Whether you are an small business owner or search engine optimization specialist Google local is an important factor in getting targeted visitors to a website. Competitive markets like “landscaping” can have many pages of results. It is vitally important to be near the top.
For many searches the Google local results take up the entire page above the fold. This forces the user to scroll just to see that first organic ranking. Most of the clicks are gotten before that scrolling ever occurs. As a search engine optimization specialist I am very aware that my customers need to be ranked well in Google local listings.
The question then obviously becomes, “Is there a way to help businesses rise in the rankings for local search?” The answer is yes and no.
As with organic rankings Google has a patented algorithm for deciding the local rankings. There is no way of knowing exactly what that algorithm is, so as with traditional SEO we can only use tested strategies to try and get better local rankings. I will tell you some of the tips that have been successful thus far in testing. None of these tips will have a negative effect on your rankings, so they are worth doing.
Getting your information correctly categorized on the major data providers is the first and most important step in getting higher placement in Google local listings. InfoUsa, Acxiom and Localeze are the most important. Make sure you update this information with them so that they all match. Make it as easy as possible for Google to understand what your business does.
Next you should update and create accounts with as many of the local directories as possible. Merchant Circle, Yellowpages.com, and CitySearch are examples of these directories.
User ratings seem to have some positive impact in some cases. It definitely doesn’t hurt and give the searcher a warm feeling also. Get a few of your best customers to leave some comments on Google local for your business and you will reap the rewards.
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