A Test For Local Offline Business Owners...
Posted 21st February 2010 at 02:40 PM by Jagged
Want to find out how your business is viewed by your customers online? Then take this simple test.
First, think about your business...
Think of what terms your customers would use to find you online without doing an actual business URL...
*example: if your a Chiropractor in Tucson, enter the search terms "Tucson Chiropractor", "Best Tucson Chiropractor" or "Chiropractor 85737" (or what ever your zip code is...) If I was in need of a Chiropractor & I lived in the Tucson area, these are geo-targeted search terms I would use to locate one... .
Go online, open up Google, in the search bar....enter the search term you chose....
1. There should be a Google Local 7-box Map that appears with local businesses. I say '"Should" because, not all search terms generate a Google 7-box Map, sometimes it's a 3-box, 1-box or no maps at all.
Is your business listed in that 7-box? NO? You need to do some work then...I'll explain exactly what work later on...
2. The listings just below the map are called "organic" search results. Do you see your business website listed on page 1 for organic searches? (should be approximately 10 search results...) NO? Try page 2...or page 3...Still nothing? OK, again....you need to do some work.
FACT: 82% of people begin their search online for local business, products or services like yours.
FACT: Over 95% of searchers DO NOT go past page 1 of a local search.
FACT: 68% of people use the Internet exclusively for local searches...not the yellow pages.
FACT: Geo-targeted Local SEO is MUCH more cost effective than those over priced, untrackable yellow page ads.
Alarming stats? Sure are!! Especially that 2nd one. You can go through the time & expense of having a website built for your business but if your not on page 1 of a local search for keywords pertaining to your business or service, well...Your screwed. That's a lot of customer NOT coming through your doors. That's a lot of money being left on the table. If your business website is way back on page 3-??? it stands a very good chance of not being seen.
Let's take #1. If your business is NOT showing in that coveted 7-box, there are steps that you can take that will almost assure your business is listed.
There are many businesses that are already in the Google Local Business Center & have a "Basic" listing. They most likely are buried deep in the "more results" section. Why? Because they did not optimize their listing. Be honest now...when was the last time you clicked on the "more results" link?.........just what I thought.
Just entering basic information is not enough. you need to fully optimize local business listing. Local SEO (Local Search Engine Optimization) is the most important & most mis-understood part of owning a business website. Make sure proper keywords are embedded with-in your listings. Expand your categories, widening your search possibilities. Add images, video's, coupons to maximize your listing.
This is something your business needs to get in on....before your competition does.
Ok, Now for #2. Knowing now that over 95% of searchers do not go past page 1 of a local search, you can see why it is so important to do well in Organic search results. You need to take your business website, analyze it thoroughly for proper page titles, pages descriptions, meta-tag keyword formation, font tags, alt tags, on-page content, in-bound & outbound links. Local SEO is an ever changing medium. What worked for search engines last year most likely will not work this year. You need to constantly re-educate yourself regularly to stay current on what the search engines like & no long favor. Have an on-going, monthly Local SEO program from an experienced Local SEO expert. This assures that your business website has the means to stay on-top, ahead of your competition.
This works no matter your location, no matter your business. Local SEO is an essential part of owning a local business website.
Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Casa Grande, Maricopa, Phoenix Arizona local business owners looking to improve their online local business listings & local search engine rankings need to contact their Local SEO Expert: TucsonMerchant.com
First, think about your business...
Think of what terms your customers would use to find you online without doing an actual business URL...
*example: if your a Chiropractor in Tucson, enter the search terms "Tucson Chiropractor", "Best Tucson Chiropractor" or "Chiropractor 85737" (or what ever your zip code is...) If I was in need of a Chiropractor & I lived in the Tucson area, these are geo-targeted search terms I would use to locate one... .
Go online, open up Google, in the search bar....enter the search term you chose....
1. There should be a Google Local 7-box Map that appears with local businesses. I say '"Should" because, not all search terms generate a Google 7-box Map, sometimes it's a 3-box, 1-box or no maps at all.
Is your business listed in that 7-box? NO? You need to do some work then...I'll explain exactly what work later on...
2. The listings just below the map are called "organic" search results. Do you see your business website listed on page 1 for organic searches? (should be approximately 10 search results...) NO? Try page 2...or page 3...Still nothing? OK, again....you need to do some work.
FACT: 82% of people begin their search online for local business, products or services like yours.
FACT: Over 95% of searchers DO NOT go past page 1 of a local search.
FACT: 68% of people use the Internet exclusively for local searches...not the yellow pages.
FACT: Geo-targeted Local SEO is MUCH more cost effective than those over priced, untrackable yellow page ads.
Alarming stats? Sure are!! Especially that 2nd one. You can go through the time & expense of having a website built for your business but if your not on page 1 of a local search for keywords pertaining to your business or service, well...Your screwed. That's a lot of customer NOT coming through your doors. That's a lot of money being left on the table. If your business website is way back on page 3-??? it stands a very good chance of not being seen.
Let's take #1. If your business is NOT showing in that coveted 7-box, there are steps that you can take that will almost assure your business is listed.
There are many businesses that are already in the Google Local Business Center & have a "Basic" listing. They most likely are buried deep in the "more results" section. Why? Because they did not optimize their listing. Be honest now...when was the last time you clicked on the "more results" link?.........just what I thought.
Just entering basic information is not enough. you need to fully optimize local business listing. Local SEO (Local Search Engine Optimization) is the most important & most mis-understood part of owning a business website. Make sure proper keywords are embedded with-in your listings. Expand your categories, widening your search possibilities. Add images, video's, coupons to maximize your listing.
This is something your business needs to get in on....before your competition does.
Ok, Now for #2. Knowing now that over 95% of searchers do not go past page 1 of a local search, you can see why it is so important to do well in Organic search results. You need to take your business website, analyze it thoroughly for proper page titles, pages descriptions, meta-tag keyword formation, font tags, alt tags, on-page content, in-bound & outbound links. Local SEO is an ever changing medium. What worked for search engines last year most likely will not work this year. You need to constantly re-educate yourself regularly to stay current on what the search engines like & no long favor. Have an on-going, monthly Local SEO program from an experienced Local SEO expert. This assures that your business website has the means to stay on-top, ahead of your competition.
This works no matter your location, no matter your business. Local SEO is an essential part of owning a local business website.
Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley, Casa Grande, Maricopa, Phoenix Arizona local business owners looking to improve their online local business listings & local search engine rankings need to contact their Local SEO Expert: TucsonMerchant.com
Total Comments 3
Comments
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That seems like a great way to open their eyes. Hope you don't mind if I use that on some prospects.
MoonviewPosted 2nd March 2010 at 07:33 PM by moonview
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Hope it does you well...best of luck...Posted 2nd March 2010 at 08:25 PM by Jagged -
You've laid out some good markers to track the success of your website and to gauge the success of your client's website.
Local SEO is extremely important for local businesses because it can give your website a boost and a Page 1 ranking in Google for geo-targeted searches.
I'm interested in offering my local clients services like, client reactivation, installation of autoresponders and Local Listings in the major search engines (Google, Yahoo and Bing). The only service I am really knowledgeable about is past client reactivation. So, I have a lot of learning to do so I can offer my clients a more comprehensive service.
Jagged, I like the way you've positioned your company as the local expert. I aspire to do that same thing. I'm in the early stages of getting my business off the ground -- I don't even have my first client signed on yet but I giving things a lot of thought to eliminate as many mistakes as I can.
Thanks, again, for this insightful article.
~ IrisPosted 19th April 2010 at 07:14 PM by ijohnson
