How to achieve local results rankings in Google?

[Derek Thomas]

Hi Warriors,

I know there are a ton of WSOs and other resources dealing with "offline marketing" and "local SEO", but I'm curious to hear your absolute favorites.

If I were a small business owner looking to get my website ranked locally, what resources would you recommend? What would you point me to that says "this is how you do it"

Thanks everyone.
Derek

[Derek Thomas]

Would love it if anyone has any thoughts.

Best way to do keyword research for local business?
Best way to get a website ranked #1 locally?
Best way to achieve Google "Local results..." listing?

I'm not asking for an explanation here, I'm just curious if you have any resources that are worth recommending.

Thanks so much.
Derek

[hommi_16]

I've been working with some local business in the past year or so and I can tell you that I found most of my ideas from the Free Google Keyword tool. Use the tool to look for keyword city or city keyword (ie. data recovery Seattle) and look at the results.

In terms of SEO, I find it much easier to rank locally and once you're up on the top you don't have to do much work. Most of my sites I was able to get to number one within 3-4 months and I could have ranked faster with some more work. A basic backlink campaign should do the trick.

For local result rankings you can check out a few sources... just google it

I also found a very detailed study of local search ranking you can read here....

Local Search Ranking Factors | Local SEO Best Practices for Google, Bing, Yahoo

Good Luck

Peter

[Krippa]

Are you trying to rank in the 10 or 1 box? In that case I would recommend Google Maps Cash. It´s a really good course and I have ranked several sites by just copying what they are doing.

[Derek Thomas]

Originally Posted by hommi_16

For local result rankings you can check out a few sources... just google it

Trust me, I have. I've been doing lots of reading, and have even had some success.

I was just looking to see if fellow Warriors had any specific resources they found to be especially useful. I love to hear the recommendations from others.

Thanks for sharing yours!

Derek

[Derek Thomas]

Originally Posted by Krippa

Are you trying to rank in the 10 or 1 box? In that case I would recommend Google Maps Cash. It´s a really good course and I have ranked several sites by just copying what they are doing.

I don't like the blackhat aspect of it, but otherwise thanks for sharing. I appreciate it.

Derek

[MilesT]

local domain name selection and local keyword density. Me and a partner have quite a few 'local' sites ranked quite high and we focused on those two things. Bigger cities take a lot more work. Small to med size you can get high rankings all day.

[Derek Thomas]

Originally Posted by MilesT

local domain name selection and local keyword density. Me and a partner have quite a few 'local' sites ranked quite high and we focused on those two things. Bigger cities take a lot more work. Small to med size you can get high rankings all day.

Thanks for the solid advice!

Derek

[Andyhenry]

Derek if you just focus on the basics you'll be fine.

Do your keyword research, include those keywords in your content, get a local business listing and give it as much information as possible - get reviews and attributions for that listing, get the site listed in as many local directories as possible and if you need any more than that just use basic link building and article marketing - that will do it 99% of the time.

Andy

[Derek Thomas]

Originally Posted by Andyhenry

Derek if you just focus on the basics you'll be fine.

Do your keyword research, include those keywords in your content, get a local business listing and give it as much information as possible - get reviews and attributions for that listing, get the site listed in as many local directories as possible and if you need any more than that just use basic link building and article marketing - that will do it 99% of the time.

Andy

Many thanks for the advice Andy.

You know, what I was looking for was really a compilation of some of the best training resources...your WSO has certainly been added to that list.

Derek

[theseoguys]

First I submitted to Google Local search. Once that was confirmed, we started showing in the reults near you. Depending on the size or your area, smaller area, longer tail was not a problem to rank with me, with as few as 30 inbound links. Another phrase that popped up was "things to do ........" insert your city. If you have anything entertainment related, that would be easy to show up on. worked for me from obscurity to page 1 and 2 in little time.

[Derek Thomas]

Thanks for you all your help everyone. I really do appreciate the great advice!

What I was really looking for though is an actual product, a WSO, or a training resource that you recommend.

I'm just trying to compile a list of resources, and wanted to know my fellow Warrior's favorites.

Thanks again to all.

Derek

[lostprince]

get indexed by google..
facebook can be a good media to get huge traffic.. try this.
I used facebook to get some traffic for my site and it was really huge traffic.
and my paged ranked well on google for this.

