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How Apple's Siri Could Destroy Local SEO

by IMToday
15 replies
Anyone else worried about this? Maybe time to re-think a few things...

How Apple's Siri Could Destroy Local SEO | Entrepreneur.com
#apple #destroy #local #seo #siri
  • Profile picture of the author Seantrepreneur
    Let's lay things out to put the worry to rest.

    Let's you live in a city of 100,000. It's fair to say maybe 50% of ppl have an Iphones? So 50,000ish? Of those MAYBE 15% have upgraded to the 4S? That leaves 7,500. Of that maybe 25% will actually use Siri to find them local bars, restruants, cab companies etc.. So out of a city of 100,000 people MAYBE 1,875 people see see this results. That's only when they are out on the town. To be honest I think the numbers I used are high too.

    I will say that the article is interesting, but the title is a little much.

    Sean
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    -------->Started with $500 on Amazon and building it from there. Week #1 income report is live ($593.78 in revenue)<----------
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  • Profile picture of the author IMToday
    I think your numbers are way too low. A lot more than 25% of 4S owners are using Siri. And what happens in another year or two when every smartphone has Siri or similar functionality? This IS the future.
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    • Profile picture of the author iAmNameLess
      Originally Posted by IMToday View Post

      I think your numbers are way too low. A lot more than 25% of 4S owners are using Siri. And what happens in another year or two when every smartphone has Siri or similar functionality? This IS the future.
      In a town of 100,000 how many people do you think have iphones? How many do you think have the 4S? There will always be a need for SEO as long as there are search engines. If Siri is pulling from search engines then it can be manipulated.

      I don't see how the title is appropriate, because in no way does this destroy local SEO. It only strengthens it!
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  • Profile picture of the author mjbmedia
    read the piece a few times, it says local SEO will be important, the piece /writer somewhat contradicts themselves saying siri will remove the need for SEO but then saying it will use local SEO to enable it to find what its searching for, I think the writer (of the editorial piece not the OP) is seeking attention and needs to learn more about what theyre saying .

    In any event every new software, marketing method brings fresh exciting new opportunities to us
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    Mike

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    • Profile picture of the author J smith
      Interesting article.

      So Siri draws data from local search sites like google places and yelp. Then Siri eliminates the need to go to those places since it can search them automatically. As fewer people begin to utilize those local search places, the quality their information begins to decline, thus the quality of Siri's "decissions" begins to decline as well. As a result more people go back to using local search sites The circle of life continues.
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      • Profile picture of the author scarab
        I have read several different articles on SIRI as well. I think that Apples quest to takeover the mobile search is their attempt to wrest control away from Google for local searches, which will in fact be a hit on Local SEO. If SIRI is received well for the iPhone, the Droid will surely follow.

        Am I concerned, well it's got me thinking for sure. We should consider the fact that most searches via a mobile device are Local and the current predictions are by 2012/2013 that mobile local searches will surpass the desktop searches.

        The driving force of these predictions is the fact that Mobile Consumers are mobile. Now with Siri, they do not have pull up their browser and enter a search by hand. A lot more efficient and less cumbersome on their part. Given the option are you going to spend 3 or 4 minutes entering a search on a small device or would you rather just speak the words into the small mobile device, spend 3 seconds and get the results? I imagine the numbers will show in the next year that the 2nd option will be the choice.

        We need to be able to change with the market and if that means being able to work within both SIRI and the current Google world.
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  • Profile picture of the author Seantrepreneur
    I think your numbers are way too low. A lot more than 25% of 4S owners are using Siri. And what happens in another year or two when every smartphone has Siri or similar functionality? This IS the future.
    Of course they are using Siri, but to make appointment reminders, check the weather and other things beside looking for a bar or restaurant. Plus, there are other features of the 4S that ppl bought the iPhone for beside Siri.

    The day that people ONLY use their phone to search for a local service provider is very far off. Computers and Google are here to stay for a while.

    Sean
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    -------->Started with $500 on Amazon and building it from there. Week #1 income report is live ($593.78 in revenue)<----------
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  • Profile picture of the author TWalker
    According to the article: Iphone users are fascinated by "their new technology" of controlling their phones, writing texts, speaking instructions by using their voice.

    What? I am glad they are catching up with the rest of the world but...

    Google and Android phones have been doing this for a long time. It is a function of all 3 Android phones I have bought over the past year.
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  • Profile picture of the author Ben_R
    I think youve missed the fact; op that - the only way local seo and siri type apps work is with --- peoples sites being listed /ranked-- which means google places and ranking -- which means links and seo guys - us ---

    so for sirir to work it has to have people placing the business online in the right place - teh fact is tgat usually takes an seo / web designer to come along and say so --

    most of the local business from accountants to plumbers sites are one page info sites made pre 2000 -- and thats globally from london to newyork

    as long as google uses links and people can control serps then there shall be seo people ---

    remeber teh only reason google exists is cos people are searching for stuff and people are providing that stuff -- google merly brings the 2 together - without them and teh people to make that happen they are nothing

    anyway - nothing in business is stable - in 1990 Bill gates thought the internet was a gimmick and would never take off - no one believed images let alone commerce would be online -

    10 yrs from now who knows what will happen -- you might be ordering pizza though your pants but someone can monetise that -

    its all good : D
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    • Profile picture of the author Detlev
      Well for the near future I do not foresee much danger for local search vis Siri. I see way more danger for Adwords. Siri will not give you ads.
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      Coaching - Training - Energy Psychology
      Detlev Tesch, Coach in Bonn

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  • Profile picture of the author dminorfmajor
    What to carry from this thread:

    1) Half of a city's population do NOT have iPhones. Much less the 4S

    2) Everything worthwhile that's searchable online to this point can be manipulated.

    3) There have always been scares in Internet Marketing. Remember when Google rolled out Places and +1? A lot of people got scared but we're all still here. Y2K didn't end the world, neither will Siri.
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  • Profile picture of the author electronik69
    I can feel a WSO coming on:
    "How to get Siri to highly recommend your business to your future customers"
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    If it doesn't sell, it isn't creative - David Ogilvy
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    • Profile picture of the author Sue Bruce
      Gurgle has a voice interface. Dont worry, be happy.
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  • Profile picture of the author Tony Jones
    Yeah up your numbers man. Everyone is using siri.
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  • Profile picture of the author dancorkill
    Assume 100% penetration of X latest fad, Siri or whatever.

    Ok 100% of people now SEARCH using the Siri ENGINE seems like business owners might like some OPTIMIZATION to get recommended over their competitors. Whether 1 result comes back or 10,000 it's still smells a lot like SEO to me.

    As the author already points out Siri likely pulls its result from existing more sophisticated third party sources with built up user reviews etc e.g. sites/businesses trusted by Google are more likely to be trusted by Siri. Which means local SEO is more important not at risk of being destroyed. Meh good headline for clicks though .
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