsletter…thanks for reading!