[patadeperro]

For local results usually all you have to do is "Cityname+business main activity" example:

- montreal Internet Marketing and you optimize your page for that term, if you buy a domain like that you are almost sure in the 1 page.

- Obviously basic onsite optimization need to be done, headlines, tags, content, etc...

- And if you use Web 2.0 (squidoo, myspace, etc..) properties you can dominate for varios positions in the 1 Google page for that terms.

[doitnownotlater]

Yes, Yes to everyone's responses. I have been doing local seo for some time now and here are my recommendations.

First, make sure you do your keyword research, you have to know exactly what the most common keyword is being searched, especially before the competition is fierce if you live in a big city. You want to be able to do the right internet marketing with backlinks.

Second, file your dba with your keywords in it. You see, Google does not mind if your keywords are in the title of those listings as well it is in your legal business entity.
But make sure that it flows together with your business name, so it is not austin texas plumber 10th street...If you are a local business, stick with the most relevant activity in your business and target those keywords. So if you are a real estate agent, research the keyword, and it might be lincoln real estate agents that is searched often, if you can get away with it, file the new dba as john's real estate agency and then in the google listing add the keywords lincoln. and then of course get the domain name for it as soon as possible.

Third, when you are in a big city, you have more people to fight for when it comes to reviews, so the more reviews you have the better. It will push your site to the very top if you out review others, but you will also have to a optimized listings and then some other factors just like organic rankings.

[Derek Thomas]

Thanks again for your help everyone.

Again, what I was looking for is recommended resources...WSOs, products, whatever.

If anyone has any really good resources feel free to PM me.

Otherwise, I'll leave this thread and let this fruitful discussion continue.

Take care everyone.

Derek

[PrudentPanda]

I have done some SEO ranking for a few of my clients, while I found it a fairly easy to rank for long tails, the traffic is fairly insignificant to justify for clients's cost in my opinion. Is there a good way to rank for Google local? Particularly with nearby cities?

[Google.me]

Good tips here. Im just testing a free webhost with one of my clients I have the number spot but I see that the google bot is a bit slow in updating my statistics is this free hosting causing the problem? well I see a difference between the paid and free hosting any one got any view or ideas about this situation

[smartfinds]

Hi Derek,

Here is my interpretation of what you are are asking about throughout your comments in this thread. Hope my understanding is correct as I have to make some assumptions in my response.

In the beginning your request was "this is how you do it" and I think that folks have provided you with ideas on resources they use. So the answers you have received are the "what". I don't think you can ask everyone about the "how" because the ability to generate results for our clients are based on each persons ability, experience and understanding of research, data interpretation, analysis and then coming up with an action plan.

For example, in the traditional world it was always about "widgets" that you can patent. In the virtual world it becomes a matter of using resources and pulling them together to achieve a result. Difficult to patent ideas at the end of the day and therefore the "how" becomes the secret recipe.

I for one am always willing to share the "what", but not the "how". Our Internet marketing agencies successes are entirely based on the "how". Meaning, our ability to take existing puzzle pieces from multiple sources including our experience and create success.

Having said that the "what" components and some of those resources are:
1. Google Adwords
2. Google Insights
3. Local Business Listings (multiple locations and use them as a true marketing tool, not just a data tool that is managed monthly....local business listings are "not" a one time deal)
4. Local SEO that dives into specific HTML coding changes that match the local business listings. This is not just meta tags and visible text.
5. Content marketing to create inbound only links with targeted keywords around local seo linked strategically.

Hope this helps.

[thesweetspot]

I do agree with smartfinds, because we all have our own secrets in how it is done, and when people start sharing the hows..then it moves into a product...

But I can share with you that a

good domain name will play a factor in local seo.

a optimized local listings across bing, yahoo, and google will help significantly bc these are one of the factors that google uses to determine who is a real business online in regards to a local business in the city.

and good content for those local searches...use article marketing for this...

I am in product development for this and I will be able to share my secrets on the hows.

But like everyone knows online marketing, you have to test everything from what works, links, articles, to the actual website optimization..

But focus only on one keyword...And then do all the testing off of that until you are seeing results..so then you know what is working and what is not.

[yaniman]

Getting higher rank in Local Buisness list is very important. I don't think anyone will share their secrets other than just some hints which is already known to everyone. Those tips are like domain name with the local place , keyword rich domain, adding local information to the home page with place optimized content.