Local SEODominate Local Search!

Presented By: Angela Davis, Senior Marketing AssociateFollow Me on Twitter: @AmazingAngelaD

Agenda

What is LOCAL SEARCH / LOCAL SEO? Keyword Strategy – Think LOCAL! Optimizing Your Website for Local Leads Content is King, No Matter the Neighborhood Get the 411 on Directories for Local Services Social Media Tips – Be a Local Butterfly!

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What is Local SEO?

Being ‘Optimized’ to Show Up in the Search Engine Results for Potential [Local] Clients.

… and on their Mobile Phones & Social Media Sites, Too!

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Think of It Like This:Is it better to be a BIG FISH in a small pond,

or a small fish in a BIG POND?

… TARGET YOUR AUDIENCE BETTER!

Long Tail Keywords Drive Traffic & Conversions!

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Keyword Strategy - Think LOCAL:

“Jamaica Plain Condos” vs. “condo”

“Harvard Square Boston Pizza” vs. “Boston pizza”

“Massachusetts Elder Law Attorney” vs. “attorney”

Optimizing Your Website for ‘Local’ Meta Titles & Meta Descriptions: on Your Home Page, Contact Page,

About Page, etc. should all have the main geographic areas you serve included.

Most Important Words/ Info FIRST: Meta Titles =67 Character Max; Meta Descriptions = 129 Character Max; Meta Keyword Tags = 180 Character Max

Geo-Tag Images: Image File Names, Titles, Descriptions, Alt Text, Captions‘house’ or ‘img000154’ vs. ‘Belmont MA house for sale’

Address in the Footer: On Every Page of Your Website. Phone & Email should be there, too! Make it EASY to get in Touch with You!

If Multiple Locations: Have a Page on the Site Listing All Your Locations or a Page Dedicated to Each Location.

Check Your Website for Errors using Google Webmaster Tools (Google it!)

Content is King, No Matter The Kingdom MAKE YOUR INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE!

Well-Organized Website Navigation, Calls to Action, Blog Categories, etc.

Keep Most Important Information ‘Above the Scroll’

BLOG:  Blog about what you know. YOU ARE LOCAL! You’ve Got Insider Information!

Local Events, Amenities, Unique Neighborhoods, Featured Properties, etc.

Guest Blog for Partners or Preferred Vendors or Local Papers. Invite Guests to Blog for Your Site.

INTERNAL LINKS: Give Yourself Some Link Juice! Use Your Local Keywords as the Anchor Text When You Create Links to Relevant Pages

on Your Site.

Town Pages & Blogs

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Directory SubmissionsDirectory Listings = Inbound Links =

Directories are the modern-day Yellow Pages.

Users Like Having a Trusted 3rd Party.

LINK FARMS = (and Search Engines will penalize you!)

What Directory / Review Sites Do YOU Trust?

Directories That Are Cool With Me:

Google.com/PlacesforBusiness

Local.Yahoo.com Bing.com/Local Yelp.com YellowPages.com DMOZ.org

Chamber of Commerce/ Local Business Directories

City or Local Business Directories

Industry Sites or Niche Directories(Trulia, Zillow, Realtor.com, etc.)

Local Newspaper Sites(Boston.com/realestate)

1st Tier 2nd Tier CitySearch Merchant Circle Angie’s List Judy’s Book Thumbtack Craigslist

3rd Tier Biggest Online Today:

Closer to Home: Pay-Per-Lead / Some Free Features

* BE SURE TO FILL OUT YOUR LISTINGS COMPLETELY for Best Results; Especially ‘Categories’ & ‘Services’- because this is how people will find you!

Blog Directories. Yup, These Too!

Google Blog Search: blogsearch.google.com/ping

NetworkedBlogs.com BlogGlue.com BlogCatalog.com Blogged.com Blogarama.com Blogadr.com OnTopList.com Technorati Blog Directory

Directories Specifically for Blogs.

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Be a ‘Local Butterfly’ on Social Media

- Use Your Social Media Profiles to Engage Your Local Following

-- Be Sure to Optimize Your Profiles Just like a Directory Listing!

-- Add Photos, Logos, Videos, Interesting Stories, Product Info, Ways to Engage, Fun Content, Links to Your Site & Blogs, Your Featured Listings, etc.

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Facebook – New Timeline Format!

1. Make Sure You Fill Out All the Information You Can: ADD Categories, Address, Hours of Operation, etc.!

2. Add Historic Events (with LOCATION) on the TimelineYou Can Go Back As Far As You Want!

3. You Can Add Locations To All Your Photos, too! 4. Encourage Employees, Friends, and Clients to ‘Check

In’ on Facebook and Foursquare, etc.

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Google Places (and Google +)

1. Google is the Most Popular Search Engine on the Web.

2. You Should Definitely Register for a Local Presence Here!

3. You Can Add Photos, Videos, Offer Deals, etc. for FREE! 4. Carefully Select Your Service Area (5 Cities & Area

Between)

5. Make a New ‘Place’ for Each Location You Have!

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YouTube & Other Video Channels

1. Make a Video Talking about Who You Are, the Areas You Serve, and Why You’re the Best! Mention Website URL a LOT!

2. Upload to Youtube with Local Keywords in the Title & Description. Link to Your Website in the Youtube User Profile & the Description of the Video.

3. Link to the Video on YouTube From Your Website using the Keywords as the Anchor Text (& Embed it into a Blog!)

4. Share Links on Social Media: Add to Google Places, Facebook,

etc.

Optimizing for ‘Mobile’

Mobile Users Want Info Even FASTER!

Add Clickable Phone Number to Header of Your Website so They Can Call You!

Check Your Page Load Speed! Image File Size, Extra Widgets, Etc.

Make Sure Directory Listings Have Hours of Operation Smartphones can Search for Open Businesses, by Neighborhood, or Closest T Stop. Have an Evening Voicemail or Auto-Responder Email Reply Fast for Off-Hours Replies.

Don’t Waste Your Money on Building an App! Would Have to Maintain Multiple Version (Apple, Droid) 60% of US Smartphone Users Shop On the Go; Only 28% Use Apps! (Source: Nielsen)

Smart Phone with GPS make ‘Local’ = ‘Mobile’

Recap

Keyword Strategy – Think LOCAL! Optimize Your Website for with Local Keywords in Mind. Content is King, Even Locally. Submit to Online Directories & FILL EVERYTHING OUT! Be a Local Butterfly on Social Media & Network!

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