Very often search engine optimisation efforts are targeted at the global internet community – or at least a national audience. Do you want your site to come up first when any user types in a particular keyword phrase? That is all well and good, but sometimes it is more effective to do a bit of geo-targeting that attracts visitors in your own local area.
This is a great way to gain sales from your own friends, family, and acquaintances. How many of them know that you are running an online store or marketing affiliate products online? If they did, chances are they would much rather do business with you than the stranger who owns a competitive company located elsewhere.
By targeting your own locale, you can reach those people down the street who prefer buying from a local vendor and your competition isn’t nearly as stiff as when you’re targeting the entire globe! Here are some ways you can improve your Localised SEO results.
Online Directories
Online business directories are arguably the best place to start with your efforts to optimise your site for local visitors. Google Maps, Yahoo Local, online telephone directories, Citysearch, and Craigslist are all great sites to advertise your business where visitors are directed to vendors located closest to their home town.
Most of these sites are free to list on, but it may take some time for your listing to actually appear. You will have to verify that you are the owner of the business. After your listing is live, be sure to ask past customers to leave a positive review.
Localised SEO – On Page Optimisation
When optimising for Localised SEO, don’t forget the basics. Title and meta tags should all include the city and country where your business is based. If you offer a service, it is very important to include the areas or regions you serve. Remember to add neighbourhood names, smaller towns in the surrounding areas, state or province, and any popular landmarks people often use in searches.
Place your physical address on every page of your site, in addition to the contact us page. Include the street and mailing address, postal code, and local as well as toll-free phone numbers.
Long Tail Keywords
Do you have a pay per click advertising campaign in place? Consider bidding on the long tail keywords for your site that include geographical markers. Long tail keywords are those that appear at the ends of the bell graph for words and phrases related to your website – not the most popular ones located in the middle, or bell-shaped part of the graph.
For instance, if you sell used and new how-to manuals, your main keywords might be “nonfiction resale bookstore”. Add your city and/or state to target the long tail keyword phrase and attract local visitors, i.e “Sydney used bookstore.” If you were selling pizza locally, you wouldn’t target “Australia pizza”, you’d go for something like Melbourne pizza delivery.
Geo-targeting traffic by way of Localised SEO in the region physically surrounding your location is a great way to attract visitors most likely to convert to paying customers. For some people, where a business is located is very important. Just as in real estate, online entrepreneurs are wise to remember the three most important details: location, location, location.
Have a most outstanding day.
Sean RasmussenAussie Internet Marketing
www.SeanSEO.com © 2008 - 2010
