Our in-house SEO Copywriter, Steve Logan, recently made an excellent post that explored the importance of spelling and grammar, with particular reference to writing for the web (see ‘The Typos and Language Errors that Turn Visitors Away).
Another consideration content writers and search engine optimisers need to have is for the use of synonyms in their writing. For some time now, Google have been showing synonyms bolded in the search results for stemming variants, such as the plural of a word, e.g. the searcher enters ‘picture’ but ‘pictures’ is also shown in bold. More…
When it comes to the future of search engine optimisation, local search looks primed to become indispensable for any business website. Whilst SEO focuses on what it is that your business offers, local search roots that information to a geographic location [see: What is Local Search?].
With the mobilisation of Internet connectivity people aren’t just going online at home or in the office. As such, consumers are increasingly turning to their mobile phones and PDAs to search for businesses and products within their immediate vicinity. This means that wherever we are, whether we are familiar with the surroundings or not, near continuous access to the Internet ensures that we are only a search away from getting directions to the nearest store, bank or hotel.
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Local Search Marketing is becoming more and more important to online businesses these days. It’s also the fastest growing search option at the moment and so it’s important that your company is ranking well for localised searches.
An important place to start is Google Maps.
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The importance of Local Search, the industry term for Local Search Engine Marketing, is rising. Over the past few years, Local Search has gained in sophistication and taken an increasingly significant role in Internet Marketing. Local Search is yet another vital revolution in the way that we search for, buy and sell products and services on the Internet.
Since the Internet first became a major marketplace, online retailers have competed for the attention of the world’s consumers. This has been great for global business; it means that a small business in Southampton, England can compete with key retailers and sell its products to customers anywhere in the World. But it also means that any trader with access to the World Wide Web can sell to Southampton too! Online retailers who want to attract local customers to them need to work to compete on a local level.
In order to increase the profile of local businesses to local customers, Local Search was created. In 2006, over 20% of all searches made on the Internet were intended to find something local. The big Search Engine companies like Google and MSN are all spending huge sums of money developing their own search technologies and experts reveal that Local Search is the biggest area of research and development that’s likely to start affecting the way we all buy and sell our products and services from now on.
In order to benefit most from local searches, your company should dominate all local keyword searches. Local Search isn’t going away, it’s only going to develop and grow as a direct, cost-effective method of online marketing. It’s important to know that any online business wishing to compete locally will need to carefully construct a local search engine marketing plan.
So what are the benefits for online retailers of using Local Search Engine Marketing to reach their target customers?
- Local Search is a cost effective way of marketing. You only pay to market to customers who are searching within your specified geographical area.
- Local Search Engine Marketing is like placing a giant advert for your product or service in front of qualified traffic. Your ads are positioned to appear to people that are already looking for what you offer within your designated area.
- Unlike the potential expense of dominating keyword searches on a national or international level, Local Search Engine Marketing allows you to completely dominate keyword searches in your area and save money by specifying local searches.
- See increased sales as customers search for you; get a superior ROI for your marketing costs.
- Customers use the Internet to compare potential retailers but are more likely to trust local retailers over those located further away.
- Local Search increases offline traffic such as footfall and telephone enquiries for those businesses with a physical storefront.
Whereas Local Search Engine Marketing was once an optional extra, for businesses retailing on the Internet, it’s now a real necessity! We offer a complete Local Search Engine Marketing Service for any UK business looking to increase visits from searchers in their geographical area.
Is your business showing on Google maps?
If not it’s a very simple thing to set up and has many benefits.
All you need to do is enter your businesses details into Google’s Local Business Centre. You may have to register for a Google account if you don’t already have one. In your business listing you can include details of your Business including opening hours and payment taken. You can also include Photos and link to Videos you may have uploaded to You-tube.
Having your business on Local Business Centre means that you may well appear on local searches on Google. For example the search Southampton wedding photographer in Google shows a map with the top 10 Photographers marked on it at the top of the search results.
