How to do local SEO

[Brave7]

There are many ways to target locally and you don't need to do any SEO except if you provide value on these sites by adding unique descriptions, blogging, answers, etc.

Create a Google map profile
Creat a local.yahoo.com profile
Create a Yelp.com profile
If you are an ecommerce owner, create a merchantcircle profile
Create ads in Craig List or any free local classified sites
etc

Good luck

[bob770]

Local SEO, through local Keywords which includes your area or near by and another term of Local SEO which comes under your specific Regional or Country.

[jeffsmith]

Get links from local area like if your are optimizing a UK site get the .co.uk links and also set the geographical target in google webmaster tool.

[c5c1lia]

You keywords targeting should be extended with the local specification (like a keyword + city or Region). That is so simple (you can create your pages with the content targeting the local).

[patco]

In local SEO you should first check the keywords in your area and try to build backlinks using THESE keywords. Then you could also build some backlinks as submitting your website to some LOCAL directories and article sites. A hard work is required!

[WebOut]

Originally Posted by 5StarAffiliatePrograms

A big part of local SEO is Google Places.

If you only optimize your site for city + keyword, you'll only rank in organic which is typically below all the local Google Places listings. And down in local organic you are competing with all the major yellow pages and directories too.

So if you have an actual business in that city, you need to claim and optimize your Google Place page so you have a better chance of being found. The algo is totally different though and actually there are 2 algos, so it's a different beast to conquer than regular SEO.

Let me know if anyone wants more details about the Places side and how it works.

Very well said. It is right that adding a business in Google Places will be beneficial. This is really recommended by Google. According to search engines, it is one of the best ways in promoting a business.

[safia1230]

Well, this local SEO company charged me $100 bucks for 3 popular keywords and if someone search those keywords my website show on top of google in fist page. Well, they DID it and it was not a scam.

One of my keywords was Persian Rugs and this is a very high demand keyword.

My question is: These people DID NOT even logged in into my website to changed meta tags or inside content. I was thinking they will do lots of back links in short amount of time but they never did any backlinks to my website.

I am not talking about my website on ad world place. Its just below the ads in regular search result area in first page.

Do you have any idea how they could do this? They guarantee that the website will stay on top for at least one month.

What do you think folks?

[snakeair]

If i hired a SEO company to get me ranked for some keywords, i would hope that the SEO company would look at my title and meta keywords to see if they was correct or needed to add a few more. Maybe there was other SEO issues on my site that i was unaware of.

Sure sounds like you got scammed for sure.

Any SEO firm that gives a guarantee like you stated, i'd stay away from them. If a SEO firm said we will improve your rankings and you will see results in 2 to 3 months, i'd know that the company is for real and won't build to many links fast to get me banned from Google.

This just my opinion.

[ket]

yes, the same way as normal seo you have to do. Also you can do local listing, submit info in some local directory and create profile in local popular business networking sites. Other job is same as normal seo.

[RankedZillaSEO]

I think it's important to get reviews for Local listings. You might not be the first business listed, but a business with consumer reviews tends to stand out from the crowd.

[GeraldNitram]

Better get listed on Google Places so that the locals can find you if ever they search for the type of business you're running. You're on the right track, don't worry.

[mangomedia]

Of course,there's no concept in seo local ,general like,depend on websites,you are just analysis the keywords like competitive and high competitive that 's all.

[aira]

That's right, the concept of local optimization is almost the same as the general SEO process.. the difference is - local SEO is more focused and specific in terms of target audience, keywords - because the area and locality is indicated

[annushka]

Local SEO is the same SEO. If You want more local visitors do blog commentings and forum postings in local blogs and forums

[rcostica]

Originally Posted by vishal_vivek

Do the following activities for local SEO:
1) Set the target country in your Google webmaster tool.
2) Register in Google places
3) Register in Yahoo local
4) Submit your site in local directories
5) Get links from local sites.
6) If you have any office in the city then don't forget to put in on your site.

That about covers it except that you should have your country, city, or whatever region you're optimizing for in the content of your site as well.

[android45]

Where we can specify this Geo target.Please tell me.

[enkonversations]

The process of SEO for local and international is same but the keywords are different, for targeting local market you need to use local keywords which is related to city, state or country.

[satyendratm]

You have to target local keywords in your web pages. Suppose you want to target "Window Repair" in Orange County then add local keyword "Window Repair Orange County" to title and web content in order to target the same.

[jwmann2]

Originally Posted by born_star16

Local SEO is just doing SEO for a location nothing different. I think doing local SEO is a bit easy as the competition is less than doing it globally.

You're correct. I helped a friend of mine rank for his keywords, he owns an online grocery shopping business for our city.

[honitel]

I just want to share what snakeair shared in other thread which I think can contribute here too.

Originally Posted by snakeair

5 tips for improving your local place pages