Local businesses

[panzico]

I have the Web Blueprint program (which is fantastic). I was wondering if there are lessons to help with local business marketing to help people in their town or community get their websites #1 on Google organics.

[Tim Buchalka]

I have the Web Blueprint program (which is fantastic). I was wondering if there are lessons to help with local business marketing to help people in their town or community get their websites #1 on Google organics.

Glad you're getting some good value out of the blueprint!

Here is a thread to get you started with Google local search results

Cheers


Tim

[sneddo]

Something I heard a while back was the use of meta tags to pin point your location, The report I read said that google will look at the tag and work out the location and that it then helps your local search results.

I have not tested this at all so maybe someone can tell us if it work or not??

If you are interested take a look here -> Adding yourself to GeoURL - GeoURL (2.0)

[ortan]

How to achieve first page Google Local Map Listings or Google Local Business Listings for your Business and compete with the big companies.
Google gets over 70% of all internet searches every day for every type of business, product and service and if you are not showing up on the first page of Google then you are missing out on tons of new business every day. With Google Local Business Listings also known as Google Map Listings you can get plenty of new business from local clients and customers who live near you or someone who is searching for a business in your hometown area.

[Cathy Duncan]

Yeah, ortan, I agree but it takes years to achieve first page ranking for a starter in business. The best thing in this regard is to choose from the keywords having low search volume because they have the tendency to bring you up in less time as compared to the ones using high search volume keywords. Hope it works.

[johnpoul00]

Hello,

Our business provides Internet marketing services and amongst our list of services is to help businesses with their local business listing.

This is going to be an entirely new form of marketing at the local level for small and large businesses alike. The process will help local business listings and mobile marketing to converge in the upcoming years.

Imagine that you're on the road and you are looking for something. You use your mobile device and the maps application of your choice to find a business, product or service near your current geography.

Coupons, videos, photos, offers, discounts, etc will all be on these listings.

Managing these at multiple locals is where the local business needs help because Google is not the 800 lb gorilla in this space and potentially may not be. The decision on what local database to use is up to the application developer.

One other note is that consumers can review their experience and post a comment directly onto the local listing (Google, Yahoo, Ask, Bing, Local.com, Yelp, Angie's list, take a your pick) the moment they walk out the door. That will also require management.

This is a new space and the seo knowledge doesn't entirely apply.

[ngovgroup]

Take time to submit in some websites that tie in with Google Maps/ Places. Examples of these are Yelp, Superpages, Manta, etc. If you get good reviews on these third-party websites, chances are, your Google Places will rank high and improve SERP locally.

[Tim Buchalka]

Take time to submit in some websites that tie in with Google Maps/ Places. Examples of these are Yelp, Superpages, Manta, etc. If you get good reviews on these third-party websites, chances are, your Google Places will rank high and improve SERP locally.

Excellent advice, Google Maps/Places is a great resource - Be sure to fill out your google profile fully (including addresses for the local area you are targeting).