3 Tips for Better Local Search Engine Optimization
Kennebunk, Maine (PRWEB) August 17, 2013 -- There is no doubt of the importance for local search engine optimization, or local SEO, for today’s business. The reality is that there is a lot of competition out there. Local businesses that aim to be at the top of search engine results pages will have to beat tremendous odds without narrowing down their target audience. Local SEO allows companies to save money and enhance their reach at the same time. This is important, because research has shown that more than half of consumers today are checking online first when it comes to finding local goods and services. My Local Leads works with plumbers, electricians, home contractors, restaurants, and other local businesses to help them reduce marketing costs while improving the effectiveness. The goal is always to get the phone to ring, but how do business owners get found amid a sea of competitors? The following are techniques My Local Leads encourages their clients to employ to improve the overall effectiveness of their local search marketing campaigns.
One key to getting found on line and encouraging new customers to contact a company is to properly carry out efforts for online reputation management. Part of the job is to constantly search the web—a monthly basis is good—for mentions of your company. Find online review sites, business directories, and other places that may have a listing for the business. If they can have a listing for the business, but do not, set one up. If they do have a listing, take the necessary steps to take ownership of that online business profile. Doing this will help to limit the chances of incorrect information being given to existing and potential customers. This will also give the firm a chance to respond to negative reviews and comments in order to maintain brand image. Furthermore, the links from those profiles can then be directed to point at the company’s designated URL.
With internet marketing, content is king. Putting together and maintain a high quality blog will improve the overall organic search score of a website, if done properly. What does high quality mean, though. It does mean quality writing—checking for spelling and grammatical errors. It also includes keeping the writing both fresh and relevant. For local businesses, this could include writing a blog on common problems clients face and how to correct them, giving away insider secrets, and even providing commentary on recent industry related news items and reports. It is important to do more than just inform or entertain on a company blog. To get people to keep coming back, get them involved. Provide competitions, give away stuff, give quizzes or take surveys. People that interact and engage with a company in this way are likely to remember them when it comes time to purchase goods or hire someone for services provided by the company.
Keep an eye on competition. This goes for any type of business, although it turns out many local business owners are unaware of the tools available to help them in improving SEO. One important item on the list of regular maintenance for a site’s SEO is to review the incoming links, or backlinks, to a competitor’s site. There is a wealth of information to be mined there and will provide a target list to consider for back linking strategies. There are some tools that can do parts of this for free, although the most effective software has costs into the thousands. Beyond that, knowing how to read and interpret the results of thorough competitive research is one of many reasons to hire an online lead generation firm like My Local Leads.
Chris Moreno, My Local Leads, http://www.mylocalleads.com, (207) 332-3306, [email protected]
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