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Local SEO Keyword Help

by CoMpUtErGoD20XX
14 replies
  • SEO
    • |
All,
I am working with a local client who does handyman type work in three counties in the state. The three counties are not huge and are what I would call average size.

I am trying to find keywords to target for his SEO campaign using the Google Keyword tool. However, when I look at the exact match keywords for terms related to his niche I don't find anything with the names of counties or cities in them that have any traffic volume (not even 1 or two searches a month). I find this very strange as I am sure people search for this like "handyman CityName" or "handyman CountyName".

Is there some reason these terms don't show up? Is there some other tool or service that may help me uncover what I should be looking for?

I see that terms like "handyman StateName" have less than 100 exact matches per month.

Should I just target the state level terms even though I am only interested in a small portion of the overall state? If I target the state level terms will this client show up for searches where people put "handyman + cityname" even though I don't directly target them.

Any help on this would truly be appreciated! I haven't ever worked with anyone before that only targets such small areas of service.

Thanks so much in advance!
#keyword #local #local seo #offline marketing #seo
  • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
    I doubt many people are searching for anything relating to "handyman". You have to look at more specific problems. Electrician, plumber, painter, etc. Look at services he provides. I would never search for a "handyman".
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    • Profile picture of the author CoMpUtErGoD20XX
      Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

      I doubt many people are searching for anything relating to "handyman". You have to look at more specific problems. Electrician, plumber, painter, etc. Look at services he provides. I would never search for a "handyman".
      Sorry, I was just being general. All the terms like handyman, home improvement, home improvements, yard work, painting, drywall with either county name or city name appended don't show any real data. They all just show the dash "-". Even terms like dentist don't show any data.

      I just can't believe that people aren't searching for some of these terms even if it is in small numbers each month.
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  • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
    Vary it up a bit. If the town is York, PA, try...

    KW york pa
    KW in york pa
    york pa KW
    KWs in york pa
    KWs york pa
    york pa KWs
    KW york
    KWs york
    KW in york
    KWs in york
    york KW
    york KWs

    Go by town. People are not searching for Dentist PA or PA Dentist. They are searching for Dentist in York, PA, etc.
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    • Profile picture of the author CoMpUtErGoD20XX
      Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

      Vary it up a bit. If the town is York, PA, try...

      KW york pa
      KW in york pa
      york pa KW
      KWs in york pa
      KWs york pa
      york pa KWs
      KW york
      KWs york
      KW in york
      KWs in york
      york KW
      york KWs

      Go by town. People are not searching for Dentist PA or PA Dentist. They are searching for Dentist in York, PA, etc.
      Thanks for the info. How would you recommend going about this since his target market is three counties (each county contains 10+ cities like York)? Would you recommend doing what you mentioned above for York with all the different cities?

      Thanks so much!
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      • Profile picture of the author MikeFriedman
        Originally Posted by CoMpUtErGoD20XX View Post

        Thanks for the info. How would you recommend going about this since his target market is three counties (each county contains 10+ cities like York)? Would you recommend doing what you mentioned above for York with all the different cities?

        Thanks so much!
        Yes that is exactly what I would do.
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        • Profile picture of the author CoMpUtErGoD20XX
          Originally Posted by MikeFriedman View Post

          Yes that is exactly what I would do.
          Thanks Mike!
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  • Profile picture of the author Clandog
    Banned
    If you cant do local cant you do national?
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    • Profile picture of the author CoMpUtErGoD20XX
      Originally Posted by Clandog View Post

      If you cant do local cant you do national?
      Why would I want to go national? The client only serves three counties out of the entire state. I wouldn't want to compete on the national level for someone that only serves an extremely small portion of the national searches.

      Am I missing something?
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  • Profile picture of the author randomsoftwaregroup
    There are times to just ignore Google's traffic stats. I do locals all the time where G would show zero for location + keyword, but once it ranks they get plenty of traffic.

    Including city, county, state initial in your target will help save time and pages also
    Handyman in city, county, FL. Best Handyman Services For Your local needs in ....
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    • Profile picture of the author CoMpUtErGoD20XX
      Originally Posted by randomsoftwaregroup View Post

      There are times to just ignore Google's traffic stats. I do locals all the time where G would show zero for location + keyword, but once it ranks they get plenty of traffic.

      Including city, county, state initial in your target will help save time and pages also
      Handyman in city, county, FL. Best Handyman Services For Your local needs in ....
      Thanks for the information. This is really helpful.
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  • Profile picture of the author yukon
    Banned
    Personally when I search for anything in my own town I use my zip code.

    Example, keyword phrase = plumber 32878




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    • Profile picture of the author CoMpUtErGoD20XX
      Originally Posted by yukon View Post

      Personally when I search for anything in my own town I use my zip code.

      Example, keyword phrase = plumber 32878
      Yeah, I do this too. I will definitely use this as part of my strategy.
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      • Profile picture of the author rbrShorty
        Originally Posted by CoMpUtErGoD20XX View Post

        All,
        I am working with a local client who does handyman type work in three counties in the state. The three counties are not huge and are what I would call average size.

        I am trying to find keywords to target for his SEO campaign using the Google Keyword tool. However, when I look at the exact match keywords for terms related to his niche I don't find anything with the names of counties or cities in them that have any traffic volume (not even 1 or two searches a month). I find this very strange as I am sure people search for this like "handyman CityName" or "handyman CountyName".

        Is there some reason these terms don't show up? Is there some other tool or service that may help me uncover what I should be looking for?

        I see that terms like "handyman StateName" have less than 100 exact matches per month.

        Should I just target the state level terms even though I am only interested in a small portion of the overall state? If I target the state level terms will this client show up for searches where people put "handyman + cityname" even though I don't directly target them.

        Any help on this would truly be appreciated! I haven't ever worked with anyone before that only targets such small areas of service.

        Thanks so much in advance!
        Originally Posted by yukon View Post

        Personally when I search for anything in my own town I use my zip code.

        Example, keyword phrase = plumber 32878
        Yukon makes a very good point here. The problem is the following: many people do not use "[kw] + [city]" when they search. They either use some different type of location marker (like ZIP for example), or simply don't use a location marker assuming Google will return them the appropriate results (this is especially valid in mobile, but getting trendy with desktop search, too). I'd suggest you rather use Google Insights, than AdWords Keyword Tool when researching local keywords, as it is much more accurate.

        Checking [kw]+[location] (in whatever combination) is not an accurate way of doing keyword research for local search.

        Cheers,
        Nyagoslav
        Signature
        Local Search Marketing by NGS Marketing

        Citation Building Service by NGS Marketing

        Phone (US): 347-535-4535 | Skype: NGS.Marketing
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        • Profile picture of the author CoMpUtErGoD20XX
          Originally Posted by rbrShorty View Post

          Yukon makes a very good point here. The problem is the following: many people do not use "[kw] + [city]" when they search. They either use some different type of location marker (like ZIP for example), or simply don't use a location marker assuming Google will return them the appropriate results (this is especially valid in mobile, but getting trendy with desktop search, too). I'd suggest you rather use Google Insights, than AdWords Keyword Tool when researching local keywords, as it is much more accurate.

          Checking [kw]+[location] (in whatever combination) is not an accurate way of doing keyword research for local search.

          Cheers,
          Nyagoslav
          Thanks! I will check out Google Insights more. I have never used this tool before.
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