Local SEO Is Changing Rapidly
Search engine optimization and online marketing was once for industry big wigs. That has changed drastically over time. Local SEO is more important than ever. As more and more people fire up their handheld devices and computers to find what they need less people rely on archaic forms of information such as the phone book and newspaper. Local search engine marketing has changed and will continue to change. If you are a business who still relies on ancient offline marketing efforts you will be in for a surprise if you don’t shift gears on the marketing front.
Location marketing and geo targeting internet users is all the craze right now. Currently websites like Foursquare and Gowalla are just for recreational use but trust me, the engineers at all the geo-targeting social communities are scrambling to find a way to tie in a local business marketing element into the mix. Some of the savvier local businesses are already starting to implement coupons for check-ins and other incentives to stir up new business. More local businesses are starting to submit their business locations into these platforms so users that pull up their iPhone or Android can clearly see your business in the area. This is a form of marketing that is really just getting started and will most likely grow in to a fierce local marketing effort in the near future. Like Twitter once was when it first came out on the scene people were reluctant to test it and apply it to their business model. Now it is a must for any local business to be visible on.
Local SEO is something that is not new. With today’s marketplace being what it is every localized business needs to have some local presence in the online space. The local marketing game is not what it once was. A few direct mail pieces and a phone book ad will not get you the return that you are looking for. Social media has changed the way a community interacts with each other. It has changed the way people shop and look for things making it even more important for a small local business to start climbing the ladder on sites like Facebook, Twitter and Foursquare. Some businesses have been known to grow very successful simply from using these websites on a strategic calculated and consistent basis.
6 Responses to “Local SEO Is Changing Rapidly”
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I fully believe everything you have said in your post. Local SEO is now an important part of the marketing mix for local small businesses. They are not getting the value from Yellow Pages advertising and many business owners do not know where to turn.
Search engines know this and that’s why they are putting so much effort to help local small businesses. Putting the Google Places above the search results is just one example of how important Google thinks local SEO is becoming!
Hi Nigel,
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts! Exactly, I do agree and believe that local SEO will only continue to grow and evolve…
This is good news especially for local businesses you are getting more active online. This will make it easier for them to be found.
Hi SEOP,
Exactly, correct! Even is a company is not targeting a local audience only, it is important to not forget the local audience. Thanks for reading and your comment!
You are correct in your predictions. I have focused my SEO expertise to local online marketing for the past two years. One of the things I have been paying attention to is where a local business can show up (online) without discounting their services so much (groupon.com)
A tip that would help any local business is to scan the websites of your local papers. What I’m finding is that you can submit a story or link for free. Craft a compelling message and you will notice your website traffic increase.
Hi Reid,
Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts!
Exactly, once you create and build a creative message then over time your visitors should increase.
Thanks again for stopping by!
Nick