Local SEO
Local SEO is term is given to SEO process of optimizing websites for geographical locations.Local SEO is very important for business whose customer segments are geographically targeted and they form a important factor in their success. For such businesses where geo targeting is very crucial to their success, targeted website content & marketing message is very crucial. Performing SEO for such websites needs extra attention .
Some of the below SEO Tips for optimizing for locally was found to be extremely useful.
1) Websites must be Optimized for Mobile Users, it is very very essential to have your website optimized for geographies. This is because the localized search results will have extra value add for mobile users. Search engines have developed technology which would identify location (if not, it will soon to be) of mobile phone users and serve results based on their location. Therefore highlighting location names in your WAP enabled website is very essential.
2) Use Google Trends: Google Trends shows you which cities generate the highest amount of searches for the term. Target those Cities for publishing your Press Release Online.
Create Separate Pages for those Cities and include more content on those pages, rank them higher in search engines
3) Create a Directory structure of listings of Locations: Countries, cities, areas, pincodes where your product and service is located and link to corresponding profile page from each link.
4) Title Tags, Headings: In product details page include area, city, country in the same order in Title Tags, Headings
A) In your Product Details page include links to your external sites of related industries in same geographies.
5) Sub Domains, Folders: Create location names as sub domains or folders. the content present in these sub domains or folders should only be related to that particular location.
Having a sub domain has an advantage of hosting each domain in respective geographies. for example:
- india.example.com can be hosted in India
- us.example.com can be hosted in US
- uk.example.com can be hosted in UK
- australia.example.com can be hosted in Australia
- This way each subdomain will have higher probability to rank for searches in respective countries.
6) Common Words: Include keywords which are specific to that locality people in each product page along with Geo location. Such as common nicknames apart from main keywords
A) For Example: Include Green City Bangalore, Pink City Jaipur, and not just Bangalore, Jaipur
7) IP Redirect: Do not redirect users to websites based on IP location in the same country. This is can have negative effect as search engines reach your site from different IPs.
Backlinks from Geo Specifc Sites: Generate Backlinks from other sites which are oriented to same geography, use location names in the anchor text of back-links.
9) Local Business Listings: Observe the backlinks and content on sites which rank higher in Local search engines including http://local.google.com, Yahoo Local, MSN Local. Optimize your site accordingly..
A) Some Local Search Engines rank sites alphabetically
B) Some Local Engines rank site based on presence on web site link in other properties of same portals. For example: Yahoo might rank your site higher if your site is listed in Yahoo directory, Yahoo Small Business, Yahoo Yellowpages, Flickr, Del.icio.us.
C) Good idea is to get listed in every geolocation your business operates. For example: In US category, UK category.
D) Include City Name, Country Name in every keyword.
E) Signup for Google Local Business Listings, similarly for Yahoo & MSN
F) Give Full Address in every product on your page.
G) Get your Local Listings reviewed regularly .. this will ensure to keep it on top…
10) Yellow Pages Listings: Getting your website listed in Yellow Pages directory, Local Business Directories is very essential.
A) http://yp.yahoo.com/
B) http://yellowpages.msn.com
C) http://www.yellowpages.com
D) http://www.yellowpages.com.au
E) http://www.yell.com
F) http://www.yellowpages.ca
G) Similar Yellowpages directory for your location
11) Maps: Link to Wikipmapia (containing Lat Long Data) or Google Maps from your product details page. You can even embed a map.
12) Images & Videos: Photographs, Videos present in your website must be uploaded in respective vertical search engines such as Flickr.com, Youtube.com and importantly to Optimize & tag them will all geographical location names along with Lat, Long data if options as given. You must also provide a link to your website from these image, video content
13) Blogs & Reviews: Generate Backlinks from Blogs which are specific to these location, Blog links have higher weightage in local industry. Get Reviews from Experts who claimed to be professionals in that location. For example: Real Estate Expert in London recommending your site from his blog.
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