Comments on: The Four Corners Of Local Search http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/11/the-four-corners-of-local-search.html Exploring the trends driving small business Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:39:28 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Vahur http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/11/the-four-corners-of-local-search.html#comment-1004070 Vahur Sat, 19 Feb 2011 18:33:04 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=22414#comment-1004070 Thanks for a good overview about local search. Thanks for a good overview about local search.

]]> By: seo trends 2010,Site Speed,Mobile http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/11/the-four-corners-of-local-search.html#comment-694406 seo trends 2010,Site Speed,Mobile Fri, 08 Jan 2010 16:05:05 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=22414#comment-694406 [...] a huge ranking factor that is 100 percent in your control. Take advantage of it! Corner the four corners of local search, go through the process of claiming all your local listings, dominate Yelp, manage your customer [...] [...] a huge ranking factor that is 100 percent in your control. Take advantage of it! Corner the four corners of local search, go through the process of claiming all your local listings, dominate Yelp, manage your customer [...]

]]> By: Dan http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/11/the-four-corners-of-local-search.html#comment-692583 Dan Mon, 04 Jan 2010 16:15:34 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=22414#comment-692583 Excellent post. Two additional things we at periscopeUP also do when promoting local clients is to optimize the Google Maps listing. We've found that the services area is no longer relied on heavily for relevancy and therefore put keyword terms in the description. Secondly, we use the hCard microformat to standardize the contact information. Here's an example: http://www.periscopeup.com/contact. Excellent post. Two additional things we at periscopeUP also do when promoting local clients is to optimize the Google Maps listing. We’ve found that the services area is no longer relied on heavily for relevancy and therefore put keyword terms in the description. Secondly, we use the hCard microformat to standardize the contact information. Here’s an example: http://www.periscopeup.com/contact.

]]> By: Local Internet Marketing http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/11/the-four-corners-of-local-search.html#comment-682077 Local Internet Marketing Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:46:54 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=22414#comment-682077 Websites targeting multiple GEO regions may have a few versions of the site. And each version targets one particular language. For the same version, the page may be configured according to the location automatically. It's a common practice to use IP address to identify the geo region of a visitor. For design of each version, make sure to work closely with the designers who really know about that market. The design of the website should suit the style and taste of the local users. A website targeting US market has much better chance of success if a Boston web design company is involved, instead of a web design firm from India. Geo-targeting depends on the user's settings. As an example, an English web site may display different versions according to the user's location, whether Canada, Australia or the United Kingdom, since Geo-targeting identifies the user's keyword settings, language and location. Websites targeting multiple GEO regions may have a few versions of the site. And each version targets one particular language. For the same version, the page may be configured according to the location automatically. It’s a common practice to use IP address to identify the geo region of a visitor. For design of each version, make sure to work closely with the designers who really know about that market. The design of the website should suit the style and taste of the local users. A website targeting US market has much better chance of success if a Boston web design company is involved, instead of a web design firm from India. Geo-targeting depends on the user’s settings. As an example, an English web site may display different versions according to the user’s location, whether Canada, Australia or the United Kingdom, since Geo-targeting identifies the user’s keyword settings, language and location.

]]> By: Jeff Howard http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/11/the-four-corners-of-local-search.html#comment-681867 Jeff Howard Thu, 19 Nov 2009 17:33:38 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=22414#comment-681867 Hi Lisa, I've noticed that reviews are becoming more of a factor for a higher map ranking. I believe Google is ranking results in maps based on how sure they are the business is actually who it says and does what it does. Reviews help Google become more sure about the business because thrid parities are verifying its location and services. I just released two free guides at my site that help local businesses make a decision about when to build a new website and when to engage in SEO, check it out over at Search Engine Guide - http://www.searchengineguide.com/jeff-howard/when-should-i-build-a-new-website-invest-1.php Hi Lisa,

I’ve noticed that reviews are becoming more of a factor for a higher map ranking. I believe Google is ranking results in maps based on how sure they are the business is actually who it says and does what it does. Reviews help Google become more sure about the business because thrid parities are verifying its location and services.

I just released two free guides at my site that help local businesses make a decision about when to build a new website and when to engage in SEO, check it out over at Search Engine Guide – http://www.searchengineguide.com/jeff-howard/when-should-i-build-a-new-website-invest-1.php

]]> By: Martin Lindeskog http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/11/the-four-corners-of-local-search.html#comment-681741 Martin Lindeskog Thu, 19 Nov 2009 11:21:47 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=22414#comment-681741 Lisa: What is a "push card"? Lisa: What is a “push card”?

]]> By: Suzanne Arthur http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/11/the-four-corners-of-local-search.html#comment-681542 Suzanne Arthur Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:41:39 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=22414#comment-681542 Lisa, this is excellent. Thanks for sharing. Very interesting about the use of citations, too. In helping small businesses shoot to top-ranking spots on local searches, my partner and I suggest they get their business listed on Google Maps. Also, Yahoo, Bing and MSN. Lisa, this is excellent. Thanks for sharing. Very interesting about the use of citations, too.

In helping small businesses shoot to top-ranking spots on local searches, my partner and I suggest they get their business listed on Google Maps. Also, Yahoo, Bing and MSN.

]]> By: Vedran http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/11/the-four-corners-of-local-search.html#comment-681448 Vedran Wed, 18 Nov 2009 03:01:44 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=22414#comment-681448 Hey Lisa, This is an excellent post. However, I would add consistency and accuracy of business information across the web as one of the corners of local search. If your business info is not accurate, up-to-date and consistent, you will be doing a lot of things in vain. Let's take Google as an example. They use web citations and reviews as a way to determine the relative importance of listings. In order for Google to associate a web citation with a certain listing, business info in that citation has to match the business info on the listing. If that doesn't happen, your citation doesn't count. That's why it is important to make sure that everything is accurate and consistent. Hey Lisa,

This is an excellent post.

However, I would add consistency and accuracy of business information across the web as one of the corners of local search.
If your business info is not accurate, up-to-date and consistent, you will be doing a lot of things in vain.

Let’s take Google as an example. They use web citations and reviews as a way to determine the relative importance of listings.

In order for Google to associate a web citation with a certain listing, business info in that citation has to match the business info on the listing.

If that doesn’t happen, your citation doesn’t count.

That’s why it is important to make sure that everything is accurate and consistent.

]]> By: MAS http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/11/the-four-corners-of-local-search.html#comment-681434 MAS Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:32:31 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=22414#comment-681434 Thanks! I am sorry to have missed this event. Local search enables all businesses to compete for new revenue. Thanks for the notes here - particularly on Citations. Very helpful. MAS Thanks! I am sorry to have missed this event.

Local search enables all businesses to compete for new revenue. Thanks for the notes here – particularly on Citations. Very helpful.

MAS

]]> By: Robert Brady http://smallbiztrends.com/2009/11/the-four-corners-of-local-search.html#comment-681371 Robert Brady Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:01:43 +0000 http://smallbiztrends.com/?p=22414#comment-681371 Now I feel bad for not making it to this session! Thanks for the breakdown and I would just add an Amen! to your comments. With Google serving more and more of their local 7-packs, ranking in local search is becoming very important. Now I feel bad for not making it to this session! Thanks for the breakdown and I would just add an Amen! to your comments. With Google serving more and more of their local 7-packs, ranking in local search is becoming very important.

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