Ultimate Local Search Optimization Resources
| Manoj Jasra - Thursday, October 04, 2007 20 Comments |
Local Search is becoming essential in many businesses' online marketing strategy. With all major search players (Google, MSN, Yahoo, ASK, AOL) providing pristine real estate for local search results, businesses can't afford NOT to invest into local search optimization strategies. Search Engines such as Google make it very simple for businesses to submit their websites into its local search index, therefore you can find more and more companies taking advantage of local search services. There also many search engines which primarly focus on "Local" such as Super Pages and Local.com. These engines serve up millions of pages views a month, which means companies need to evaluate these secondary avenues of traffic as well because they can lead to increased online visibility. Below are some useful local search optimization resources you should consider before executing your local search strategy.Local Search Engines
- Google Maps: http://local.google.com/
- Yahoo! Local: http://local.yahoo.com/
- ASK City: http://city.ask.com/city
- AOL Local Search: http://local.aol.com/aol/localhome
- Live Local: http://local.live.com/
- Local.com: http://www.local.com/
- Super Pages: http://www.superpages.com/
- Yellow Pages: http://www.yellowpages.com/
- Dex Online: http://www.dexonline.com/
- Local Launch: http://www.locallaunch.com/
- Switch Board: http://www.switchboard.com/
- 411.com: http://www.411.com/
- True Local: http://www.truelocal.com/
- City Search: http://www.citysearch.com/
- White Pages: http://www.whitepages.com/
- Zvents: http://www.zvents.com/
Local Search Optimization
- Search Engine Journal: 5 Quick Ways To Optimize For Local Search
- Natural Search Blog: Extreme Local Search Optimization Tactics
- iMedia Connection: 10 Winning Ways to Optimize Local Search
- SE Round Table: Local Search Marketing Tactics
- Small Business SEM: 10 Likely Elements of Google’s Local Search Algorithm
- SearchEngineWatch: 8 Ways to Improve Your Local Search Results
- The Karcher Group: Optimizing Local Search
- Improve the Web: Optimize your site for local search engine traffic
- Local SEO Guide: http://www.localseoguide.com/
- WebProNews: SES: Six Tips For Local Search Marketing
- Single Grain: Optimizing for Local Search
- ClickZ: A New Form of Local Search Optimization, Part 1
- SE Journal: Local Search Optimization Think Globally, Act Locally
- Search Engine Land: Using Images For Local SEO
- Search Engine Guide: "Local Search Engine Optimization" Yesterday and Today
- Search Engine Lane: Advanced Local Search Optimization Tips
- Info Mean: Local Search Optimization - A Guide to Getting Started
- Search Anyway: Using Yellow Pages for Local Search SEO
- SEO Design Solutions: Local Search Engine Optimization Tips to Improve Organic Rankings
- Local Internet Marketing - Local Search
- Wolf Howl: Local Search Tips, Tricks & Secrets
- Search Engine Guide: Boost Your Local Search Presence
- Bruce Clay: Search Engine Relationship Chart - Local Edition
- Sugar Rae: Before You Launch that Local Small Business Website
- Peter Krasilovsky: Local Onliner
- Expose Local: http://www.exposelocal.com/
Have a resource that should be added? Leave a comment and I will review it
Labels: Local Search, SEM, SEO
Hey Manoj,
Thanks for putting me in some very good company!
- Andrew
Manoj,
Thanks for pulling all these resources together. You might like to add Rae Hoffman's "Before You Launch that Local Small Business Website". It's a keeper.
Thanks Mark,
I added it to the list.
Great list but a list of what are just business listing/yellow page search engines to find addresses and phone numbers. Marketers are increasingly taking advantage of the local search platform we've developed at Zvents because it allows business to truly promote themselves, the in-store sales, events, and attractions that draw footfall through the door.
With free business listings, web links, and associated events, on Zvents and syndication of our index to most of the major newspapers, the future of local search is in the reason to patron a business and I'd hope that's compelling enough to make your list.
On another note, one of the great resources for local search news is Peter Krasilovsky's Local Onliner. Perhaps not appropriate for your list of Local SEO blog posts but but certainly one of the Ultimate Local Search Optimization Resources.
Paul O'Brien - Director of Market @ Zvents
Thanks for reminding me Paul, I actually had Zvents originally but after I had to restart the entire post (because it accidentally got deleted) I forgot to include it.
I also added Peter's website as well.
You have Google Maos, instead of Maps :)
Instead of worrying about getting into the search engines, it is more efficient to include a full address in the footer and get links from sites from the relevant country, really, though.
Thanks Yuri, it's fixed
Good Tip Too
Also check out www.getfave.com.
It's just in Chicago & suburbs, but it marries local search results with local video commercials.
A great way if you don’t have the know how, nor the time to do it yourself is to pay a firm to have it done. I used Listed1st.com and I’m listed on top. Search google for “maid services in salt lake city” Molly Maids to the rescue!
Can you please tell me in brief how this things works. What should I do to benefit this listing of local SEO Resources.
Hey maybe you can check out my website as well: http://www.martijnbeijk.com it's about Local Search Optimization and a bit of mobile and online marketing in general.
thanks !
I'd like to personally thank you for mentioning my local SEO resource, Expose Local. I had no idea you were linking to me until tonight.
Terry
Neat resource Manoj. I'm pretty passionate about Local Search myself, and you can check out some of the articles I've written over at my blog. One of my first was the local seo citation guide for Canada:
http://devbasu.com/the-canadian-guide-to-local-seo-citations/
and
http://devbasu.com/local-search-landing-page-design-guide/
Great article. Local Search is pretty much the fastest growing industry online right now. With more and more Local Search engines showing up like Searchforitlocal.com we will all be able to help our communities stay strong. SFIL not only offers over 11500000 businesses across the USA, they also offer free classifieds, auctions, job search (powered by career builder), local events, news and more! Give them a shot. You'll def. be happy you did.
Check out some indian local search engines viz., www.asklaila.com, guruji.com etc. providing all city specific businesses, events, movies etc. Really local search has caught up here very fast.
EZlocal.com is a new local search site you might want to check out.
EZlocal.com is a new local search site worth checking out.
Great list of resources. I am pretty passionate about local search too. You may like this resource:
http://www.smallbusinessonlinecoach.com/google-maps-course/
EZlocal.com is a great choice for local search because it is sponsored by America's Best Companies that has all kinds of tools for small business success and really presents an inside out look because the local reps live in these areas and keep things up to date. Try it.
Hey Manoj - There's been some great additions on the Local Search SEMMY's that you could add to an updated version of this list. Check it out at http://www.semmys.org/category/local-search/